Since Vine and Instagram Video became household names, a number of similar apps have popped up, each one looking to grab a piece of the video capture pie. The last startup looking to compete in this area is Hykoo, and it puts an artsy spin on short form video.
Hykoo, like many other video capture apps, puts a length cap on all user videos. In this case, runtime is limited to 12 seconds, but Hykoo gets even more granular than that: Each of its productions are split into three smaller videos: A three-second intro, a three-second middle, and a six-second conclusion. Poetry readers will note the resemblance to the app’s namesake, which is split into lines of five, seven, and five syllables.
A video that shows the app in action can be found on Hykoo’s website.
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While its lyrical format is a cute twist, Hykoo’s most head-turning asset is its executive team. The app’s co-founders are Gary Krieg, the former head of production at Wieden + Kennedy; Yoni Bloch, CEO of Interlude; and Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival. All three of those companies have done revolutionary work in the online video space; now, with Hykoo, they’re joining forces.
As you might expect given the pedigrees of its founders, Hykoo offers a number of interactive elements. Users can overlay lines of text on top of their videos, and viewers who tap those words on their phone can watch other videos that feature similar phrases.
Right now, Hykoo is available from the App Store. As Krieg told TechCrunch, an Android version of the app is in the works.
