Video monetization has evolved rapidly, and content creators today face unique challenges in turning their passion into a profitable business. Many struggle with fragmented tools, complicated setups, and shifting industry trends. Uscreen, a powerful video membership platform, has positioned itself as the ultimate solution, offering creators everything they need to launch, manage, and grow their video-based communities. In this interview, Uscreen’s leadership team shares insights into their mission, platform features, and what the future holds for the video monetization industry.
The Interview
Common Ninja:
What inspired the creation of Uscreen, and how has the company's mission evolved since its founding in 2015?
PJ Taei, CEO & Nick Savrov, CTO at Uscreen:
I founded Uscreen in 2013 after hearing from clients at my previous web hosting company who needed a secure way to distribute their videos. I saw how difficult it was for content creators to monetize their videos — they had to integrate multiple software solutions, which was often cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly. I wanted to create an all-in-one platform that would make this process seamless and accessible.
Since then, our mission has been to empower video creators to launch and grow successful memberships. We've grown into a robust membership platform that now serves over 25,000 creators, brands, and businesses worldwide. Our focus remains on helping creators build meaningful connections with their audiences and thrive through their content.
Common Ninja: Who is Uscreen’s primary audience today? Are there specific types of creators or businesses that find the platform most valuable?
Uscreen team: Donna Foulis, SEO Writer, in collaboration with Adaire Smithwick, Community Manager & Peggy Pan, Senior Product Marketing Manager:
Our primary audience consists of entrepreneurs, content creators, and businesses looking to monetize video content through subscription-based memberships, pay-per-view, and other monetization models. Uscreen is particularly valuable for independent creators—such as YouTubers, educators, independent filmmakers, and fitness/yoga instructors—who want to build a sustainable income stream by owning their audience and offering exclusive content.
We’ve seen some of the most successful businesses and creators on our platform launch mobile apps and build thriving communities alongside their video memberships. From art classes to pilates, Uscreen is best suited for fitness and wellness brands, educators, video creators, media businesses, and event organizers looking to offer on-demand and live-streaming content. We also support corporate training providers, B2B content creators, and niche entertainment communities seeking to monetize exclusive video content.
Common Ninja: Who might Uscreen not be the right fit for, and how do you guide potential users in determining if the platform meets their needs?
Uscreen team:
Uscreen might not be the best fit for video creators who are brand new to monetizing their audiences. We’ve found that the greatest success comes from those who already have an engaged audience online and experience selling to them—whether that’s through courses, community access, merchandise, or other offerings. These creators and businesses are typically looking to launch a membership model for more consistent monetization.
To help potential users determine if Uscreen is the right fit, our sales team takes the time to understand their goals and platform needs during the sales process. We’re upfront when we don’t think Uscreen is the best solution for someone. Additionally, we offer a free trial so users can explore the platform firsthand before making a commitment.
Common Ninja: What unique features or services does Uscreen offer to cater specifically to video creators and entrepreneurs?
Uscreen team:
We offer an all-in-one membership platform that provides creators and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to launch, manage, and grow their video membership or streaming service—no technical expertise required!
With Uscreen, creators can build their own Netflix-style catalog while fostering a thriving community through built-in engagement features. Our platform enables users to:
- Market their membership with a suite of marketing tools and automation.
- Enhance retention using proven retention features.
- Track success with a robust analytics suite.
- Get expert support from a dedicated customer success representative and our 24/7 support team.
- Live stream seamlessly from the Uscreen dashboard to connect with their audience.
- Monetize content with flexible options like membership tiers, pay-per-view, or one-time payments.
Additionally, customers can launch their own mobile and TV apps, allowing their audience to watch content and engage with their community from anywhere, anytime.
Common Ninja: Uscreen’s platform includes live streaming, on-demand video libraries, and community features. What specific feedback or success stories have you received from creators who use these tools?
Uscreen team:
We've received incredible feedback from creators who have seen significant growth and engagement using Uscreen’s platform.
Find What Feels Good saw a 201% growth in membership, reaching over 46,000 active members after switching to Uscreen.
Co-founder and COO Chris Sharpe highlighted how the platform allows them to focus on content creation instead of managing tech: "Uscreen has changed how we allocate our team resources because we no longer need a lot of the tech things that we needed before. We've always wanted to just be a creative team that's focused on content creation—not building apps or figuring out how to sync up databases to do basic stuff. So Uscreen has allowed us to just not worry about any of that anymore."
Abundance+ generates over $1 million in annual revenue through Uscreen, with 76% of their viewership coming from their branded apps.
Founder Justin Rhodes shared how Uscreen transformed their business: "We went from $30,000 a month to over $130,000+ a month with the Abundance+ launch with Uscreen. When I look at that number, I am absolutely blown away and honored because that means I'm bringing a lot of service into the world. That's the measure of success."
For Your Salt Water Guide, community features have been key to member engagement.
Founder Captain Dave Hansen explained how the mobile apps allow members to access video guides while out fishing and engage with each other, enhancing the experience: "They want to share their success with the other members so that our members know the website works, which is just a big, giant good thing for us, and it works really well."
Big Picture Skiing has grown to 1,100+ active members, generating over $30,000 per month since moving to Uscreen.
Founder Tom Gelle noted how launching Android and iOS apps significantly improved engagement, with 40% of viewership coming from the apps: "I thought, these people that have been with me the whole time really deserve an upgraded experience. The apps make it that much better because they’re really built to work on the phone. It’s amazing what a difference it makes."
Matt Vranes from Let’s Dabble praised Uscreen’s user experience and performance compared to other platforms: "I've tried many platforms for distributing my content (Wistia, Vimeo) and for managing my subscriptions (Teachable, Kajabi), but Uscreen was the one that had the cleanest interface, the highest resolution, the fastest connection, and the best tech support."
For more success stories, check out our customer review page, where creators share their experiences with Uscreen.
Common Ninja: How does Uscreen address the needs of creators who want to integrate their video content with other platforms or tools?
Uscreen team:
Our platform offers native integrations with essential marketing and analytics tools, including Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Zapier, Drip, Hotjar, and Google Tag Manager. These integrations help creators automate their workflows, track performance, and optimize their video business effortlessly.
If there’s a tool or platform we don’t integrate with directly, creators can likely connect it through Zapier, which supports integrations with over 7,000 apps. This allows for seamless automation and streamlining of business operations, ensuring that creators have the flexibility to connect Uscreen with the tools they already use.
Common Ninja: How does Uscreen ensure that its platform remains user-friendly for creators who may not have extensive technical expertise?
Uscreen team:
One of Uscreen’s biggest strengths is its user-friendly, no-code platform, making it easy for creators to set up and manage their memberships without any technical expertise. Our templated website builder allows users to design unique sites using simple drag-and-drop tools, while also providing customization options through custom CSS, API integrations, and advanced developer tools for those who want more control.
To further support creators, we offer a comprehensive library of help guides, as well as our Membership+ community, where users can find step-by-step resources and best practices. Our support team is always available to assist with any questions, ensuring a smooth experience for all users, regardless of their technical background.
Common Ninja: Uscreen offers various pricing tiers. Do users on the basic plan get access to a fully functional platform, or are there key features reserved for higher-tier plans? What are the benefits of upgrading to a more advanced plan?
Uscreen team: Donna Foulis, SEO Writer, in collaboration with Adaire Smithwick, Community Manager & Peggy Pan, Senior Product Marketing Manager:
While our basic plan provides access to a fully functional platform, some advanced features are exclusive to higher-tier plans.
Our Growth plan, which is our entry-level tier, includes essential features like a high-quality secure video player, a Netflix-style video catalog, 100 hours of video storage, 1 hour of live streaming, a customizable landing page and website builder, built-in monetization and billing, and 24/7 customer support. However, this plan does not include mobile & TV apps, Community features, the Calendar, free migrations, or API integrations.
The App Essentials plan is the next level up, offering everything in the Growth plan plus two mobile apps (Apple and Android) with the option to add TV apps, Community features, and the Calendar. It also includes free membership migrations for those switching from another platform. Users can choose additional add-ons such as Zapier integrations, third-party tool integrations, white-labeling apps, and API access.
For those needing a custom solution, we offer a Custom Pricing Plan with three tailored packages:
- Memberships Package – Designed for community-driven creators.
- Streamers Package – Focused on large-scale streaming.
- All-Access Package – Includes our full suite of features, including all mobile and TV apps.
Customers on the Custom Pricing Plan also receive a dedicated customer success manager and end-user support, ensuring a premium experience tailored to their business needs.
Common Ninja: Uscreen emphasizes a community-driven approach. Can you share any examples of community-driven features or tools that have been added to the platform?
Uscreen team:
Our Community feature provides creators with a dedicated space to engage with their audience, seamlessly integrated alongside their video catalog. It functions similarly to an online forum, allowing creators to set up dedicated channels for organized discussions, share updates, and foster meaningful interactions.
One standout feature is Community Challenges, which encourages users to watch recommended videos within a set timeframe. This has been a major driver of engagement and retention by motivating members to stay active within their memberships.
We also offer tier-based access control, enabling creators to restrict community access to specific membership tiers, including filtering by individual channels. Additionally, our analytics tools provide insights into how members interact with the community, including platform usage (app vs. desktop) and engagement metrics like watch time.
Our customers have reported 50% higher member retention when incorporating a community into their membership, with many calling it the most valuable aspect of their offering.
Here’s an example from Crochet with Tiffany:
Common Ninja: With a growing user base, how does Uscreen maintain effective customer service for its users?
Uscreen team:
We ensure 24/7 technical support for all our customers, providing reliable assistance whenever they need it. New users benefit from onboarding support, and those on the App Essentials plan and above receive migration assistance to make switching from another platform seamless. Additionally, all users get free access to Membership+, our exclusive resource hub designed to help creators succeed in every aspect of their business. Custom plan customers also receive a dedicated customer success manager for personalized guidance.
We continuously gather customer feedback to refine our support experience. Our recent survey results highlight:
- 4 out of 5 customers gave us a perfect onboarding satisfaction score.
- 98% of customers rated their onboarding experience as 4 or 5 out of 5.
- 90% of customers scored their app-building experience as 4 or 5 out of 5.
- Over 75% of customers rated their likelihood to recommend Uscreen as 9 or 10 out of 10.
We’re also proud to have maintained four consecutive quarters with no CSAT scores below 4 out of 5, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to exceptional customer support.
Common Ninja: How do you see AI shaping the future of video monetization, and what steps is Uscreen taking to remain at the forefront of this evolution?
Nick Savrov, CTO at Uscreen:
AI is revolutionizing how we think about video content and monetization. Soon, viewers won’t need to watch entire videos to find what they’re looking for—AI will seamlessly merge video and text formats, making content instantly searchable and more engaging.
We’re already witnessing AI transform video production through automated editing, caption generation, and advanced video translation and dubbing. This technology is breaking down language barriers in incredible ways, enabling creators to reach global audiences more efficiently than ever before.
The most exciting part? Creators can now support international communities without the need for massive team expansion. AI handles translation and localization tasks that previously required large multilingual teams, making global reach more accessible to creators of all sizes.
The future of video monetization isn’t just about creating content—it’s about making that content discoverable, accessible, and globally relevant. AI is the key to unlocking this potential, and at Uscreen, we’re committed to staying ahead of these advancements to empower creators in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Common Ninja: As the video monetization industry continues to evolve, what trends do you see shaping the future, and how is Uscreen preparing to adapt?
Nick Savrov, CTO at Uscreen:
We're witnessing a shift in video content dynamics as creators build massive content libraries, leading to content overload. With shrinking attention spans and an explosion of video content, creators are being pushed toward two key success paths: absolute authenticity or hyper-relevance. Over the next five years, we expect to see the rise of vibe-based creators who excel at cultivating and nurturing niche audiences.
The monetization landscape is also evolving, moving beyond traditional course-based models toward membership-driven communities. Audiences aren’t just paying for videos anymore—they're seeking full experiences that include community engagement, exclusive perks, and benefits beyond video content.
Instead of simply selling individual pieces of content, creators are now building valuable ecosystems where video acts as part of a broader membership offering. The future belongs to those who can create comprehensive community experiences, and at Uscreen, we're continuously innovating to empower creators in building sustainable, engaging, and profitable membership models.
Daniel Kosmala. Senior Marketing Manager & Creator at Uscreen:
I think we’ll continue to see more and more creators shifting their mindset from “this is a side hustle” or “I want to add another little revenue stream” to “my content is a business and I can make sustainable, recurring revenue from it.” As demonetization continues to be an issue and the industry continues to mature we’ll see more and more creators taking this route.
Those same creators and entrepreneurs want robust solutions. They’re tired of cobbling together various platforms that may or may not work well together because it’s cumbersome, a poor experience for their customers, and draining. They’ll find more all-in-one solutions like Uscreen that can empower them to host content, engage their community, live stream, and monetize all in one place.
I also believe we’ll continue to see community features and interactions continuing to increase in importance. With the advancements of AI happening faster and faster, the need for human-to-human connection will continue growing. They want to be a part of like-minded communities that understand them and share common values. Creators that lean into that and facilitate it in simple, easy ways (like mobile apps) will win.
Uscreen is adapting to this by developing more robust community features like direct messaging, enhancing our live streaming infrastructure to support flexible scheduling and engagement, building out comprehensive analytics, providing mobile and TV app solutions that help creators build their own brands, and offering migration support to help creators transition from other platforms.”
Amir Shahzeidi, Head of Demand Gen at Uscreen:
1. Mobile-First Content
- Trend: More creators and businesses are launching branded mobile apps, with even major figures like Oprah introducing her own insider community app. As no-code solutions make app creation easier, this trend is only going to accelerate.
- Uscreen’s Adaptation: Uscreen has been committed to helping brands and creators launch high-quality mobile and TV apps from the start. These apps empower end-users with community features, live events, personalized playlists, and even workout tracking. The impact is clear—Uscreen customers with apps experience 15% lower monthly churn and 25% higher watch time, proving how vital mobile access is for retention and engagement.
2. Interactive & Personalized Experiences
- Trend: Viewers are no longer passive consumers—they expect interactive, personalized experiences that deepen their connection with both the content and the creator.
- Uscreen’s Adaptation: We are continuously enhancing features that promote interactivity and community engagement. From personalized tools like workout notes to upgraded live streaming and community features, we’re making it easier for creators to foster meaningful two-way interactions with their audience.
3. AI-Powered Tools
- Trend: AI is revolutionizing the video industry, changing the way content is created, marketed, and distributed.
- Uscreen’s Adaptation: We are integrating AI-powered tools to enhance the creator experience. We've already launched AI tools for community management and engagement, such as content ideation and post creation. And this is just the beginning—expect even more AI-driven innovations as technology continues to evolve.
4. Emphasis on Owned Communities
- Trend: With privacy concerns and potential platform restrictions like the TikTok ban, creators are shifting from "rented" platforms (social media) to owning their audience directly. Having full control over a dedicated community is becoming crucial for long-term engagement and financial stability.
- Uscreen’s Adaptation: We are empowering creators to build their own businesses with enhanced membership and community features. These tools allow creators to own their audience, strengthen connections, and create sustainable revenue streams—without relying on third-party platforms that may change the rules at any moment.
Common Ninja: Where do you see Uscreen in the next five years, both in terms of platform development and market presence?
Nick Savrov, CTO at Uscreen:
Video content is undeniably the future of internet communication—whether it's short-form, long-form, vertical, horizontal, or new dynamic formats. But the key insight is that it all converges in community.
Just as Web 2.0 revolutionized connection, we’re seeing history repeat itself. People aren’t just consuming content anymore—they’re seeking meaningful connections through it. That’s where Uscreen is headed.
Our mission is clear: equip creators with every tool they need to make their communities thrive across all devices. We’re not just building a video platform—we’re creating an ecosystem where video serves as the connective tissue for vibrant, device-agnostic communities.
The future isn’t just about content delivery; it’s about creating spaces where meaningful connections happen naturally. Over the next five years, Uscreen will continue to innovate, ensuring that creators can engage, grow, and monetize their communities in ways that go beyond just video.
Common Ninja: Video consumption habits continue to change rapidly. How does Uscreen stay ahead of these trends to ensure creators can meet the needs of their audiences?
Nick Savrov, CTO at Uscreen:
At Uscreen, we have a unique window into video consumption patterns across gated communities. What's fascinating is how dramatically these patterns vary by industry—fitness enthusiasts consume content differently than yoga practitioners, who have different habits from race streaming viewers or niche education students.
These distinct consumption habits directly inform our product strategy and feature development. We’re constantly analyzing which formats best serve each creator community’s growth and adapting our platform to meet those needs.
A perfect example: nearly seven years ago, we made a bold bet on mobile-first video consumption. That insight proved transformative—since then, we’ve watched mobile viewership surge from 20% to nearly 85% across mobile web and native apps. Staying ahead of these shifts ensures that creators on Uscreen always have the tools they need to engage their audiences effectively.
Common Ninja: Video consumption habits continue to change rapidly. How does Uscreen stay ahead of these trends to ensure creators can meet the needs of their audiences?
Peggy Pan, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Uscreen:
Video consumption habits are constantly evolving, and at Uscreen, we’re laser-focused on helping creators adapt and thrive in this changing landscape. Here’s how we stay ahead:
Building Communities Around Content
The future of video isn’t just about passive consumption—it’s about connection. People are drawn to experiences where they can engage, discuss, and grow alongside others who share their interests. That’s why Uscreen has invested heavily in robust community features to help creators foster engagement and loyalty.
From discussion threads to focused groups, these tools enable creators to cultivate a strong sense of belonging within their audience. Community is the secret sauce for long-term audience retention and deeper creator-follower relationships.
Content Accessibility Across Every Screen
In today’s digital world, accessibility is non-negotiable. Viewers expect seamless access to content across their favorite devices. Just like no one types “www.netflix…” to access their favorite shows, audiences demand a frictionless viewing experience.
Uscreen supports creators with mobile and TV apps, ensuring content is available where audiences consume it most.
In fact, creators who offer both mobile and TV experiences on Uscreen see:
- 1.6x more subscribers
- 15% higher retention
- 20% more watch time
By making content effortlessly accessible, we help creators stay ahead of audience expectations and maximize their engagement.
Driving Personal Transformation with Engagement Features
More people are turning to video content for personal growth and learning, not just entertainment. Creators are playing a bigger role in helping their audiences achieve transformation — whether that’s learning a new skill, improving health, or exploring new interests.
Uscreen empowers creators to motivate and engage their audience through gamification and interactive features like:
- Calendars – Helping users stay on track with their goals
- Streaks – Encouraging consistency in content consumption
- Badges – Rewarding engagement and progress
These features create a sense of “transformation accountability”, keeping audiences motivated while deepening their connection with the creator.
At Uscreen, we know that staying ahead isn’t just about following trends—it’s about anticipating what audiences will value most in the future:
- Meaningful connections
- Seamless accessibility
- Impactful transformation
These principles drive everything we build, ensuring our creators can lead, innovate, and grow with confidence in an ever-evolving industry.
Common Ninja: What steps are being taken to ensure Uscreen remains a competitive and attractive option for creators in a landscape filled with alternatives like Patreon and YouTube Memberships?
Nick Savrov, CTO at Uscreen:
This question touches on trade secrets 😅, but instead of thinking of Patreon and YouTube Memberships as competitors, it’s important to understand why they’re not really Uscreen alternatives.
A great comparison is e-commerce:
- Etsy is where crafters start, but as they grow, learn marketing, and build customer relationships, they graduate to Shopify—moving from a marketplace to an owned platform.
- The same pattern applies to content creators:
- They start on Patreon or YouTube Memberships to build an audience.
- They learn marketing basics and how to engage their community.
- They develop direct customer relationships.
- They graduate from fan donations to a real business model.
Patreon and YouTube memberships are actually part of our pipeline—they’re creating a wave of professionalizing creators who eventually want more control, flexibility, and revenue ownership.
When creators outgrow the donation model and are ready to build a sustainable, branded video business, that’s where Uscreen shines. We’re not competing with these platforms—we’re the next step in a creator’s evolution.
In this space, we don’t really have direct competitors because we serve a different stage of the creator journey. We’re Shopify, not Etsy, for video creators.
Common Ninja: If you could change one thing about the video monetization industry today, what would it be, and how does Uscreen contribute to making that change a reality?
Nick Savrov, CTO at Uscreen:
If I could change one thing, it would be the underlying economics of video streaming. The high cost of video delivery remains a major barrier for creators, limiting their ability to scale profitably.
What the industry desperately needs is a true innovator—someone who will rethink video compression and transmission from the ground up. Current video formats haven’t undergone revolutionary changes in years, and that’s a huge missed opportunity.
Just as SpaceX reimagined space travel, we need a complete disruption in how video is processed and transmitted. If we can make video smaller, faster, and cheaper to deliver, it could transform the entire creator economy, making it easier for creators to monetize without being weighed down by infrastructure costs.
At Uscreen, we are always exploring ways to optimize video delivery, but the real breakthrough will come from challenging long-standing assumptions in the industry. The next big innovation won’t just be about building on existing technology—it will be about reinventing how we handle video data altogether. That’s the opportunity I believe will shape the future of video monetization.
Common Ninja: If you could change one thing about the video monetization industry today, what would it be, and how does Uscreen contribute to making that change a reality?
Daniel Kosmala, Senior Marketing Manager & Creator at Uscreen:
One of the biggest challenges in the video monetization industry is that talented creators build large audiences but struggle to monetize effectively beyond ad revenue. Many creators have clear opportunities to improve through better marketing and optimization, but they often lack the expertise to identify and act on them.
A common issue is that many creators "throw spaghetti at a wall" when it comes to marketing because they don’t have a background in it. This leads to short-term thinking, a lack of strategy, and frustration.
Several key barriers prevent creators from seeking help:
- Not knowing who to trust for guidance.
- Uncertainty about costs associated with expert advice.
- Fear of being taken advantage of by bad actors in the industry.
- Pride or reluctance to admit they need assistance.
- Being too busy creating content to step back and focus on growing the business.
This creates a frustrating cycle where creators:
- Excel at content creation
- Build an audience
- Struggle with monetization
- Get overwhelmed by options
- Don’t know where to turn for help
- Remain stuck at suboptimal revenue levels
At Uscreen, we’ve made it a priority to bridge this gap by producing high-value written and video content that’s practical, implementable, and specific to creators' needs. Over the years, we’ve refined our content strategy to move away from theoretical concepts and focus on real-world, actionable advice that creators can immediately apply to grow their businesses.
Our goal is simple: be genuinely helpful and go above and beyond for our customers. If our customers succeed, Uscreen succeeds in the long run too—and that’s the foundation of everything we do.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Video Monetization
Uscreen is not just a platform; it is shaping the future of video monetization. By empowering creators with cutting-edge tools, AI-powered innovations, and robust community-building features, Uscreen is paving the way for video entrepreneurs to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. As video consumption trends shift and creators seek sustainable revenue streams, Uscreen continues to stand at the forefront, providing an all-in-one solution tailored to the evolving needs of content businesses. Whether you're an established video creator or someone looking to transition from social platforms to full ownership of your audience, Uscreen is built to help you succeed.
