LiNC

Startup
Year of Production
2024

Video

Summary

LiNC is a participatory fandom platform designed to enable real-time communication between artists and global fans.
It supports artists from various countries, including K-POP artists, to communicate directly with international fans, expand their global fandoms, and generate revenue through content-based engagement.

[Grow Fans ➝ Communicate with Fans ➝ Manage Fans ➝ Predict Fan Behavior with Data ➝ Build Sustainable Monetization Models]

I. Core Features and Services

1. Private Messaging
Fans can exchange messages with artists through a 1:1 chat-like interface, while artists can communicate with all their fans through a group chat-style interface.
This structure provides fans with a private and intimate communication experience with the artist.
Fans who subscribe to an artist's chat room on a paid basis gain access to exclusive content available only on LiNC, such as behind-the-scenes selfies, greeting videos, and short personal messages, offering an even more special and intimate fan experience.

2. Online Live and 1:1 Video Calls
Artists can host live broadcasts or conduct 1:1 video call events with selected fans, enabling vibrant, real-time interaction.
Video-based communication offers global fans special access and a deeper sense of participation.

3. Global Voting System
Global fans can support their favorite artists by participating in voting events on the LiNC platform, contributing to rankings and boosting fandom engagement through voluntary participation.

4. Digital and Physical Goods Sales (LiNC Shop)
Artists can sell digital photo cards, video content, and physical merchandise based on their intellectual property (IP), enabling global monetization through a fandom-based commerce model.

LiNC is rapidly growing as a platform that connects artists and global fans across countries including Korea, Japan, and Thailand, offering a digital content-driven global fan experience.

II. Key Strengths of LiNC

1. Global Traffic-Driven Fan Acquisition
LiNC maintains its own consistent traffic base, with continuous exposure through both its app and website.
As the official global voting service for SBS’s Inkigayo, LiNC attracts a steady influx of K-POP fans worldwide.

2. Direct Connection with Global Fans
Through its translation and multilingual support systems, LiNC enables artists to communicate with fans around the world without language barriers, fostering authentic global fan engagement.

3. Sustainable Fandom Formation through Participatory Content
By allowing fan activities—such as chatting, live events, voting, and merchandise purchases—to become integral parts of the content experience,
LiNC enables artists to build strong, loyal fan communities.
This participatory structure goes beyond passive consumption, encouraging fans to actively contribute to content creation.

III. Platform Revenue Model

Artists can generate revenue through LiNC by:
- Offering paid monthly subscriptions to their chat rooms, fostering ongoing communication with fans
- Selling tickets for online live events, 1:1 video call events, and offline concerts or fan meetings
- Selling digital and physical goods such as photo cards, selfies, and video content

Through this structure, LiNC is evolving beyond a simple platform into a digital communication hub that connects artist-driven content with global fan engagement and monetization opportunities.

Company Profile

Startup

STAYGE Labs Inc.

STAYGE Labs is a tech startup that provides innovative solutions in the entertainment industry. For the past 9 years, the company has been dedicated to developing technologies specialized for the entertainment sector. In 2022, following a strategic partnership with CJ ENM in 2021, STAYGE Labs successfully launched the Mnet Plus app, a global K-pop culture platform. Leveraging its proprietary technology, the company has demonstrated the ability to stably handle large-scale traffic and now delivers real-time services to over 10 million global users.
Currently, STAYGE Labs operates three core services:
- LiNC, a live communication fandom platform
- tin, a K-pop digital photocard service
- Mnet Plus, a global K-pop culture platform
These platforms not only provide artists with sustainable revenue to continue their creative activities but also offer fans a joyful and immersive experience. In 2024, the company expanded its business to Japan by establishing a local subsidiary in Tokyo.

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