Xerb, a fast-growing Santa Fe-based streaming company, has recently benefited from the Regional Development Corporation’s Technology & Manufacturing (TEAM) no-interest loan fund. Xerb.tv is a streaming service initially intended for independent filmmakers, but has recently evolved to offer a service for film festivals and other events that have had to move to online-only due to the pandemic. Xerb offers two main services: online streaming services, and virtual film events for the film industry. With its online steaming technology, Xerb essentially offers filmmakers and film festivals their own channels - their own Netflix. Xerb currently has about 3000 films to stream. And starting this past May, Xerb developed a new platform for presenting virtual events, like film screenings with discussions. This platform has become increasingly popular. The 1500 users it had in May has grown to over 4000 users today. Unlike other streaming services, Xerb has taken in-person events and move theater experiences and brought them into people's homes. It allows for deeper conversations about films with a private group of people. Engagement rates for these events are significant, with about 30% of participants engaging. Overall, the company’s revenue has increased by 482% in the last three months. Both the filmmakers and the company make money. Xerb takes a small percentage of the profit made from subscriptions to content creators and event ticket sales. “Our services just happen to be what many people need in the pandemic and in the future, and we feel grateful that we are able to provide this service and this connection,” said Eric Streeper, Xerb’s founder and CEO. Xerb used the RDC-provided funds to purchase faster computers, something fundamentally important to their work. "A critical process that used to take nearly 30 minutes now takes just 30 - 40 seconds", Streeper explained. "The time we are saving is allowing us to develop more user-engagement platforms". The RDC’s investment in Xerb is a great example of a small amount of funding going a long way to support talent returning to New Mexico. Streeper, originally from Santa Fe, left the state and met his co-founders at the University of Denver, and subsequently moved back to Santa Fe. One of Xerb's software developers interned with Xerb through the PILAS program at the Santa Fe Community College. Funded in large part by the RDC, PILAS (Programa de Internos, Los Alamos) is a workforce development project that gives students the opportunity to work with local businesses to gain employable skills while earning an hourly wage and academic credit. Xerb foresees its newfound growth will result in the expansion of its workforce. The company is planning to hire for its customer service and business development departments. It currently employs five in Santa Fe, one in Albuquerque, one in Farmington, and another in San Francisco. Xerb is named after the famous XERB Radio, which was a notorious border blaster radio station. It was set up in Mexico, because of FCC bandwidth limitations in the US, with an extra strong signal. XERB grew up to be one of the most famous radio stations in the world, with a blowtorch signal that sent the voice of the fabled Wolfman Jack to all corners of the globe. Xerb is bringing the spirit of Wolfman Jack to everyone they work with:
"We are put on this earth to have a good time. This makes other people feel good. And the cycle continuous." Wolfman Jack
