Social media startup Skylight is launching its mobile app to the public today, just 10 weeks after beginning active development. The short-form video app, backed by Mark Cuban and others, is built on the AT Protocol, the same technology that underpins the social network Bluesky and a growing number of other apps.

Skylight offers a familiar short-form video experience, complete with an in-app video editor, commenting, liking, and sharing features, as well as user profiles and the ability to follow others. However, its use of the AT Protocol sets it apart from other TikTok alternatives, allowing users to tap into a larger network of over 33.8 million users across multiple apps, including Bluesky and photo-centric app Flashes.

The company, founded by CEO Tori White and CTO Reed Hermeyer, has received funding from a pre-seed round led by Mark Cuban, who had expressed interest in backing a TikTok alternative built on the AT Protocol earlier this year. Leslie Feinzaig's Graham & Walker Venture Fund also participated in the funding round.

White, a self-taught software developer and former travel influencer, was inspired to create Skylight after TikTok faced a potential ban in the US. She and Hermeyer saw an opportunity to build a "ban-proof" social app on the AT Protocol, which they believed had proven its stability through Bluesky's success.

To generate buzz around the app, White leveraged her influencer background, documenting Skylight's development on TikTok and building a following of potential users. Her @buildwithtori TikTok profile now has nearly 50,000 followers, many of whom became early testers for the app.

While Skylight's current feature set is similar to Bluesky's, with support for 3-minute video uploads, White envisions the app becoming more than just a decentralized TikTok clone. She hints at future features that will allow users to customize their feed, including new gestures beyond swiping and scrolling. Other features in the works include support for sounds, duets, stitching, bookmarks, and playlists.

Skylight is now available publicly on the Apple App Store, after initial testing, and is in beta on the Google Play Store. As the app launches, it will be interesting to see how it competes with other TikTok alternatives and whether its use of the AT Protocol will provide a unique advantage in the market.

The launch of Skylight marks an important milestone in the development of the AT Protocol ecosystem, which is rapidly expanding to include a range of social media apps. As the protocol continues to gain traction, it will be worth watching how these apps interact and evolve, potentially changing the face of social media as we know it.