Atlas Artists Backs Rollout of Val Segal’s Telegram Alternative, ELLO

Atlas Artists is backing the launch of ELLO, a next-generation messaging and media platform created by entrepreneur Val Segal, designed as a modern alternative to Telegram with built-in tools for creators, brands, entertainment companies, and legacy publishers. The platform officially debuted this week across iOS, Android, and the web.

“ELLO isn’t just another messaging app — it’s a communication platform built for the creator economy,” said Dave Fleming, CEO of Atlas Artists. “It combines private messaging with channels, subscriptions, and monetization in a way that no major messenger has successfully done.”

Segal spent more than seven years developing ELLO, drawing on his experience building and operating a licensed YouTube Multi-Channel Network, where he worked closely with creators and publishers on audience growth and monetization.

ELLO blends encrypted chats, public and private channels, event channels, groups, and content publishing into a single ecosystem. Users can launch subscription-based channels, monetize videos, host paid events, and create audio playlists directly inside the app.

In addition to creators and brands, ELLO offers strong advantages for legacy magazine publishers. Instead of static PDFs or formats that are difficult to read on mobile devices, publishers can create fully native, mobile-first digital magazines designed specifically for phone users. Content is scrollable, interactive, and optimized for everyday consumption inside a messaging environment.

Publishers can also link to external pages for brands, sponsors, and advertisers, allowing seamless integration between editorial content, commercial partners, and e-commerce without disrupting the reader experience.

Musicians, influencers, studios, publishers, and brands gain access to native monetization tools that enable them to earn from advertising, subscriptions, sponsored content, and exclusive drops without relying on external platforms or third-party services.

The platform includes an internal wallet with real-time analytics and revenue tracking, allowing partners to monitor income from multiple sources in one place and understand which content drives engagement and revenue.

Segal emphasized ELLO’s creator-first and publisher-friendly philosophy:

“We’ve built a secure, dynamic platform where communication, content, and business growth live together, giving creators and publishers real ownership of their audience.”

Security and privacy are core to ELLO’s design. The app does not require a phone number to sign up, provides encryption by default, and offers unlimited media storage. Channels and content are fully accessible via web browsers, extending reach beyond app stores and improving discoverability.

Strategic partnerships with entertainment companies, including Atlas Artists, Amo Pictures, Supernova, and Paragon West, have supported the launch.

As platforms like Telegram continue to scale without native monetization or modern publishing tools, ELLO fills a growing gap for creators, brands, and publishers seeking to combine communication, content distribution, and revenue in a single platform. With its built-in economics and channel-driven model, ELLO positions itself as a new standard for messaging in the entertainment and media era.

ELLO is live globally and plans to issue no more than 100 Multi-Channel Licenses to selected partners, mirroring the early scarcity model that helped shape YouTube’s original MCN ecosystem.