Founded

Simple Star was founded in July 2001 by Chad Richard and Peter Rice. The company's flagship product, PhotoShow, was commercially released in March 2002.

Who We Are

Simple Star develops software products and services that help consumers share their memories in new, entertaining ways through PhotoShow, the most complete and easy-to-use photo platform available. Simple Star distributes its award-winning PhotoShow software primarily through partners such as cable companies, digital media software providers, online photo services, retailers with photofinishing services and hardware manufacturers.

Simple Star PhotoShow is the only photo storytelling platform that makes it easy for anyone to quickly and easily organize and edit their digital photos and video clips, and turn them into entertainment to enjoy and share on the screen of their choice - whether a PC, a TV or a handheld device. Unlike viewing static pictures in a photo album or on a computer, PhotoShows provide a rich multimedia experience that combines broadcast quality credits, captions, transitions, special effects and clip art with a compelling musical soundtrack.

Millions of new users every month are finding out how easy it is to create, share and view PhotoShows. Across multiple business sectors PhotoShow is emerging as an industry standard.

With funding from Venrock Associates, Simple Star is led by a seasoned team of professionals with deep experience in consumer products, interactive entertainment, digital media, web and software.

Simple Star is a privately held company.

Fast Facts

• More than 15,000 people a day install PhotoShow, over 5 million a year.
• Through Simple Star partners and other channels, PhotoShow software is being distributed to millions of new users every year. For example, Walgreens distributes close to 2 million copies of PhotoShow annually to its Photo Center customers.
• Via cable partners, PhotoShow software distribution reaches into more than 15 million broadband homes.
• Half a million PhotoShows are viewed daily via PhotoShow.com, over 15 million per month.