Rudy J. Ellis

Live streaming operator. CEO, Switchboard Live.

Switchboard Connect for public agencies: live video from the room, a recording residents can find later, and publish to the destinations they already use.

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What I work on

Switchboard Connect

I run Switchboard Live. Switchboard Connect is live video for public agencies: it takes a live signal from whatever is in the room, keeps a recording residents can find later, and publishes to YouTube, Facebook, X, Twitch, custom players, and the agency’s own site.

Building with agents

Public-agency streaming is the day job. I also build with bots, agents, and agentic coding. Operator in the loop, not an AI-startup generalist. More below.

Experience

Feb 2016–present

CEO, Switchboard Live

Fka Joicaster; name and focus changed during Techstars Cloud. Went through Techstars Cloud (San Antonio, Oct 2015–Feb 2016), a funding accelerator, not a job. San Antonio Demo Day. $1.5M seed (Nov 2017).

Aug 2013–Feb 2016 · Orlando

CEO & Co-Founder, Joicaster

Sep 2012–Oct 2013 · Greater Orlando

Director, Digital Broadcasts & Live Services, XOS Digital

Jul 2011–Sep 2012 · Lake Mary, FL

Director, Streaming Services, XOS Digital

Stood up their online streaming division.

Nov 2008–Jul 2011 · Sanford, FL

Director, Streaming Services, NeuLion Inc.

Sep 2007–Nov 2008 · Sanford, FL

Director, Network Operations, JumpTV

Oct 2001–Aug 2007 · Sanford, FL

Network Operations Manager, XOS Technologies, Inc.

Aug 1999–Jul 2001 · Maitland, FL

Assistant Producer II, EA Sports

Corporate path (not a job row). Remaining XOS later operated as XOS Digital.

Sources (corporate path)

Writing

Municipal streaming first. Titles as published. Company note: Switchboard Live $1.5M seed (Nov 2017).

Jun 1, 2025

The ROI of Government Transparency: Why Every Municipality Needs Live Streaming

On LinkedIn. Profile

Oct 9, 2015

Which one to choose?

“Stream Live, Everywhere.” JOICASTER, before it became Switchboard Live.

Building with agents

Public-agency live streaming is the day job. I also build with bots, agents, and agentic coding. That is how I move faster on product work. I am an operator who uses agents, not an AI-startup generalist.

Agentic coding

Shipping software with agents in the loop: write, review, and land changes without handing over judgment. The operator stays accountable for what ships.

Bots and agents

Hands-on automation that has to stay useful after the demo. Orchestrate tools to build better tools, then keep what actually works.

Also building

Founder, Diger Studios. Side products, not the hero.

Couple Pay

Live

A credit card paydown app for couples. Track balances together, choose snowball or avalanche strategies, and celebrate milestones as a team. No bank connectivity required.

Visit Couple Pay

Philadelphia Eagles

Sports as a lens for team dynamics and performance under pressure.

FAQ

Why public agencies rather than media companies for live streaming?

There is no clear market leader in public-sector live streaming. Rudy J. Ellis's operating view of the US buyer universe is about 22,000 city, county, and state governments that need streaming, closer to 39,000 if townships are included. Agencies need reliable, recordable, multi-destination live video for meetings and public information, not a media production stack.

What is Switchboard Live?

Switchboard Live is the company. The product is Switchboard Connect: live video for public agencies. Created February 2016 (fka Joicaster). Name and focus changed during Techstars Cloud. Joicaster went through Techstars Cloud (San Antonio, Oct 2015–Feb 2016), a funding accelerator, not a job.

What is Switchboard Connect?

Switchboard Connect is Switchboard Live's product for public-agency live video. It takes a live signal from whatever is in the room, keeps a recording residents can find later, and publishes to YouTube, Facebook, X, Twitch, custom players, and the agency's own site. Secure multistreaming, enterprise-grade compliance and reliability.

Say hello

Public-agency live video, Switchboard Connect, or building with agents. Or just shop talk. LinkedIn is the best place to start.