The company was founded in 1985 in Topeka, Kansas, United States, by Tim Jenison and Paul Montgomery.

[2] In 2005, NewTek introduced TriCaster, a product that merges live video switching, broadcast graphics, virtual sets, special effects, audio mixing, recording, social media publishing, and web streaming into an integrated, portable and compact appliance.

At NAB 2008, NewTek introduced TriCaster BROADCAST, the first model to deliver SDI video and audio support.

At NAB 2010, NewTek introduced TriCaster TCXD850, a 22-channel high-definition model in a rack mount form factor.

In 2017, version 3 of the protocol was released, which adds multicast support and a high-efficiency mode called NDI-HX.

[citation needed] In addition, the company developed LightWave 3D, a 3D modeling, rendering, and animation system, which has been used extensively in television and film.

For example, the television series Babylon 5, which eschewed models for space scenes, was 100% CGI from the first episode using the NewTek software.

In 2005, NewTek founder, Tim Jenison, was inducted into the San Antonio Inventors Hall of Fame as the "Father of Desktop Video."