// startup autopsy

HotClickVideo

Shoppable video before anyone was ready to shop

marketfitSilent Shutdown

Quiet closure with no public announcement · Fatal mistake: Launched a shoppable video platform in 2009 when broadband penetration and merchant readiness for video commerce were both too immature to generate viable transaction volume.

Founded	2009
Closed	2012
Country	USA
Sector	Ecommerce

50%

Key Events Timeline

2009-01

FOUNDING

HotClickVideo founded in the USA with a vision for clickable, shoppable video content.

2009-06

FUNDING

Raised $525K in seed funding to build out the shoppable video platform.

2010-09

PRODUCT LAUNCH

Launched platform to merchants but adoption remained minimal due to immature video commerce ecosystem.

2012-06

SHUTDOWN

HotClickVideo ceased operations after failing to achieve meaningful traction or secure follow-on funding.

Full Analysis

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Documented cause

HotClickVideo attempted to build a business around monetizing shoppable video content, positioning itself in the interactive video commerce space. With only $525K in seed funding, the startup faced significant ...

structural challenges. The company struggled to achieve sufficient adoption from both merchants (who needed incentive to integrate shoppable features) and consumers (who needed to discover and engage

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€1.3M

Peak valuation

HypeCycle · MoatType · ResearchTags

HotClickVideo raised €0.525M before launched a shoppable video platform in 2009 when broadband penetration and merchant readiness for video commerce were both too immature to generate viable transaction volume. ended it. See the documented cause, verified lesson and all failure signals.

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Key Events Timeline

Documented cause

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