// startup autopsy
Justin.tv
Justin.tv was a live streaming platform that allowed regular people to broadcast video content, initially popular for sports and gaming streams before evolving into the gaming-focused Twitch platform.
marketfitpivot_failure
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Justin Kan and Emmett Shear are accepted into Y Combinator's accelerator program and receive $12,000 to work on Kiko, a digital calendar app.
MILESTONE
Kiko is launched and gains enough traction to earn $50,000 in additional funding. It eventually sells on eBay for $258,000.
FOUNDING
Justin.tv is launched as a 24/7 lifecasting platform where Justin Kan broadcasts his entire daily life. The platform generates instant media attention.
MILESTONE
Justin.tv relaunches after raising $8 million from Alsop Louie Partners and Felicis Ventures, pivoting from a single lifecast to a multi-category streaming platform. Jonas Brothers host a livestream attracting 80,000 viewers.
MILESTONE
Justin.tv reaches over 1 million registered users. The platform has 30,000+ live broadcasting channels.
MILESTONE
Justin.tv introduces sponsored channels and partners with advertisers like Amazon-backed The Talk Market to generate revenue.
MILESTONE
Justin.tv reaches 21 million users. Sports streaming becomes the most popular category and biggest source of traffic.
MILESTONE
Justin.tv creates a separate website for Twitch, its video game streaming category, which becomes increasingly popular and eventually outperforms the main platform.
SHUTDOWN
Justin.tv officially shuts down as the company rebrands to Twitch Interactive, consolidating all focus on the Twitch platform which has become exponentially more valuable and profitable than the original multi-category streaming service.