// startup autopsy

LiveBid

Real-time auction tech swallowed by Amazon's eBay ambitions

acquisition gone wrongAcqui-hire

Fatal mistake: Relied on a single acquirer's strategic direction; when Amazon abandoned auctions, LiveBid's technology became obsolete.

Founded	1996
Closed	1999
Country	USA
Sector	Marketplace

50%

Key Events Timeline

1996-01-01

FOUNDING

LiveBid founded to provide real-time internet bidding software for live auction events.

1998-06-01

FUNDING

LiveBid raises $1.5M to expand its real-time auction streaming platform.

1999-01-01

PRODUCT LAUNCH

LiveBid gains traction with auction houses seeking online presence during the dot-com boom.

1999-06-01

ACQUISITION ATTEMPT

Amazon acquires LiveBid to integrate live auction streaming into Amazon Auctions, its eBay competitor.

2000-01-01

SHUTDOWN

LiveBid's standalone operations cease as Amazon absorbs the technology; Amazon Auctions later shutters entirely.

Full Analysis

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Documented cause

LiveBid.com, founded in 1996, was an early pioneer in live, event-based online auctions, providing real-time bidding software for auctioneers and auction houses. Based in Seattle, the company achieved early suc...

cess during the dot-com boom. However, in 1999, after only three years of operation, Amazon acquired LiveBid.com to strengthen its own auction platform competing against eBay. Rather than operating as

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€2.7M

Peak valuation

HypeCycle · MoatType · ResearchTags

LiveBid raised €1.5M before relied on a single acquirer's strategic direction; when amazon abandoned auctions, livebid's technology became obsolete. 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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