// startup autopsy
MindJolt
Rode the Facebook gaming wave — and got wiped out by mobile
platform dependencyAcqui-hire
Fatal mistake: MindJolt built its entire distribution strategy on Facebook and MySpace social platforms, creating fatal dependency on third-party ecosystems that could change policies or lose relevance at any time.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
MindJolt founded in San Francisco to build a casual game distribution platform leveraging Facebook and MySpace social graphs.
FUNDING
MindJolt raises $22M to expand its game catalog and grow its social gaming audience across major social networks.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
MindJolt reaches 20M monthly active users on Facebook, becoming one of the top casual gaming platforms on the social network.
ACQUISITION ATTEMPT
SGN (Social Gaming Network) acquires MindJolt as Facebook gaming begins to decline and mobile gaming accelerates.
SHUTDOWN
MindJolt brand and browser-based platform fully discontinued as SGN pivots entirely to mobile gaming, ending the social web gaming era.