// startup autopsy

NextMedium

The product placement marketplace nobody was ready to buy

marketfitSilent Shutdown

Quiet closure with no public announcement · Fatal mistake: Tried to systematize and digitize the highly relationship-driven, opaque branded entertainment industry before either side was ready for a transparent marketplace model.

Founded	2004
Closed	2008
Country	USA
Sector	Media

50%

Key Events Timeline

2004-01-01

FOUNDING

NextMedium founded to create a digital marketplace for branded entertainment and product placement deals.

2005-06-01

PRODUCT LAUNCH

Launched platform connecting advertisers and content producers for structured product placement transactions.

2006-01-01

FUNDING

Raised final funding totaling $9.5M as company pushed to achieve marketplace liquidity.

2008-01-01

SHUTDOWN

NextMedium ceased operations after failing to achieve the transaction volume needed to sustain the two-sided marketplace.

Full Analysis

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Documented cause

NextMedium operated a marketplace connecting advertisers and content creators for branded entertainment and product placement deals. Founded during the early 2000s media technology boom, the company raised $9.5...

M in funding with its final round in 2006. However, NextMedium failed to achieve sustainable growth due to fundamental market challenges. The branded content marketplace proved highly fragmented, with

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€23.8M

Peak valuation

HypeCycle · MoatType · ResearchTags

NextMedium raised €9.5M before tried to systematize and digitize the highly relationship-driven, opaque branded entertainment industry before either side was ready for a transparent marketplace model. ended it. See the documented cause, verified lesson and all failure signals.

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Key Events Timeline

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