Twitch operates a live video game streaming platform that enables gamers to stream their play and offers VOD content. The service reports 45 million monthly unique viewers and hosts esports tournaments that attract very large concurrent audiences (for example, 450,000 viewers for a semi-final). Twitch appeals to advertisers targeting young males with disposable income. The company has announced upcoming integration with Xbox One and PlayStation 4 so gamers can stream console play, a move expected to grow viewership. Twitch faces uneven global performance delivering high-definition video and requires more servers and infrastructure to scale. The company has not disclosed revenue or other financial performance metrics publicly. Twitch is a San Francisco-based live-streaming platform spun out of Justin.tv and focused on e-sports and gaming. Launched about a year before the article, it quickly became the company's primary business and attracts roughly 20 million gamers tuning in. Twitch monetizes through advertising (including a deal with CBS Interactive to sell its video ad inventory), a growing pay-per-view business for live events, and a subscription model available to streaming partners. The company has struck partnerships with multiple game publishers and e-sports leagues that drive distribution and revenue. At the time of the article Twitch had about 60 employees and planned to significantly increase headcount to build out engineering and support streaming on more devices and game consoles. The company was investing in an SDK to let gamers broadcast and view games directly from consoles as part of its growth plan.

Total raised

$35M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Sep 2013