Azarus, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that develops an automated video game challenges platform designed to enhance interaction between gamers and streamers. Incorporated in 2018, Azarus offers a unique "smart-challenge" system that fosters dynamic engagement within the gaming community. The platform allows streamers to reward viewers with tokens for correctly answering real-time questions related to their streams. This innovative approach not only facilitates new gameplay mechanics but also provides gamers with opportunities for additional revenue generation. Azarus aims to redefine the relationship between streamers and their audiences by creating a more interactive and rewarding experience in the gaming landscape.
Azarus, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that develops an automated video game challenges platform designed to enhance interaction between gamers and streamers. Incorporated in 2018, Azarus offers a unique "smart-challenge" system that fosters dynamic engagement within the gaming community. The platform allows streamers to reward viewers with tokens for correctly answering real-time questions related to their streams. This innovative approach not only facilitates new gameplay mechanics but also provides gamers with opportunities for additional revenue generation. Azarus aims to redefine the relationship between streamers and their audiences by creating a more interactive and rewarding experience in the gaming landscape.
Audius, Inc. develops a decentralized community of artists, developers, and listeners collaborating using blockchain technology to share music. It provides features that include audio file hosting and streaming, creator dashboard, exclusinve content, listen without downloading additional software, and earn royalties. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in San Francisco, California.
Wave focuses on interactive virtual experiences with a mission to help artists make money at the intersection of gaming and entertainment. Wave’s technology enables musicians to create lifelike avatars of themselves that can “perform” their music on a virtual stage. Most of these virtual shows take place either on the company’s YouTube channel, but Wave’s apps let users tune in on gaming consoles, phones or even the Oculus Rift VR headset. While watching a Wave, viewers can log in to comment in a chat function and give live feedback to the avatar performers.
Mobcrush, Inc., a technology and entertainment company, develops a live streaming application and community for gamers. It offers Mobcrush, a mobile application that connects gamers worldwide. The company’s application enables users to create and broadcast the gameplay live from the phone or tablet; watch and hang out with creators and tune in for epic events and eSports competitions; and connect and chat with a community of players that love the same games. Mobcrush, Inc. was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Santa Monica, California.
Mobcrush, Inc., a technology and entertainment company, develops a live streaming application and community for gamers. It offers Mobcrush, a mobile application that connects gamers worldwide. The company’s application enables users to create and broadcast the gameplay live from the phone or tablet; watch and hang out with creators and tune in for epic events and eSports competitions; and connect and chat with a community of players that love the same games. Mobcrush, Inc. was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Santa Monica, California.
Ximalaya (喜马拉雅) is a service website that enables users to share voices and personal radio stations. It is a product of Beijing Nali Huiju Network Science and Technology Co., Ltd. It was founded in August, 2012 and is committed to the construction and operation of online audio sharing platform. It launched ""Ximalaya APP"" in March 2013, and in just half a year, it achieved the target of ten million subscribers. In early May of 2014, the number of activated users of Himalaya exceeded 50 million, making Ximalaya the biggest online audio sharing platform in China. On May 22, 2014, Himalayan announced that it has successfully received an A series venture capital investment of 11.5 million US dollars. As of May 2014, the Ximalaya certified audio show creators were more than 6000. Its established columns were 240000 with audio volume reaching nearly 3 million and average daily new upload audio hitting more than 10000.
Ximalaya (喜马拉雅) is a service website that enables users to share voices and personal radio stations. It is a product of Beijing Nali Huiju Network Science and Technology Co., Ltd. It was founded in August, 2012 and is committed to the construction and operation of online audio sharing platform. It launched ""Ximalaya APP"" in March 2013, and in just half a year, it achieved the target of ten million subscribers. In early May of 2014, the number of activated users of Himalaya exceeded 50 million, making Ximalaya the biggest online audio sharing platform in China. On May 22, 2014, Himalayan announced that it has successfully received an A series venture capital investment of 11.5 million US dollars. As of May 2014, the Ximalaya certified audio show creators were more than 6000. Its established columns were 240000 with audio volume reaching nearly 3 million and average daily new upload audio hitting more than 10000.
Plex is a media server software platform that allows users to curate and stream a wide array of personal and global media content, including movies, TV shows, videos, music, and photos. Founded in 2009 and based in Los Gatos, California, Plex serves as a centralized hub for users to access their media collections from any device at any time. The platform offers a free streaming service, with an optional premium subscription called Plex Pass, which enhances the experience by providing features such as DVR capabilities for recording live television, offline media syncing, and advanced management tools. Additional offerings for premium users include parental controls, music videos, and trailers, making Plex a comprehensive solution for managing and enjoying media.
SoundCloud is a social sound platform that enables users to create, upload, and share audio content, including music. Launched in 2008 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, it serves as a hub for a diverse community of creators and listeners. The platform allows sound creators to instantly record and distribute their works while providing them with detailed statistics and feedback from the community. SoundCloud connects artists with their fans globally, facilitating the promotion and sharing of music through blogs, websites, and social networks. This open platform not only helps artists distribute their work but also enhances the music discovery experience for users.
Chill, a Los Angeles, CA-based social video discovery platform. Co-founded in early 2012 by Dan Gould and Brian Norgard, Chill is a platform for social video that helps premium content partners such as TMZ, Jimmy Kimmel Live and PUMA find and engage new audiences through social discovery. It has over 19 million registered users.
Vline is a company that specializes in providing cloud infrastructure specifically for WebRTC applications. It offers a platform that allows web and mobile developers to seamlessly integrate high-quality video conferencing capabilities into their applications, eliminating the need for Flash or plug-ins. With its comprehensive suite of tools and cloud services, Vline facilitates real-time communication by enabling developers to incorporate live video functionalities directly into web browsers. This focus on enhancing communication technology positions Vline as a valuable resource for developers seeking to enrich user experiences through video integration.
SoundCloud
Series C in 2012
SoundCloud is a social sound platform where anyone can create and share sounds. It allows people to discover and enjoy the largest selection of music from the world’s most diverse creator community. This is made possible by an open platform that directly connects creators and their fans across the globe. Sound creators can use the platform to instantly record, upload, and share sounds across the internet, as well as receive detailed stats and feedback from the SoundCloud community. SoundCloud was launched in 2008 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss.
Chill, a Los Angeles, CA-based social video discovery platform. Co-founded in early 2012 by Dan Gould and Brian Norgard, Chill is a platform for social video that helps premium content partners such as TMZ, Jimmy Kimmel Live and PUMA find and engage new audiences through social discovery. It has over 19 million registered users.
Spotify is a leading music streaming service headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and operates on a global scale with 602 million monthly active users as of 2023. Founded in 2006, Spotify offers an extensive catalog of music and podcasts, allowing users to access content on various devices, including computers, mobile phones, and tablets. The platform features both a premium subscription model, which provides ad-free streaming, and an ad-supported service, generating revenue from ads. In 2023, 86% of Spotify's revenue came from premium subscriptions, while 14% was derived from advertising. Users can discover music collections, create and share playlists, and receive personalized recommendations. Spotify's infrastructure supports integration with social media platforms, enabling artists to promote their music and engage with fans effectively. The company operates various subsidiaries, including Spotify India Private Limited, enhancing its presence in international markets.
Mevio is a prominent independent online video entertainment network that specializes in delivering short-form video content to a wide audience. The platform features a diverse array of hosted shows, with hundreds of rotating programs offering thousands of new episodes each month. Mevio boasts a substantial library that contains over 250,000 episodes across various genres, including technology, music, sports, health and fitness, and comedy. To cater to specific demographics, Mevio operates four distinct networks targeting men, women, technology enthusiasts, and music lovers, ensuring that it meets the varied interests of its viewers.
RGB Networks, Inc. specializes in network video processing solutions designed for multiscreen IP video delivery. The company offers a range of products under its video intelligence architecture (VIA), including tools for grooming, statistical multiplexing, transrating, and digital program insertion. Their solutions cater to various applications, such as video-on-demand and switched digital video, and include a modular media converter for ASI-to-gigabit Ethernet conversion. RGB Networks also provides an IPTV solution for Internet protocol-based video services, a simulcast edge processor for digital decoding, and a universal scalable modulator for multi-service digital edge modulation. By enabling multiple system operators and video service providers to implement switched digital networks, RGB Networks supports the efficient delivery and monetization of live and on-demand video across diverse platforms.
Akimbo is a white label video solution. It includes an advertising system and "supports multiple business models including ad-supported, transactional, subscription, download-to-own, download-to-burn, pay-per-minute, gift cards and account credits."
PeakStream, Inc. provides software application platform for the high performance computing market. It offers Platform, a software application platform that enables users to program multi-core and parallel processors, and convert them into computing engines for computationally intense applications. The company also provides Workstation, which allows software developers to program processors, such as multi-core CPUs and graphics processor units directly on their desktops; and API that enables software developers and engineers to run HPC applications on x86 systems equipped with processors. In addition, PeakStream offers technical support, training, and educational services. It serves markets, such as oil/gas, financial services, defense, and research. The company was formerly known as Shakti Systems, Inc. PeakStream, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. As of June 5, 2007, PeakStream, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Google Inc.
RGB Networks, Inc. specializes in network video processing solutions designed for multiscreen IP video delivery. The company offers a range of products under its video intelligence architecture (VIA), including tools for grooming, statistical multiplexing, transrating, and digital program insertion. Their solutions cater to various applications, such as video-on-demand and switched digital video, and include a modular media converter for ASI-to-gigabit Ethernet conversion. RGB Networks also provides an IPTV solution for Internet protocol-based video services, a simulcast edge processor for digital decoding, and a universal scalable modulator for multi-service digital edge modulation. By enabling multiple system operators and video service providers to implement switched digital networks, RGB Networks supports the efficient delivery and monetization of live and on-demand video across diverse platforms.
Mevio is a prominent independent online video entertainment network that specializes in delivering short-form video content to a wide audience. The platform features a diverse array of hosted shows, with hundreds of rotating programs offering thousands of new episodes each month. Mevio boasts a substantial library that contains over 250,000 episodes across various genres, including technology, music, sports, health and fitness, and comedy. To cater to specific demographics, Mevio operates four distinct networks targeting men, women, technology enthusiasts, and music lovers, ensuring that it meets the varied interests of its viewers.
PeakStream, Inc. provides software application platform for the high performance computing market. It offers Platform, a software application platform that enables users to program multi-core and parallel processors, and convert them into computing engines for computationally intense applications. The company also provides Workstation, which allows software developers to program processors, such as multi-core CPUs and graphics processor units directly on their desktops; and API that enables software developers and engineers to run HPC applications on x86 systems equipped with processors. In addition, PeakStream offers technical support, training, and educational services. It serves markets, such as oil/gas, financial services, defense, and research. The company was formerly known as Shakti Systems, Inc. PeakStream, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. As of June 5, 2007, PeakStream, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Google Inc.
RGB Networks, Inc. specializes in network video processing solutions designed for multiscreen IP video delivery. The company offers a range of products under its video intelligence architecture (VIA), including tools for grooming, statistical multiplexing, transrating, and digital program insertion. Their solutions cater to various applications, such as video-on-demand and switched digital video, and include a modular media converter for ASI-to-gigabit Ethernet conversion. RGB Networks also provides an IPTV solution for Internet protocol-based video services, a simulcast edge processor for digital decoding, and a universal scalable modulator for multi-service digital edge modulation. By enabling multiple system operators and video service providers to implement switched digital networks, RGB Networks supports the efficient delivery and monetization of live and on-demand video across diverse platforms.
Akimbo is a white label video solution. It includes an advertising system and "supports multiple business models including ad-supported, transactional, subscription, download-to-own, download-to-burn, pay-per-minute, gift cards and account credits."
As of March 2001, Geocast Network Systems, Inc. went out of business. Geocast Network Systems, Inc. engages in building a platform that enables the delivery of broadband services to the PC and television. It designs and builds a content delivery network that leverages digital television transmission, including satellite, digital television, and cable broadcast signals for access to media content. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Menlo Park, California.