Justin Kan
Encyclopedia
Justin Kan is an Internet entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of live video platforms Justin.tv
and TwitchTV
, as well as the mobile social video application, Socialcam. He also serves as a part-time partner at venture capital firm Y Combinator
. His attempt to broadcast his entire life at Justin.tv popularized the term "lifecasting
".
He also contributes to the technology news site TechCrunch
and co-founded Kiko Software, the first ajax based online calendar, with Emmett Shear
. Kan graduated from Yale University in 2005 with degrees in physics and philosophy.
Justin.tv
In 2007, Justin Kan and partners Emmett Shear
, Michael Seibel and Kyle Vogt, started Justin.tv
, a 24-7 live video feed of Kan’s life, broadcast via a webcam attached to his head.
Kan’s “lifecasting
” lasted about eight months. The novelty of Kan's concept attracted media attention, and resulting interviews with him included one by Ann Curry
on the Today Show. Viewers accompanied Kan as he walked the streets of San Francisco, sometimes involved in both pre-planned events (trapeze lesson, dance lesson) and also spontaneous situations (being invited into the local Scientology
center by a sidewalk recruiter).
Afterward, the company decided to transition to providing a live video platform so anyone could publish a live video stream. Justin.tv, the platform, launched in 2007 and is now one of the largest live video platforms in the world with more than 30 million unique users every month.
TwitchTV
After Justin.tv launched in 2006, the site quickly began building subject-specific content categories like Social, Tech, Sports, Entertainment, News & Events, Gaming and others. Gaming, in particular, grew very fast and became the most popular content on the site.
The company then decided to spin off the gaming content under a separate brand at a separate site. They named it TwitchTV, inspired by the term twitch gameplay. It launched officially in public beta on June 6, 2011.
The application has eclipsed 2 million downloads and has continued to add features list, most notably with the addition of video filters.
in June 2011, where he offers advice to the new startups in each batch. He was a member of the first batch of YC-funded startups in 2005 for Kiko Calendar, and was funded by YC again for Justin.tv.
Justin.tv
Justin.tv is a website created by Justin Kan, Emmett Shear, Michael Seibel and Kyle Vogt in 2007 that allows anyone to broadcast video online. Justin.tv user accounts are called "channels", and users are encouraged to broadcast a wide variety of user-generated live video content, called...
and TwitchTV
TwitchTV
TwitchTV is an online video platform designed for broadcasting and viewing people playing video games live. The site attracted 8 million unique viewers in July of 2011...
, as well as the mobile social video application, Socialcam. He also serves as a part-time partner at venture capital firm Y Combinator
Y Combinator
Y Combinator is an American seed-stage startup funding firm, started in March 2005. Y Combinator provides seed money, advice, and connections at two 3-month programs per year...
. His attempt to broadcast his entire life at Justin.tv popularized the term "lifecasting
Lifecasting (video stream)
Lifecasting is a continual broadcast of events in a person's life through digital media. Typically, lifecasting is transmitted through the medium of the Internet and can involve wearable technology...
".
He also contributes to the technology news site TechCrunch
TechCrunch
TechCrunch is a web publication that offers technology news and analysis, as well as profiling of startup companies, products, and websites. It was founded by Michael Arrington in 2005, and was first published on June 11, 2005....
and co-founded Kiko Software, the first ajax based online calendar, with Emmett Shear
Emmett Shear
Emmett Shear is an Internet entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of live video platforms Justin.tv and TwitchTV. He's also a part-time partner at venture capital firm Y Combinator. Shear is also co-founder of Kiko Software, the first AJAX-based online calendar...
. Kan graduated from Yale University in 2005 with degrees in physics and philosophy.
Justin.tvJustin.tvJustin.tv is a website created by Justin Kan, Emmett Shear, Michael Seibel and Kyle Vogt in 2007 that allows anyone to broadcast video online. Justin.tv user accounts are called "channels", and users are encouraged to broadcast a wide variety of user-generated live video content, called...
In 2007, Justin Kan and partners Emmett ShearEmmett Shear
Emmett Shear is an Internet entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of live video platforms Justin.tv and TwitchTV. He's also a part-time partner at venture capital firm Y Combinator. Shear is also co-founder of Kiko Software, the first AJAX-based online calendar...
, Michael Seibel and Kyle Vogt, started Justin.tv
Justin.tv
Justin.tv is a website created by Justin Kan, Emmett Shear, Michael Seibel and Kyle Vogt in 2007 that allows anyone to broadcast video online. Justin.tv user accounts are called "channels", and users are encouraged to broadcast a wide variety of user-generated live video content, called...
, a 24-7 live video feed of Kan’s life, broadcast via a webcam attached to his head.
Kan’s “lifecasting
Lifecasting (video stream)
Lifecasting is a continual broadcast of events in a person's life through digital media. Typically, lifecasting is transmitted through the medium of the Internet and can involve wearable technology...
” lasted about eight months. The novelty of Kan's concept attracted media attention, and resulting interviews with him included one by Ann Curry
Ann Curry
Ann Curry is an American television news journalist and co-anchor on NBC's morning television program Today. She is the former news anchor on Today, a role she began in March 1997, and was the host of Dateline NBC from 2005-2011.Curry is a Board Member at the IWMF .-Biography:Curry was born in...
on the Today Show. Viewers accompanied Kan as he walked the streets of San Francisco, sometimes involved in both pre-planned events (trapeze lesson, dance lesson) and also spontaneous situations (being invited into the local Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
center by a sidewalk recruiter).
Afterward, the company decided to transition to providing a live video platform so anyone could publish a live video stream. Justin.tv, the platform, launched in 2007 and is now one of the largest live video platforms in the world with more than 30 million unique users every month.
TwitchTVTwitchTVTwitchTV is an online video platform designed for broadcasting and viewing people playing video games live. The site attracted 8 million unique viewers in July of 2011...
After Justin.tv launched in 2006, the site quickly began building subject-specific content categories like Social, Tech, Sports, Entertainment, News & Events, Gaming and others. Gaming, in particular, grew very fast and became the most popular content on the site.The company then decided to spin off the gaming content under a separate brand at a separate site. They named it TwitchTV, inspired by the term twitch gameplay. It launched officially in public beta on June 6, 2011.
Socialcam
Socialcam launched March 7, 2011. Socialcam is a mobile social video application for iPhone and Android. It allows users to capture and share video online and on mobile, as well as via Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks.The application has eclipsed 2 million downloads and has continued to add features list, most notably with the addition of video filters.
Y Combinator
Kan became a part-time partner at Y CombinatorY Combinator
Y Combinator is an American seed-stage startup funding firm, started in March 2005. Y Combinator provides seed money, advice, and connections at two 3-month programs per year...
in June 2011, where he offers advice to the new startups in each batch. He was a member of the first batch of YC-funded startups in 2005 for Kiko Calendar, and was funded by YC again for Justin.tv.