How I Built This · 18 Jul 2022 · 1h 22m
Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch, explains how he pivoted Justin.tv from a general live-streaming service to a gaming-focused platform by listening to streamers and building features like the Partner Program and subscriber emotes. He details the company's early struggles with bandwidth costs, the decision to sell Kiko on eBay, and the strategic choice to focus on gaming despite VC skepticism. Shear discusses the community-driven nature of Twitch, its monetization model, and the eventual acquisition by Amazon for nearly $1 billion.
early-stage companies and companies scaling up
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Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their journeys to YouTube, recent tool purchases like the Glow Forge and Festool equipment, and the evolving landscape of creator monetization including YouTube Red and PR agency contracts. They share personal anecdotes about building projects, shop injuries, and recommend other creators like Paul Jackman and Dirty Smith.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the business realities of running maker channels, focusing on the necessity of sponsorships and the ethical considerations of monetization. They debate the value of sponsorships versus direct audience support via Patreon, with Bob Clagett detailing his decision to paint his DeWalt tools white after a contentious relationship with the brand ended. The hosts also share updates on their current projects, including Diresta's book and lathe purchase, Picciuto's guitar build, and Clagett's channel management strategies.
Chip Royce, founder of Flywheel Advisors and former CEO of Fusion 3, explains how his company scaled a $5,000 industrial 3D printer business by conducting live video demos directly from the shop floor. He details the evolution from a makeshift wire cage in 2016 to a professional 20x10 foot studio with PTZ cameras, which increased their demo close rates to 80-90%. Royce discusses the specific hardware and software setup required, including LifeStorm for transmission, and how this infrastructure was repurposed for customer training and remote troubleshooting.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the theme of compromise in their creative and business lives. They cover David's decision to buy kitchen cabinets from Cadnets.com to save time, Jimmy's reflection on past video game ad compromises, and Bob's experiences with corporate retail and team dynamics. The conversation also touches on YouTube metrics, the pressure of content creation, and recommendations for other creators like Whistling Diesel and Tyler Bell.
Tim Wilborne, founder of TW Controls, explains how his accidental YouTube channel grew to 50,000 subscribers by providing free PLC training and troubleshooting videos to industrial technicians. He details the company's evolution from a garage startup to a family-run business, highlighting the challenges of cash flow, project failures, and the decision to pivot from sales-driven content to curiosity-driven education. Wilborne also discusses the mental toll of online negativity, his strategy for managing 'haters' through humor and boundary-setting, and his advice for creators to focus on community building rather than monetization metrics.
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