# Twitch: Emmett Shear

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-07-18
- Length: 1h 22m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=0) Introduction: Emmett Shear and the origins of Twitch
- [4:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=264) Childhood friendship with Justin Kan and college at Yale
- [7:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=464) Founding Kiko Calendar and selling it on eBay
- [22:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=1350) Launching Justin.tv and the 24/7 live stream experiment
- [35:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=2146) Raising capital, bandwidth costs, and achieving profitability
- [44:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=2667) Pivoting from Justin.tv to focus on gaming
- [53:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=3199) Building Twitch: Streamer partnerships and community features
- [1:03:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=3801) Investor rejection, Amazon acquisition, and community standards
- [1:18:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-18-twitch-emmett-shear#t=4713) The sale to Amazon and post-acquisition leadership

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Twitch (product)
- Justin.tv (product)
- Kiko (product)
- Y Combinator (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Starcraft (product)
- YouTube (product)
- UStream (product)
- Facebook (company)
- Google (company)
- Zoom (product)
- Snapchat (product)
- Instagram (product)
- Periscope (product)
- Meerkat (product)
- Xbox (product)
- Call of Duty (product)
- World of Warcraft (product)
- Gmail (product)
- Google Calendar (product)
- eBay (company)
- Tech Crunch (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 043: Tell us how you really feel, Jimmy..](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-10-30-episode-043-tell-us-how-you-really-feel-jimmy) (Making It)
- [Episode 029: How to be a sellout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-07-23-episode-029-how-to-be-a-sellout) (Making It)
- [Live Video Demos From the Shop Floor w/ Chip Royce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-03-07-live-video-demos-from-the-shop-floor-w-chip-royce) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [451: I Never Put a Quarter In Ms. Pacman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-08-09-451-i-never-put-a-quarter-in-ms-pacman) (Making It)
- [How to Build an Industrial Automation YouTube Channel with Tim Wilborne](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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