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DEEP DIVE ARTICLE SOCIAL MEDIA

Who Owns Rumble? [Founder, Investors, Funding and Privacy]

Rumble, a rapidly growing video-sharing platform, has gained attention as an alternative to YouTube, championing free speech and content diversity.

Short answer? – Who Owns Rumble? – Rumble, founded in 2013 by Chris Pavlovski, is primarily owned by its founder and private investors. Peter Thiel’s Thiel Capital invested $6 million in Rumble in 2021, signaling its potential as a growing video-sharing platform.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at Rumble’s ownership, including any sales and relevant stats in tables.

Rumble’s Founding and Ownership

Founder: Chris Pavlovski

Rumble was established in 2013 by tech entrepreneur Chris Pavlovski, whose expertise lies in digital media and online video technology. Before founding Rumble, Chris had worked on various online video projects and had gained valuable insights into the industry.

Recognizing the need for a platform that upheld free speech and content diversity, he set out to create Rumble as an alternative to existing video-sharing platforms with more restrictive policies.

Chris’s vision for Rumble was to build an online space where content creators could freely express their ideas and opinions without fear of censorship. In addition, he aimed to provide creators with transparent and fair monetization opportunities, setting Rumble apart from competitors like YouTube, which often faced criticism for their monetization policies and practices.

Under Chris’s leadership, Rumble has grown significantly, attracting millions of users and billions of video views. The platform’s commitment to free speech, diverse content, and fair monetization has resonated with creators who feel limited by the restrictions imposed by other platforms.

Rumble Monthly Active Users (MAU) based on the data provided by Statista:

Quarter Rumble MAU (in millions)
Q1 2020 1.6
Q2 2020 3.5
Q3 2020 5.0
Q4 2020 31.6
Q1 2021 30.0
Q2 2021 27.5
Q3 2021 36.0
Q4 2021 33.3

As Rumble continues to evolve and expand, Chris Pavlovski remains dedicated to maintaining the platform’s core values, ensuring that Rumble remains a supportive and open environment for creators and viewers alike.

Who Owns Rumble? [Founder, Investors, Funding and Privacy] 1

Current Ownership Structure

As a of September, 2022 – Peter Thiel-backed video platform Rumble plans to go public via a SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) deal with CF Acquisition Corp. VI.

The transaction values Rumble at $2.1 billion and is expected to provide the company with $420 million in cash, including a $100 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) from investors like Thiel Capital, Fidelity Management, and BlackRock.

Rumble seeks to leverage this deal to further expand its user base and compete with YouTube.

Peter Thiel Investment in Rumble

In November 2021, Peter Thiel, a well-known venture capitalist and co-founder of PayPal, made a significant investment in Rumble, highlighting the platform’s potential and growing influence in the online video market. Thiel, who is also an early investor in Facebook and a partner at the Founders Fund, invested $6 million in Rumble through his venture capital firm, Thiel Capital.

This substantial investment not only showcases Rumble’s increasing prominence as a viable alternative to YouTube but also demonstrates the confidence that prominent investors like Thiel have in Rumble’s future growth and success. The financial support provided by Thiel Capital allows Rumble to further develop its platform, enhance its features, and expand its user base.

The backing from a renowned investor like Peter Thiel also brings credibility and increased visibility to Rumble, potentially attracting more creators and viewers to the platform. With the additional resources and support from Thiel Capital, Rumble is well-positioned to compete against established players in the online video market, such as YouTube, and continue to champion free speech and fair monetization for content creators.

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Notable investments made by Peter Thiel

Company Industry Year
PayPal Payment Processing and Digital Wallet 1998
Facebook Social Media 2004
Palantir Technologies Data Analytics and Security 2003
Clarium Capital Global Macro Hedge Fund 2002
Founders Fund Venture Capital Firm 2005
Spotify Music Streaming 2009
Airbnb Vacation Rentals and Travel 2010
Lyft Ride-Hailing and Transportation 2011
Stripe Payment Processing 2012
Asana Project Management and Collaboration 2008
SpaceX Aerospace and Space Travel 2008
Quora Question and Answer Platform 2010
Reddit Online Community and Content Sharing 2014
SoFi Online Personal Finance Company 2015
Rumble Video Sharing Platform 2021

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and Peter Thiel has made numerous other investments throughout his career.

Rumble’s Growth in Numbers

Rumble Statistics
Unique users (2021) Over 30 million
Video views (2021) Over 2 billion
Top channels Dan Bongino, Devin Nunes, Diamond and Silk

Rumble, founded by Chris Pavlovski in 2013, is a privately held company primarily owned by its founder and other private investors.

The platform has seen significant growth in recent years, with over 30 million unique users and more than 2 billion video views as of 2021.

High-profile investments, such as Peter Thiel’s $6 million investment, showcase Rumble’s potential as a major player in the online video market, providing content creators with an attractive alternative to YouTube.

Q: Who is the founder of Rumble?

A: Rumble was founded in 2013 by Chris Pavlovski, a tech entrepreneur with a background in digital media and online video technology.

Q: Who owns Rumble?

A: Rumble is primarily owned by its founder, Chris Pavlovski, and other private investors.

Q: Has Rumble received any significant investments?

A: Yes, in November 2021, Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and a renowned venture capitalist, invested $6 million in Rumble through his venture capital firm, Thiel Capital.

Q: Why did Peter Thiel invest in Rumble?

A: Peter Thiel’s investment in Rumble showcases the platform’s growing prominence in the online video space and provides the platform with additional resources to compete with established players like YouTube.

Q: Is Rumble a publicly traded company?

A: As of 2022, Rumble went public.

Q: What is Rumble’s mission and vision?

A: Rumble’s vision is to create a platform that prioritizes free speech, content diversity, and provides content creators with transparent and fair monetization opportunities.

Q: How has Rumble grown since its founding?

A: Rumble has experienced significant growth since its founding, with over 30 million unique users and more than 2 billion video views as of 2021.

Q: Is Rumble planning to go public in the future?

A: There are currently no public statements regarding Rumble’s plans to go public. As a privately held company, any plans to go public would be announced by the company at a later date.

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DEEP DIVE ARTICLE YOUTUBE

The Evolution of YouTube: A Comprehensive Analysis of Its History, Ownership, and Business Success

As the world’s leading video-sharing platform, YouTube has transformed the way we consume and create content.

In this comprehensive analysis, we’ll delve into YouTube’s history, examine its current ownership structure, and explore the factors that have contributed to its phenomenal success.

The short answer of Who Owns YouTube – YouTube, founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim in 2005, was acquired by Google in 2006. It’s now a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., as of Sundar Pichai as Alphabet CEO and Neal Mohan as YouTube CEO.

Get ready for a deep dive into the story of YouTube and its place in the digital landscape.

The Early Days of YouTube

YouTube was founded in February 2005 by three former PayPal employees: Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim.

The idea for the platform was born out of their frustration with the difficulty of sharing videos online.

They launched the site with the mission of making video sharing simple and accessible for everyone. The first video, titled “Me at the zoo,” was uploaded by Jawed Karim on April 23, 2005, marking the beginning of a new era in online content.

Acquisition by Google

In November 2006, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock, recognizing the platform’s potential to revolutionize the way people access and engage with video content.

The acquisition enabled YouTube to leverage Google’s resources and infrastructure, facilitating its rapid growth and solidifying its position as the leading video-sharing platform.

The Formation of Alphabet Inc.

In 2015, Google created Alphabet Inc., a new parent company that would oversee Google and its subsidiaries, including YouTube.

This restructuring allowed Google to separate its core search and advertising business from its other ventures, providing more transparency and better management for its diverse range of projects.

As a result, YouTube became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet.

The Evolution of YouTube: A Comprehensive Analysis of Its History, Ownership, and Business Success 1

Key People and Their Impact on YouTube

  1. Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim: As the founders of YouTube, Hurley, Chen, and Karim played a crucial role in shaping the platform’s initial vision and creating a user-friendly video-sharing experience. Although they are no longer directly involved in the company, their impact on the development of YouTube is undeniable.
  2. Larry Page and Sergey Brin: As the co-founders of Google, Page and Brin were instrumental in the acquisition of YouTube. Their creation of Alphabet Inc. provided a structure that allowed YouTube to thrive within the larger organization. While they have since stepped down from their executive roles, they continue to be influential as board members and controlling shareholders of Alphabet.
  3. Sundar Pichai: Appointed as CEO of Alphabet in December 2019, Sundar Pichai oversees all of the company’s subsidiaries, including YouTube. His leadership has helped drive innovation and growth throughout the organization.
  4. Susan Wojcicki (up to Fab 2023): As YouTube’s CEO since 2014, Susan Wojcicki was a driving force behind the platform’s ongoing success. She oversaw numerous initiatives, including the launch of YouTube Premium, the expansion of YouTube TV, and the growth of the platform’s advertising revenue.

Financial Success and Market Dominance

  1. Advertising Revenue: YouTube’s advertising revenue has skyrocketed over the years, reaching $19.7 billion in 2020. This figure represents a 30.4% increase from the previous year and highlights the platform’s continued growth.
  2. Market Share: As of 2021, YouTube commands a staggering 73% of the global online video market share. This dominance places it well ahead of competitors such as Facebook and TikTok.
  3. User Base: YouTube boasts over 2 billion logged-in monthly users, making it one of the largest social media platforms in the world. This vast user base has helped drive the platform’s advertising revenue and overall success.
  4. Content Creation: With approximately 500 hours of video content uploaded every minute, YouTube has become the go-to platform for content creators and consumers alike. This continuous influx of content has played a key role in retaining users and attracting new audiences.
  5. YouTube Premium and YouTube TV: As part of its efforts to diversify its revenue streams, YouTube launched YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) in 2015 and YouTube TV in 2017. YouTube Premium offers ad-free viewing, original content, and access to YouTube Music, while YouTube TV provides live TV streaming and on-demand content. These services have helped broaden YouTube’s appeal and generate additional revenue for the platform.

How Much is YouTube TV? A Comprehensive Guide to Pricing and Features 1

The Evolution of YouTube’s Business Model

For you to understand YouTube, the growth of YouTube and its influence – you need to understand it’s business model.

Advertising

YouTube’s primary source of revenue has always been advertising. Over the years, the platform has introduced various ad formats, such as skippable and non-skippable video ads, display ads, and sponsored cards.

YouTube’s robust targeting capabilities and massive user base have made it an attractive platform for advertisers looking to reach their target audiences.

Content Creators and Monetization

YouTube has created numerous opportunities for content creators to monetize their work through the YouTube Partner Program, which allows eligible creators to earn revenue from ads displayed on their videos.

In addition, YouTube has introduced features like Super Chat, Channel Memberships, and Merchandise Shelf, enabling creators to generate income directly from their audiences.

Subscription Services

As mentioned earlier, YouTube has expanded its offerings with subscription services like YouTube Premium and YouTube TV. These services not only generate additional revenue but also help the platform compete with other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Key Figures in YouTube’s Ownership and Management

Name Role/Position Contribution
Chad Hurley Co-founder of YouTube Co-created YouTube and shaped its initial vision
Steve Chen Co-founder of YouTube Co-created YouTube and shaped its initial vision
Jawed Karim Co-founder of YouTube Co-created YouTube and shaped its initial vision, uploaded the first video
Larry Page Co-founder of Google Instrumental in YouTube’s acquisition, created Alphabet Inc.
Sergey Brin Co-founder of Google Instrumental in YouTube’s acquisition, created Alphabet Inc.
Sundar Pichai CEO of Alphabet Inc. Oversees Alphabet’s subsidiaries, including YouTube
Neal Mohan CEO of YouTube Drives YouTube’s growth and oversees platform initiatives

YouTube’s Financial Success and Market Dominance

Statistic Value/Percentage Year
Advertising Revenue $19.7 billion 2020
Global Online Video Market Share 73% 2021
Logged-in Monthly Users Over 2 billion 2021
Hours of Video Content Uploaded Every Minute Approximately 500 hours 2021

Please note that these tables provide a snapshot of YouTube’s ownership and key financial and market-related statistics. Figures may change over time, so it’s essential to consult up-to-date sources for the latest information.

From its humble beginnings as a simple video-sharing platform to its current status as a global media powerhouse, YouTube has experienced a remarkable evolution under the ownership of Alphabet Inc.

The platform’s ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences and leverage its vast user base has helped it maintain its dominant position in the online video market.

By understanding YouTube’s history, ownership, and business structure, we gain valuable insights into the factors that have contributed to its enduring success and continued growth.

Q: Who founded YouTube and when was it created?

A: YouTube was founded in February 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, three former PayPal employees.

Q: Which company acquired YouTube and when did the acquisition take place?

A: Google acquired YouTube in November 2006 for $1.65 billion in stock.

Q: How is YouTube related to Alphabet Inc.?

A: YouTube is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., the parent company that was created during Google’s restructuring in 2015.

Q: Who are the key people currently involved in the ownership and management of YouTube?

A: Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc., and Neal Mohan, the CEO of YouTube, are the key figures in the ownership and management of YouTube.

Q: What role did Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin play in YouTube’s ownership history?

A: Larry Page and Sergey Brin were instrumental in Google’s acquisition of YouTube and the creation of Alphabet Inc., the parent company that oversees YouTube.

Q: How does YouTube generate revenue?

A: YouTube primarily generates revenue through advertising, with additional income coming from subscription services like YouTube Premium and YouTube TV.

Q: What is YouTube’s market share in the global online video market?

A: As of 2021, YouTube commands a 73% share of the global online video market.