Qlipso

Qlipso Inc. operates as an Israeli-American technology company focused on multi-user, content-sharing platforms for Flash-based media. Founded in September 2007 by Ishay Pnueli, a veteran of the video game and technology sectors, the company aimed to transform individual media consumption into a social activity. Jon Goldman, who previously founded and led the video game developer Foundation 9 Entertainment, joined as CEO in early 2009, bringing significant digital media and gaming industry experience to the firm. Qlipso was incubated and received financial backing from Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), a prominent Israeli venture capital fund.

A significant milestone in the company's history was the acquisition of the assets of the online video portal Veoh in April 2010. This strategic move transformed Qlipso from a pre-revenue startup into a media company with a substantial user base, an extensive video library, and an established platform for advertisers. The acquisition was intended to merge Veoh's large audience and content with Qlipso's social viewing technology. Following the acquisition, the company successfully integrated its social features into the Veoh platform, which included capabilities for users to represent themselves with 3D avatars and interact through text, voice, and webcam chat while watching content together. In May 2012, Qlipso launched a new platform called Mixin, designed for personal social video sharing, which allowed users to comment directly on videos and discover trending content.

The company's business model centered on creating a web-based, portable experience for users to share Flash-based media like videos, music, and games in a live, synchronized manner. Its platform facilitated social interaction around content, a concept drawn from multiplayer online gaming applied to mainstream digital media. Revenue generation was projected through advertising, with a partnership established with Outrigger Media for direct ad sales, and potential new streams from virtual item sales for avatars. Qlipso's service was available directly through its website and could be integrated by other web publishers, allowing them to offer social sharing features to their audiences.

Keywords: social video sharing, content sharing platform, Flash media, synchronized viewing, Veoh acquisition, JVP, online video portal, multiplayer online gaming, 3D avatars, social viewing, digital media, video chat, virtual goods, Mixin, Ishay Pnueli, Jon Goldman, Jerusalem Venture Partners, live sharing, interactive content, video advertising, social media integration