Twitch Experiments with Vertical Video to Compete in the Mobile-First Attention Economy
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Venture Radar
Twitch Experiments with Vertical Video to Compete in the Mobile-First Attention Economy
Twitch’s decision to test vertical video streams represents a strategic pivot aimed at positioning the platform more competitively within the evolving attention economy, which is increasingly dominated by short-form, mobile-first content. From an analytical standpoint, this move signals Twitch’s recognition that traditional long-form, horizontal live streaming—while still core to its identity—is no longer sufficient to drive sustained user growth and engagement, particularly among Gen Z audiences. The introduction of vertical video aligns Twitch more closely with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, all of which have demonstrated the power of algorithm-driven discovery in scaling content reach and attracting casual users.
Strategically, Twitch is attempting to reduce creator and viewer leakage to rival platforms by offering similar tools and formats within its ecosystem. Vertical video allows Twitch to introduce new monetization channels, such as ad placements in short-form clips and increased sponsorship visibility, while also enabling creators to repurpose live content into bite-sized, high-impact highlights. This not only extends the shelf life of content but also supports discovery beyond Twitch’s traditionally insular, community-driven model. Moreover, vertical feeds powered by recommendation algorithms would mark a shift in Twitch’s user acquisition approach—from primarily search-based and follower-driven to more serendipitous, content-first exposure—potentially unlocking new creator economies and broadening the platform’s cultural relevance. Overall, this signals a calculated move to future-proof the platform against stagnation, while also competing more aggressively for mobile screen time in a highly fragmented video landscape.
Geeks of the Week
Startup Name: Integral
Geography: Germany
One-liner: Redefining how businesses manage taxation, accounting and payroll.
Founder(s) Background: Former Managing Director (Germany) at Qonto.
Thoughts:
Integral positions itself as a modern alternative to traditional tax advisory firms in Germany, targeting startups and small businesses that prioritize speed, simplicity, and digital workflows. By offering a fully integrated platform for tax, payroll, and accounting services, it reduces operational friction for companies entering or growing within the German market—especially those unfamiliar with the local compliance landscape. The user experience is designed to be intuitive and founder-friendly, which aligns well with the needs of fast-moving, resource-constrained teams.
Rather than competing on pure software automation like some global fintech players, Integral blends tech with deep regulatory expertise—giving clients both efficiency and peace of mind in a highly complex system. This positioning allows it to serve as a critical infrastructure layer for startups scaling into Germany, and creates long-term value through retention: once embedded into a company’s payroll and tax functions, the service becomes difficult to replace. If it continues expanding capabilities or forming integrations with adjacent platforms, Integral could become a central hub for operational compliance across Europe’s most regulated economy.
Founder(s) building in stealth
Deals of the Week
Zerohash – ~$100M Series C (crypto infra)
Zerohash raised approximately $100 million at nearly a $1 billion valuation, led by Interactive Brokers. The company provides turnkey infrastructure for crypto and stablecoin issuance, signaling growing institutional demand for regulated digital asset rails.Agora – $50M Series A (stablecoin infrastructure)
Agora secured $50 million in a Series A round led by Paradigm, with backing from Dragonfly. Its platform enables businesses and fintechs to launch branded stablecoins and integrates them with traditional banking rails. This round highlights investor confidence in programmable money’s enterprise utility.Dakota – $12.5M Series A (crypto banking)
Founded by a former Coinbase executive, Dakota closed $12.5 million in Series A funding led by CoinFund. The startup is building a crypto-integrated banking platform aimed at institutional clients, reflecting increased VC interest in regulated digital asset banking solutions.Thinking Machines Lab – $2B early-stage (AI)
Led by ex‑OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, Thinking Machines Lab raised a massive $2 billion at a $12 billion valuation, with Andreessen Horowitz as lead investor and participation from Nvidia, AMD, Cisco, and Jane Street. The infusion underscores high conviction in next-gen AI, especially from elite technical founders
Notable Mergers and Acquisitions
Cognition → Windsurf – Cognition AI acquired AI coding startup Windsurf, securing its product and IP after Google executed a partial acquihire of its founding team. The deal strengthens Cognition’s developer-focused tools, positioning it more aggressively against players like Cursor and Replit in the AI coding space.
Talos → CoinMetrics – Crypto infrastructure provider Talos acquired CoinMetrics, a leading blockchain data and analytics firm. The acquisition enhances Talos’s institutional-grade offering for trading firms and funds, expanding its footprint in high-integrity on-chain data services.
Meta → PlayAI – Meta acquired voice technology startup PlayAI to deepen its capabilities in natural language interfaces and contextual AI agents. This marks another step in Meta’s broader AI acquisition strategy following recent deals in visual and generative AI infrastructure.
Udaan → ShopKirana – India-based B2B commerce giant Udaan acquired ShopKirana, a retail-tech platform that digitizes small neighborhood stores (kiranas). The deal consolidates Udaan’s logistics and data reach across tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India, aligning with its strategy to dominate small-format retail distribution.
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