- Founded: 2020
- Ceased Operations: 2023
What did Buzzer do?
Buzzer was a mobile sports streaming app that aimed to provide a personalized sports experience for Gen Z users. Users could download the app and input their favorite teams or players, then get notifications when games were close late, when a star player was going off for a big night, or even when there was something exciting happening the user might be interested in. Buzzer was based around micropayments, where viewers only paid for what they chose to watch. The app was trying to get users to tune in for the moments they would regret missing. Buzzer hoped to serve as a multi-sport aggregator for its users and as a way for consumers to break into sports they might not otherwise get.
Buzzer raised $44 million in total investment and was backed by Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, and other stars.
Who started Buzzer?
Founder Bo Han
Why did Buzzer go out of business?
In May 2023, Buzzer announced that it would pivot to a B2B model, offering its technology to media companies and sports leagues. However, just two months later, Buzzer announced its closure. While the market is growing rapidly, it is also highly competitive, with established players like ESPN and Fox Sports dominating the space. Additionally, the cost of acquiring sports rights has skyrocketed in recent years, making it difficult for new entrants to compete.
Buzzer CEO Bo Han cited the challenges of building a consumer-facing product in a crowded market, as well as the difficulty of pivoting to a B2B model, as reasons for the shutdown.