Juked.gg was founded in March 2019 (via Buffd Inc.) by esports veterans Ben “FishStix” Goldhaber and Chris “ChanManV” Chan. Their goal was to solve the fragmented nature of esports fandom by creating one unified hub for tournament discovery, broadcasts, scheduling, and fan discussions. FishStix previously served at Twitch (2011–2018), while ChanManV was known for podcasts and esports commentary. Together they envisioned an inclusive, toxicity-reduced social experience for fans.
Juked’s open beta launched in November 2019, aggregating esports content across 20+ titles including CS:GO, LoL, VALORANT, Overwatch, Rocket League, Dota 2, Hearthstone, and more.
In February 2020, Juked raised $800K in pre-seed funding led by 500 Startups, with participation from Twitch co-founders, DreamHack representatives, and others. By early 2021, Juked raised over $1M via crowdfunding, and within four months, becoming one of the fastest crowdfunding campaigns in esports space.
After working through alpha testing during 2021, the iOS app launched in early 2022 with Android support on the way. Features included calendar reminders, embedded live streams (YouTube & Twitch), news, discussions, and content personalization. In mid-2022, Juked launched a second crowdfunding round on Wefunder, targeting up to $12M valuation, and raised ~$122K from community backers to further develop the product and social features.
Juked was purpose-built to counter toxicity and provide a healthier space for esports fans. Investors included ex-Twitch execs like Kevin Lin and Jon Shipman, and the company partnered with inclusion groups like Queer Women of Esports.
Failed. What Happened?
An acquisition attempt that ultimately fell through for Juked.gg was with a Web3-focused company. However, the specific identity of this potential acquirer was not publicly disclosed. The deal collapsed due to the November 2022 bankruptcy of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which had a significant impact on the Web3 investment landscape. This event led to a broader downturn in crypto-related funding, affecting many startups in the space, including Juked.gg.
Following the failed acquisition, Juked.gg struggled to secure additional funding. Despite efforts to raise capital, including a second crowdfunding round that fell short of its $400,000 goal, the company faced financial difficulties. By November 2022, Juked.gg announced it would cease operations, citing the inability to find a viable acquirer and the challenging investment environment.