X returns to 44b valuation

[doogyhatts]

From 44b to 8b to 44b.

 

[doogyhatts]

 

[hardindex]

what happen to those previous Twitter employees who want to make another twitter company?



Several former Twitter (now X) employees have attempted to create alternative platforms or startups following Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter in October 2022. Here are some notable efforts:

1. Bluesky (Jack Dorsey’s Project)​

• Founder: Backed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey (though not directly a post-acquisition effort, as it started earlier).
• Status: Bluesky launched as a decentralized social network (using the AT Protocol) and gained traction as a Twitter alternative. It remains operational with a growing user base.

2. T2 (Now "Pebble")​

• Founders: Former Twitter employees Sarah Oh (ex-Twitter human rights advisor) and Gabor Cselle (ex-Twitter product lead).
• Original Plan: Wanted to build a "better Twitter" with a focus on trust and safety.
• What Happened: The project rebranded as Pebble but struggled to gain momentum. It was later acquired by Automattic (the company behind WordPress) in 2023, reportedly for under $1 million.

3. Spill​

• Founders: Alphonzo "Phonz" Terrell (former Twitter global head of social & editorial) and DeVaris Brown (former Twitter engineering manager).
• Concept: A Black-owned social platform focused on culture and real-time conversation.
• Status: Launched in 2023 and raised funding but has not yet reached mass adoption.

4. Post News​

• Founder: Noam Bardin (ex-CEO of Waze, not a Twitter employee but positioned as a Twitter alternative).
• Status: Struggled to gain traction and reportedly pivoted to focus on AI-driven news aggregation.

5. Other Small Efforts​

• Many ex-Twitter employees joined existing competitors like Mastodon or startups in the decentralized social space (e.g., Mastodon, Threads by Meta).
• Some went into Web3 or AI-related ventures instead of directly competing with Twitter/X.

Why Haven’t They Succeeded (Yet)?​

• Network Effects: Twitter’s user base is hard to replicate.
• Funding Challenges: Venture capital for social media startups has been cautious post-Twitter acquisition.
• Competition: Meta’s Threads (launched July 2023) absorbed much of the Twitter-alternative demand.
• Decentralization Complexity: Projects like Bluesky and Mastodon face usability hurdles for mainstream audiences.

Current State​

• Bluesky is the most successful ex-Twitter-affiliated effort so far.
• Threads (Meta) has become the biggest direct competitor, not led by ex-Twitter employees.
• Many ex-Twitter teams have pivoted or joined other companies rather than building a full-scale replacement.

Would you like details on any specific project?

 

[doogyhatts]