Gfycat

Gfycat, a user-generated short video hosting platform founded in 2013, was known for its innovative approach to GIF video encoding. Initially established in Edmonton, Canada, it was incorporated in the U.S. in 2015 and raised $10 million in seed funding the following year. Gfycat gained popularity, boasting over 130 million monthly active users by 2017, primarily among younger audiences in English-speaking countries. The platform offered various services, including mobile apps and integrations with popular applications like Reddit and Microsoft Outlook. However, it faced challenges, including a significant data breach in 2018 that compromised millions of accounts. In 2020, Gfycat was acquired by Snap Inc., which led to the banning of adult content on the platform. Despite efforts to maintain service, Gfycat experienced ongoing technical issues, culminating in the announcement of its discontinuation on June 30, 2023. The website officially ceased operations on September 1, 2023, resulting in the deletion of all user content and data.

- Gfycat was founded in 2013 and became a leading platform for GIFs and short videos.

- The service peaked with over 130 million monthly active users in 2017.

- Gfycat faced a major data breach in 2018, affecting around 8 million accounts.

- Acquired by Snap Inc. in 2020, Gfycat banned adult content shortly after.

- The platform officially shut down on September 1, 2023, deleting all user data.