Wetpaint

Wetpaint is an Internet company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Function(X). Founded in 2005, Wetpaint both publishes the website Wetpaint Entertainment, focused on entertainment news, and develops a proprietary technology platform, the Social Distribution System, that is used to provide analytics for its own website as well as other online publishers'. Wetpaint began as a wiki farm, hosting wikis using its own proprietary software, before moving into hosting of professional content in 2010. Wetpaint's wiki-hosting component was spun off completely in 2013 after being purchased by Wikifoundry.[1]

"Wet Paint" redirects here. For the 1926 silent film, see Wet Paint (film). For the 1946 Disney film, see Wet Paint (1946 film).
Wetpaint
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryInternet technology (2006–present)
FoundedOctober 2005
HeadquartersNew York City, U.S.
ProductsTechnology platforms for the media industry; formerly wiki hosting
RevenueVenture capital funded
OwnerFunction(X)
Number of employees
65
Websitehttp://www.wetpaint.com (defunct as of mid-2020)

History

Wetpaint was originally called Wikisphere, and begun as a wiki farm, hosting wikis using proprietary software. It was co-founded in October 2005 by Ben Elowitz, who had previously co-founded the online jewelry retailer Blue Nile Inc. In December 2005, the company and site were renamed to Wetpaint.[2] In October 2005, the company received its initial A round of venture capital funding of US$5.25 million from Trinity Ventures and Frazier Technology Ventures.[3] Wetpaint closed a US$9.5 million 'B' round of funding in January 2007, adding Accel Partners to the list of investors.[4] Wetpaint closed a Series C round of venture capital funding of US$25 million in May 2008. Investors included Accel Partners, Trinity Ventures, and Frazier Technology Ventures.

Wetpaint was named by Time Magazine as one of the 50 Best Websites of 2007.[5]

In March 2008, Wetpaint added social networking features.[6]

In July 2009, Wetpaint laid off 15 of their 56 employees.[7] An additional 9 employees, including co-founders Kevin Flaherty and Alex Berg, were laid off in December.[8] The company also decided to refocus the website on professionally created content. Both steps were taken as a result of declining online ad revenue.[8]

During late 2009, Wetpaint re-launched its main homepage, at wetpaint.com, as the Wetpaint Entertainment platform, a set of new online TV fan destination sites, geared toward the female 18-34 demographic.[9] The wiki farm was renamed "Wikis by Wetpaint", and was moved to the domain wetpaintcentral.com.

In December 2010, the company announced the Wetpaint Social Distribution System.[10]

In December 2012, Wetpaint was acquired by Viggle,[11] an entertainment rewards platform, which was shortly renamed to its former name, Function(X).

Updates to wetpaint.com stopped in 2018, leaving the site stagnant until it finally went defunct in mid-2020.

References
  1. Wet Paint Wiki - WikiFoundry Central, 2013-09-01, retrieved 2017-10-25
  2. "Startup Wikisphere changes its name to Wetpaint". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2005-12-01.
  3. Cook, John (2005-11-02). "Startup Wikisphere raises $5.25 million in 1st round". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  4. "Wiki Providers Score Funding". Red Herring. 2007-02-22.
  5. "Wetpaint.com - 50 Best Websites 2007". Time Magazine. 2007-07-09.
  6. "Wetpaint Goes Social". press release. Wetpaint. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  7. "Seattle Layoff Update:Targeted Genetics, Wetpaint, Google, and Others Cut Staff". xconomy. 2009-08-26.
  8. "Exclusive: Wetpaint cuts staff, changes focus to publishing". John Cook, TechFlash. 2009-12-04.
  9. Wetpaint Launches Online TV Fan Destination With Coverage Of This Fall's Most Anticipated TV Programs
  10. "Wetpaint Entertainment Rapidly Becomes a Leading Online Entertainment News Source Due to Wetpaint's Proprietary Social Distribution System".
  11. "Viggle Acquires Wetpaint". Press Release. 2013-12-16.
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