gfycat

Founded in 2013 in Edmonton, Canada, Gfycat was among the first web services to offer video encoding of GIFs. It was incorporated in the United States in 2015, and raised $10 million in a 2016 seed funding round.{{Cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/22/gfycat-raises-10-million-to-help-creatives-fire-up-the-memes/ | title=Gfycat raises $10 million to help creatives fire up the memes | last=Kolodny | first=Lora | website=TechCrunch | accessdate=October 12, 2016 | date=September 22, 2016 | archive-date=February 16, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216131456/https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/22/gfycat-raises-10-million-to-help-creatives-fire-up-the-memes/ | url-status=live }}

Gfycat offered a web platform for uploading and hosting short video content, as well as an iMessage app,{{Cite web | url=https://www.producthunt.com/tech/gfycat-loops | title=Gfycat Loops - Product Hunt | website=Product Hunt | date=13 September 2016 | language=en-US | accessdate=October 12, 2016 | archive-date=October 13, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013082103/https://www.producthunt.com/tech/gfycat-loops | url-status=live }}{{Cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/28/gfycat-brings-its-higher-quality-gifs-and-diy-creation-tools-to-imessage/ | title=Gfycat brings its higher quality GIFs and DIY creation tools to iMessage | last=Perez | first=Sarah | website=TechCrunch | accessdate=November 25, 2016 | date=October 28, 2016 | archive-date=October 29, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029104903/https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/28/gfycat-brings-its-higher-quality-gifs-and-diy-creation-tools-to-imessage/ | url-status=live }} an Android app,{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/12/12/gfycat-launches-mobile-gif-creator-for-android/|title=Gfycat launches mobile GIF creator for Android|website=VentureBeat|date=12 December 2016|access-date=2017-02-17|archive-date=2016-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213063829/https://venturebeat.com/2016/12/12/gfycat-launches-mobile-gif-creator-for-android/|url-status=live}} and the GIF Brewery macOS application for GIF and video creation.{{Cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/02/gfycat-snaps-up-mac-app-gif-brewery-to-expand-its-gif-creation-capabilities-to-the-desktop/ | title=Gfycat snaps up Mac app GIF Brewery to expand its GIF creation capabilities to the desktop | last=Perez | first=Sarah | website=TechCrunch | accessdate=November 25, 2016 | date=November 2, 2016 | archive-date=November 3, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103125940/https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/02/gfycat-snaps-up-mac-app-gif-brewery-to-expand-its-gif-creation-capabilities-to-the-desktop/ | url-status=live }} It also had integrations with Reddit,{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/gfycat-reddit-bot/|title=Gfycat's new Reddit bot supplies your dancing cat images on demand|date=2017-04-13|work=Digital Trends|access-date=2017-10-16|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017043251/https://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/gfycat-reddit-bot/|url-status=live}} the messaging app Tango,{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailydot.com/debug/tango-gif-keyboard-gyfcat/|title=Tango now lets you post GIFs from the largest user-generated database in the world|date=2017-02-14|newspaper=The Daily Dot|access-date=2017-02-25|language=en|archive-date=2018-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921035007/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/tango-gif-keyboard-gyfcat/|url-status=live}} Microsoft Outlook,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/11/16286392/microsoft-outlook-android-add-ins-support|title=Microsoft Outlook for Android now supports add-ins like Evernote and Trello|work=The Verge|access-date=2017-10-16|archive-date=2017-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017042958/https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/11/16286392/microsoft-outlook-android-add-ins-support|url-status=live}} Skype,{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/01/skypes-snapchat-inspired-makeover-puts-the-camera-a-swipe-away-adds-stories/|title=Skype's Snapchat-inspired makeover puts the camera a swipe away, adds stories|last=Perez|first=Sarah|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2017-10-16|language=en|archive-date=2020-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924221355/https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/01/skypes-snapchat-inspired-makeover-puts-the-camera-a-swipe-away-adds-stories/|url-status=live}} and WordPress,{{Cite web|url=https://wordpress.org/plugins/gfycatpress/|title=Gfycat for WordPress|website=WordPress.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-16|archive-date=2017-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017042810/https://wordpress.org/plugins/gfycatpress/|url-status=live}} among others. It was a finalist for the 2016 Advertising Age Creativity Awards in the "Startup to Watch" category.{{Cite news|url=http://adage.com/article/agency-news/finalists-ad-age-s-creativity-awards/307928/|title=See the Finalists for Ad Age's Creativity Awards|access-date=2017-10-16|language=en|archive-date=2021-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124222704/https://adage.com/article/agency-news/finalists-ad-age-s-creativity-awards/307928|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Gfycat ranked within the top 57 websites in the U.S by traffic,{{Cite web | url=http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries;2/US | title=Top Sites in United States - Alexa | website=www.alexa.com | accessdate=October 12, 2016 | archive-date=April 4, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404101312/http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries;2/US | url-status=dead }} with over 130 million monthly active users in 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/24/gfycat-hits-130m-monthly-active-users-as-short-form-video-heats-up/|title=Gfycat hits 130M monthly active users as short form video heats up|last=Lynley|first=Matthew|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2017-10-30|language=en|archive-date=2017-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028201614/https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/24/gfycat-hits-130m-monthly-active-users-as-short-form-video-heats-up/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/gifs-are-big-business-for-edmonton-s-gfycat-start-up-1.3794492 | title=GIFs are big business for Edmonton's Gfycat start-up | last=Snowdon | first=Wallis | newspaper=CBC News | accessdate=October 12, 2016 | date=October 6, 2016 | archive-date=October 13, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013083605/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/gifs-are-big-business-for-edmonton-s-gfycat-start-up-1.3794492 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=http://fortune.com/2016/11/07/gfycat-gif-tool/ | title=Here's How Gfycat Hopes to Stand Out From Other Social Media Apps | last=Kokalitcheva | first=Kia | newspaper=Fortune | accessdate=November 25, 2016 | date=November 7, 2016 | archive-date=November 25, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125174621/http://fortune.com/2016/11/07/gfycat-gif-tool/ | url-status=live }} Its users were primarily concentrated in English-speaking countries, with a significant foothold in Europe and Latin America. It supported sixteen languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Japanese, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, and Arabic. Users fell primarily in the 18-35 age range.

Gfycat had offices in Edmonton, Alberta and Palo Alto, California.

In 2018 Gfycat had an alleged data breach; an estimated 8 million accounts were compromised, and its database was put for sale on the Dream Market.{{cite news|author=Swati Khandelwal|url=https://thehackernews.com/2019/02/data-breach-sale-darkweb.html?m=1|title=620 million accounts stolen from 16 hacked websites now for sale on dark web, seller boasts|publisher=TheHackerNews|date=February 18, 2019|accessdate=February 18, 2019|archive-date=February 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219020008/https://thehackernews.com/2019/02/data-breach-sale-darkweb.html?m=1|url-status=live}}

In December 2019, Gfycat started redgifs.com for adult content.{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=2023-05-22 |title=RIP Gfycat, the First Site To Make Gifs Look Good (UPDATED) |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/gfycat-down-tls-security-certificate-expired/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}

In May 2020, Gfycat was acquired by Snap Inc,{{Cite web |last=Mceleney |first=Dan |title=Dan Mceleney post on LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dan-mceleney-2a14aa7_as-you-may-have-read-snap-has-announced-activity-6970883130530439169-d4i2 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en}} parent company of Snapchat.{{cite web |last=Sandle |first=Paul |date=25 April 2022 |title=Meta fights to overturn UK order to sell Giphy |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/meta-fights-overturn-uk-order-171627927.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922100006/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/meta-fights-overturn-uk-order-171627927.html |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=19 September 2022 |website=Yahoo Finance}} On May 12, 2020, Gfycat banned adult content completely.{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=2023-05-22 |title=RIP Gfycat, the First Site To Make Gifs Look Good (UPDATED) |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/gfycat-down-tls-security-certificate-expired/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}

On May 18, 2023 the TLS certificate for gfycat.com expired. Problems with uploading had been reported for months prior to the certificate's expiration, with a lack of response from the company's support. On May 22, the TLS certificate was renewed, with a Snap Inc. spokesperson describing it as a "temporary issue", though problems with uploading to the site remained.{{cite web |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=22 May 2023 |title=RIP Gfycat, the First Site To Make Gifs Look Good (UPDATED) |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy37d7/gfycat-down-tls-security-certificate-expired |website=Vice |access-date=24 May 2023 }}

On June 30, 2023, Gfycat announced it would discontinue service on September 1, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://gfycat.com/|title=Gfycat {{!}} Watch and Create GIFs, Videos, Memes|website=Gfycat.com|accessdate=2023-07-02|archive-date=2023-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630233926/https://gfycat.com/|url-status=live|quote=After September 1, 2023, all Gfycat content and data will be deleted from gfycat.com}} On September 1, 2023, the website was taken down.

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Official website|https://gfycat.com}} ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901180416/https://gfycat.com/|date=September 1, 2023}})
• [http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Gfycat-aims-Web-giggles-at-our-short-attention-12202073.php "Gfycat aims Web giggles at our short attention spans," SF Chronicle]
• [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/are-gifs-the-future-of-movie-marketing-3-trends-that_us_594961d8e4b0579a1f39273b "Are GIFs the Future of Movie Marketing? 3 Trends That Are Changing the Face of Entertainment," Huffington Post]
• [https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/24/gfycat-hits-130m-monthly-active-users-as-short-form-video-heats-up/ "Gfycat hits 130M monthly active users as short form video heats up," Tech Crunch]

Category:GIF hosting websites

Category:Internet properties established in 2015

Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2023

Category:Online mass media companies of the United States

Category:Companies based in Palo Alto, California

Category: American companies established in 2015

Category:Former video hosting services