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Vishu Bheda
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Medial • 2m
How a Valentine’s Day Flop Became a $183 Billion Empire On February 14, 2005, YouTube’s domain was registered—not as a video-sharing giant, but as a dating website with the slogan: “Tune in, hook up.” The idea? People would upload videos to find love. But no one cared. The founders could have shut it down, but they watched user behavior. People weren’t looking for dates—they just wanted a place to upload and share videos. So, they pivoted. By mid-2005, YouTube became a general video-sharing platform. In November 2006, Google bought it for $1.65 billion in stock. Today, YouTube is worth over $183 billion and has more than 2.7 billion monthly users. What Entrepreneurs Can Learn: Your first idea won’t always work. YouTube’s dating concept failed, but the pivot changed everything. Watch what users do, not what they say. The real demand is often hidden in behavior. Pivot fast, or get left behind. The most successful startups adapt quickly. Had YouTube stuck to dating, it would be forgotten. Instead, it became the world’s biggest video empire. Your idea today? It’s just the starting point. The real magic happens when you spot the right opportunity—and act on it. Follow Vishu Bheda for more powerful startup insights!
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