Tell us about Azarus
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Azarus was started back in 2018 by me, Andrew, and Erik. The big idea behind Azarus is to make streams and live content more interactive. We add an interactive layer to streams, turning any video stream into a space where viewers can engage and play against each other to earn rewards.
What sets Azarus apart is its deep integration, especially with Twitch, allowing viewers to jump into short, casual games that pop up magically over the stream, without needing to install anything. Viewers can earn tangible rewards, like coupons, digital goods, tokens, NFTs, or our own AZA Coin, which opens up access to a vast store of over 35,000 digital items.
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How did you come up with the idea for the company?
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Back in 2018, Twitch was booming, and it was fascinating to see this new phenomenon of creator-led content. With thousands of fans watching the same content live, we wondered why this medium was treated like TV. It felt like the biggest metaverse, with a slice of really dense eyeballs focusing on the same content. So, we thought, why not turn these passive watchers into active participants by getting them to click on buttons together and engage with the content?
That鈥檚 when we ran a small experiment with Ubisoft鈥檚 Rainbow Six Siege and some Twitch creators. It blew up! We had thousands of players in no time, and it felt like we had struck gold. This was when we realized we had something special.
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How has the company evolved over the last couple of years?
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Since that first experiment, we鈥檝e been developing the product to create a sustainable ecosystem. We鈥檝e always built on-chain, and now we鈥檙e moving to Base, which has the right parameters for our transaction volume.
We鈥檝e refined our approach, working with big brands like Capcom and Wargaming, supporting eSports initiatives, and connecting brands with audiences. It鈥檚 all about brands, both Web2 and Web3, reaching out to us. These brands are mature and understand the value of interacting with audiences.
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What can we hope to see from Azarus in the future?
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We鈥檙e expanding our partnerships, especially with Twitch, and exploring new opportunities. Web3 games are getting more serious about acquiring and educating users, which fits perfectly with our model. Plus, our journey toward decentralization is gaining momentum as we move to Base. This chain finally offers the parameters we need for our scale, engaging over 20 million users. We鈥檙e also involved in some exciting projects, like the X project with StreamHQ, where we鈥檙e the core launch partner.
It鈥檚 all about applying Azarus鈥檚 ecosystem to new spaces and embracing innovative directions. With all these developments, interactivity is proving to be a key element in creating unique, memorable, and personal experiences for live content. We鈥檙e excited to keep pushing the boundaries in 2024 and beyond!
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