Tell us about Azarus
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.
How did you come up with the idea for the company?
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’s when we ran a small experiment with Ubisoft’s 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.
More from Interviews
- A Chat With Omid Pakseresht, CEO Of SEPANTA, About The Future of AI And Enterprise Innovation
- HealthTech44 Head Judge And Founder Of Archetype MedTech, Dr. Stuart Grant, Tells Us What He’s Looking For In Entrants In 2026
- A Chat With Miao Luo, Director Of Technology Strategy At Qt Group On The State Of OEM And Hardware Startups In The AI Age
- A Chat With Ben Snape, Commercial Director At AI Legaltech Company Litigated.com
- Interview With Séamus Begley, Founder And CEO Of The Studio of Possible On Whether “AI-Powered” Makes Businesses Unique In 2026
- Powering Funds For Investors: Interview With Anders Ramsten, CEO of PowerFunds
- A Conversation With Penelope Sonder, COO Of NALA On How AI Is Quietly Reinventing The Art Industry
- A Chat With James Clark, Partner At Spencer West LLP On What Digital Regulation May Look Like Under An Andy Burnham Government
How has the company evolved over the last couple of years?
Since that first experiment, we’ve been developing the product to create a sustainable ecosystem. We’ve always built on-chain, and now we’re moving to Base, which has the right parameters for our transaction volume.
We’ve refined our approach, working with big brands like Capcom and Wargaming, supporting eSports initiatives, and connecting brands with audiences. It’s all about brands, both Web2 and Web3, reaching out to us. These brands are mature and understand the value of interacting with audiences.
What can we hope to see from Azarus in the future?
We’re 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’re also involved in some exciting projects, like the X project with StreamHQ, where we’re the core launch partner.
It’s all about applying Azarus’s 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’re excited to keep pushing the boundaries in 2024 and beyond!
