Mevo

Mevo makes the world’s only camera designed for live-streaming events.

Live-streaming is the fastest-growing segment of the video market. By 2022, it's expected to make up 17% of all video consumption.

Furthermore, this company is emerging at an important time in history. The coronavirus has brought travel to a halt, and is forcing employees to work from home. This has significantly increased the need for video tools, including live-streaming cameras.

Mevo was created by Founder Max Haot, who has more than 24 years of experience in the computer software and hardware industries.

He previously founded Livestream.com, an online platform that enabled users to broadcast live video content using a camera and their computer. In 2017, Livestream.com was acquired by Vimeo.

While overseeing Livestream.com, Max noted that customers said their biggest hurdle to streaming events was a lack of proper equipment. For example:

Action cameras like GoPros have limited battery life. Smartphones are convenient, but holding up a phone for a two-hour event is too tiring. And professional camera equipment isn’t portable or affordable.

That’s why Max decided to start Mevo. He built a device that has all of the features of a professional camera, but at the consumer-friendly price of $399.

Mevo launched its first camera, the Mevo Plus, in 2016. Since then, the company has manufactured and sold more than 90,000 units.

Its cameras are sold through its website, and at retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H.

To make the cameras, Mevo created the following partnerships:

• Chicony Electronics: This Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer builds cameras for companies including Google, GoPro, and Nest.

• Ambarella (Nasdaq: AMBA): This company produces microchips for cameras. Its products are found inside GoPro, Nest, and DJI cameras.

• Sony (NYSE: SNY): Sony builds the sensors found inside Mevo’s cameras. Its sensors are also used in DJI, Google, and Ring cameras.

With these partnerships in hand, Mevo is now focused on creating its second-generation camera, Mevo Start. This camera is in production, and will ship to pre-order customers in April 2020.

This camera will retail for $299. It features a 6-hour battery life, a 1080p sensor, and a built-in microphone.

Mevo also has a mobile app to support its camera. The app enables users to control the camera right from their smartphone. They can zoom in, change focus, and pan the camera using just the app.

Mevo is also working on a Multicam App and Pack. This will feature multiple cameras and enable users to connect them for enhanced live-streaming capabilities. (This is the No. 1 request from existing customers.)

This product is in beta testing, and is scheduled for a summer 2020 release. It will retail for $749 and include three cameras.

With its upcoming products, Mevo aims to increase annual revenues from $5.9 million in 2019, to $7.3 million in 2020, and $10.2 million in 2021.

Team Background

Jimmy An - Head of Hardware

Like his co-workers, Jimmy previously worked at Livestream.com. There, he was the company’s Vice President of Hardware Engineering.

Prior to that, he spent nine years at Insync Design, a product design company with notable clients including John Deere, Schick, and L’Oreal. He served as a principal mechanical engineer and then became Director of Engineering.

Jimmy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University.

Max Haot - Founder & CEO

Max has more than two decades of software and hardware experience.

Prior to starting Mevo, he founded Livestream.com, an online platform enabling users to broadcast live video content using a camera and computer. In 2017, Livestream.com was acquired by Vimeo.

Before that, he worked for Verizon Business, running sales and consulting efforts for a digital media division of the company. Max came into this role after Verizon acquired the division he was running at IMG Media, a programming production company.

In addition to his work at Mevo, Max serves as CEO of Launcher, which creates rockets to deliver small satellites to outer space.

Brian Sturdivant - Head of Global Sales

In addition to his role with Mevo, Brian runs a consulting business, Sturdivant Consulting. This company provides sales and marketing guidance to businesses aiming to launch products.

Before this, he was Vice President of Marketing for Breathometer, the world’s first portable breath analysis platform. This product’s investors include Stanford University and Mark Cuban.

Brian was Vice President of Channel Marketing for Kobo, a consumer electronics company, and before that spent four years with Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) as Director of Channel Marketing.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Pitzer College.

Paul Schumacher - Head of Software Engineering

Most recently, Paul co-founded Curve, an IT services company based in Germany. Before that, he was a software engineer for Launcher, where he worked with Max.

Paul spent four years at Livestream.com, serving as a software engineer, technical team lead, and Chief Architect. He began his career working for automobile company BMW.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computational and Applied Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Computer Science.

Catherine Rivera - Head of Operations

Before her role with Mevo, Catherine worked with Max at Livestream.com, serving as the company’s Vice President of Business Operations for eight years.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from San Francisco State University.

Co-Investors