Kevin Lin (entrepreneur)
Kevin Lin | |
|---|---|
林士斌 | |
Lin in 2020 | |
| Born | 1982 (age 43–44) |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur; technology executive |
| Known for | Co-founding Twitch |
Kevin Lin (Chinese name: 林士斌) is an entrepreneur and technology executive who co-founded the live-streaming service Twitch and served as its chief operating officer (COO).[1][2] Twitch emerged from the live-video platform Justin.tv and was acquired by Amazon in 2014 for about $970 million.[3][4] After leaving Twitch, Lin founded the interactive entertainment company Metatheory, which raised a $24 million Series A round in 2022.[5][6]
Early life
Lin was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1982.[7] He graduated from Yale University with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.[7][8]
Career
Twitch
Lin was an executive at Justin.tv and Twitch during the period when the company focused its gaming category into Twitch as a separate brand in 2011.[3] In 2014, Lin issued a statement as Twitch's COO when the company shut down the Justin.tv service.[3]
In August 2014, Amazon agreed to acquire Twitch for about $970 million in cash.[4] In January 2018, Lin stepped down as Twitch's COO and moved into a role leading "Culture, Strategy & Innovation" reporting to CEO Emmett Shear, as Sara Clemens was hired as COO.[1]
In November 2020, Lin announced that he was leaving Twitch, making CEO Emmett Shear the only remaining Twitch co-founder still at the company at that time.[2][9]
Metatheory
In 2021, Lin founded Metatheory, an interactive entertainment company focused on games and virtual worlds that use blockchain technology.[5] In May 2022, Metatheory announced a $24 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation including Pantera Capital and FTX Ventures.[5][6]
Sundance Film Festival Asia
Lin was part of the team at G2Go Entertainment that brought Sundance Film Festival: Asia to Taipei in August 2023.[10] Taipei Times reported that Lin acquired the Sundance Asia license and organized the event in Taipei with partners Iris Wu and Jonathan Liao under a three-year deal.[8][10] Lin described Sundance Film Festival Asia in Taipei as an "independent film celebration".[11]
Gold House
With Bing Chen, Kevin Lin co-founded Gold House in 2018. The organization aims to support the Asian American community "By connecting executives across industries, financing new ventures and reshaping AAPI portrayals" and other initiatives.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b Perez, Sarah (January 17, 2018). "Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin exits COO role, now filled by former Pandora COO Sara Clemens". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Peters, Jay (November 19, 2020). "Another Twitch co-founder is leaving the company, leaving only one". The Verge. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Justin.tv Shutters After Google's Reported $1 Billion Buyout of Twitch". TheWrap. August 5, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Ruble, Noelle Knox (August 25, 2014). "Amazon to Buy Video Site Twitch for $970 Million". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c Takahashi, Dean (May 16, 2022). "Twitch cofounder Kevin Lin's Metatheory raises $24M for blockchain games". VentureBeat. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Rosu, Daniel (May 16, 2022). "Twitch Co-Founder Raises $24M for Web3 Gaming Company Metatheory". Decrypt. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Hou, Chia-Yi (May 26, 2020). "Episode 53 | Twitch: Kevin Lin". Rock The Boat. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b "U.S.-China Entertainment Summit" (PDF). Asia Society of Souther California. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ Beresford, Trilby (November 20, 2020). "Twitch Co-Founder Departs Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Frazier, David (August 23, 2023). "Sundance Taipei, a sort of homecoming". Taipei Times. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ "Sundance's Asia edition opens in Taipei". Taipei Times. August 22, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ Sobti, Tara. "Bing Chen, Prabal Gurung and Kevin Lin discuss how their non-profit Gold House is changing the future of the Asian diaspora". Tatler Asia. Archived from the original on April 15, 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025.