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HQ Trivia's charismatic host returns as cofounder after the app's spectacular crash

This Week in StartupsThis Week in Startups · Savvy is HQ Trivia + Wordle (feat. Scott Rogowsky) | E2245

“It was a live trivia game where you could sit there with your phone and see this very handsome man ask you questions, and you'd try to win and beat your friends and maybe even make some money.”

2:18 / 2:34

obsessed. It was a live trivia game where you could sit there with your phone and see this very handsome man ask you questions, and you'd try to win and beat your friends and maybe even make some money. Then it kind of unraveled. Scott left in 2019. The app died in 2020, but now he's back as the cofounder and CMO

About this clip

This clip covers the rise and fall of HQ Trivia, the live trivia game that captivated millions before collapsing in 2020. It highlights how the app's popular host Scott Rogowsky left in 2019, witnessed the company's demise, but has now returned to the space as a cofounder and CMO of a new venture.

Why this clip

The narrative of a key figure returning to rebuild in the same space after a high-profile company failure offers compelling insights into resilience and second chances in startups.

2:18 - 2:3416sfounder story
hq-triviacomeback-storygaming-apps

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What they said next

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The perfect recipe that made HQ Trivia's live game show format explode

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Consequences

We were obsessed. It was a live trivia game where you could sit there with your phone and see this very handsome man ask you questions, and you'd try to win and beat your friends and maybe even make some money. Then it kind of unraveled.

Captures the cultural phenomenon and dramatic downfall of HQ Trivia in relatable terms. The progression from 'obsessed' to 'unraveled' tells the complete rise-and-fall story that resonates with tech bubble narratives.

1:46 - 2:3448s

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