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exit story ยท 2013 ยท mobile app makers

How Greg Isenberg Sold 5by to StumbleUpon (2013)

5by was built by Greg Isenberg and sold to StumbleUpon in 2013.

acquired by StumbleUponDirect sale๐Ÿ“ฑ Mobile App Makers

Key facts

Buyer
StumbleUpon
Year
2013
Price
Undisclosed
Revenue at sale
โ€”
Years operated
1 year
Channel
Direct sale

The story of 5by

5by was a Montreal-based video discovery app that billed itself as a video concierge, recommending online videos based on categories a user chose and how they used the service. Greg Isenberg founded it in October 2012.

About eleven months later, in September 2013, StumbleUpon announced 5by as its first acquisition. Terms were not disclosed; the six-person team relocated to StumbleUpon's San Francisco headquarters and 5by continued as a standalone product, with StumbleUpon hoping to use its video categorisation data in its core product.

StumbleUpon later shut 5by down.

The maker

Greg Isenberg avatar

Greg Isenberg

@gregisenberg727K followers

CEO of Late Checkout, host of The Startup Ideas Podcast, creator of Ideabrowser

Late Checkout, Ideabrowser, The Vibe Marketer +3

See the 5by product page or Greg Isenberg's full profile for everything they have built since.

Other exits by Greg Isenberg

I

Islands

โ†’ WeWork ยท 2019

by Greg Isenberg

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Sources

Facts are taken from the maker's and buyer's public statements and press coverage. Prices and revenue are shown only when publicly stated; self-reported figures are not independently verified.

Keep exploring

5by acquisition FAQ

Who bought 5by?

5by was acquired by StumbleUpon in 2013 from Greg Isenberg.

How much did 5by sell for?

The price was not publicly disclosed.

How long did it take 5by to get acquired?

5by was sold about 1 year after launch, through a direct sale (sold directly to a buyer, often a competitor, customer or acquirer that reached out).