Sevenload

About Sevenload

Sevenload GmbH, founded in April 2006, operated as a German-based social media network for photos, videos, and web TV content, ultimately ceasing operations on April 4, 2014. The company was established in Cologne by Ibrahim Evsan, Thomas Bachem, and Axel Schmiegelow's venture firm, dw capital gmbh. Evsan and Bachem had been developing the core video player technology since the fall of 2005. The initial seed funding of €250,000 was provided by dw capital.

The platform allowed users to upload, share, and view videos and photos, functioning as both a user-generated content host and a distributor of licensed, professional web TV shows. This hybrid model positioned Sevenload as a European counterpart to services like Hulu in the United States, combining premium content with user submissions. The business model focused on cross-media marketing, advertising solutions, and providing its video technology as a white-label service to third-party companies. Revenue was generated through classic banner ads and video advertisements that played before content, with a revenue-sharing component for users. The company also specialized in creating IPTV-based internet platforms and software solutions for Web 2.0 applications.

Sevenload's service was international, available in twelve languages across more than twenty localized country portals. It secured partnerships with major content providers like Universal Music, MTV Networks, National Geographic, and FOX. The platform supported HD video uploads and offered features like creating user groups and embedding content on external websites. Key investors included T-Online Venture Fund, Burda's DLD Ventures, Media Ventures, and Martin Varsavsky. In December 2010, Burda's DLD Ventures acquired a majority stake by purchasing the shares held by T-Online Venture Fund. Following this, co-founder Axel Schmiegelow moved from CEO to the supervisory board, and Andreas Heyden, who had joined as COO in 2007 from a competitor, became the sole CEO. The original technology-focused founders, Ibrahim Evsan (CTO) and Thomas Bachem (Director of Technology), had already departed in September 2009 to pursue new ventures. Despite attempts by Burda Digital to sell the company in early 2014, a buyer was not found, leading to the discontinuation of the site.