Ex-Apple execs' streaming platform draws $46 million backing

Twitch is in for some thematically similar competition, as Caffeine today announced its own eponymous social broadcast platform for "games, entertainment, and other artistic content."

Caffeine was co-founded by former Apple TV product design lead Ben Keighran and former Apple senior user experience designer Sam Roberts, and to date has secured $46 million in backing led by Andreessen Horowitz and Greylock Partners. The platform is currently accessible in a "pre-release" phase, either online at caffeine.tv or through its iOS app.

When asked by GamesIndustry.biz what differentiates Caffeine from other streaming platforms, Keighran pointed to three things: broadcasting tools that don't require set up, delay-free real-time broadcasts, and "a people-centric discovery and consumption experience."

"You get into the content based on who you follow," Keighran said. "You can see what they are watching or broadcasting. The comments are filtered for each user, based on social signal, which allows us to create the world's most friendly and personal experience for live broadcasting."

Caffeine's official launch and its monetization system are expected to come in the first half of this year.