big PR screw up launch video
- script is super optimized
- good social proof
- lotta ADHD food
but
- narration is too fast and under their breath
- comes off as really fake - animations instead of UI, massive raise, meme accounts driving engagement, etc
- I'm veryyyy tired of this format
good example of a launch video that can backfire.
some folks dug up the fact that this company appears to be a pivot from a Series C company. pivots are fine, but stretching the truth around it is not.
if you have something as big as a $136M round to announce, you better be prepared for people to ask how and why... especially if your product is unknown and generic and you don't share the investors' names....
as @lulumeservey says, you get cancelled when people feel like you're overrated - your hype/funding exceeds how good you/your product is. and this team walked right into this.
they could have had an even more viral video just telling the truth: "we shut down our $800M company to go all in on this idea" is way better.
I feel bad for these founders though.
judging by the clickbaity script, overdone animations, and heavy use of meme accounts, its possible that the agency they worked with pressured them into using the $136M number.
as a founder you have to remember, agencies incentives aren't always aligned to yours. many focus on numbers, not outcomes or qualitative impact.
so in summary, dont do this. please tell the truth.