MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
The co-founder of Mixer – formerly known as Beam – is moving on from Microsoft.
After winning TechCrunch Disrupt NY in 2016, James Boehm – who co-founded Beam in 2014 – built the platform that went on to become Mixer, bringing the streaming platform to “hundreds of millions of Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One consoles globally”.
Boehm oo-founded Beam in 2014 with Matthew Salsamendi, and sold the company to Microsoft in 2016. Boehm was made a Thiel Fellow in 2016, awarded in 2017’s Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards, and included in Forbes 2018 30 Under 30 list.
“Today, I’m announcing my departure from Microsoft,” Boehm said in a series of tweets. “When we started Mixer over five years ago, @MattSalsamendi and I could have only dreamed it would grow into the globally known brand and amazing community it is today.
“I’ve had the honour to work with some of the smartest and most passionate colleagues I have ever been on a team with. Although, I will be leaving Mixer, this community and what we’ve built together, will always be a part of who I am. That at least, is not changing with this announcement and I will still be very close by through streaming, attending events, and actively participating in all things gaming worldwide. I’m proud of my achievements with the Mixer team and my time at Microsoft.
‼Hi everyone! Today, I’m announcing my departure from @Microsoft.👈
When we started Mixer over five years ago, @MattSalsamendi and I could have only dreamed it would grow into the globally known brand and amazing community it is today.💙(1/5)
— K1 | James (@SuitJames) October 2, 2019
“I’ve learned so much from so many talented engineers and designers; it’s such an amazing team and I’m so humbled to have been a part of it. I’m also excited about the future of the Mixer platform, but now I’m giving my focus to new projects I’m involved in with the aim of continuing to develop the industry and its communities; the first announcement being my recent appointment to the board of GamerGoo, with more to follow. Thank you all for an incredible five years and thank you to all who supported us over them.”
Though Boehm has yet to expand on what he’s moving on to do, they have recently been appointed to the board of GamerGoo, a company which designs lotions created specifically for gamers, “specially formulated to keep hands dry, cool and sweat-free”.
