Benedict Townsend

Taylor Lorenz is a celebrated tech journalist, well known for her coverage of Vine. So it seems fitting that she was one of the first to experience the six-second phenomenon.

Taylor Lorenz is a celebrated tech journalist, well known for her coverage of Vine. So it seems fitting that she was one of the first to experience the six-second phenomenon.

For one of the single most consequential online products in modern history, very little is actually known about Vine's origin story. We know it went big. We know it went bust. But where in the heavens did it actually come from? Well, the only way to figure it out is by finding a founder. But according to my producer, Mary... That's not as easy as it sounds. OK, Mary, three founders. Who are they?

For one of the single most consequential online products in modern history, very little is actually known about Vine's origin story. We know it went big. We know it went bust. But where in the heavens did it actually come from? Well, the only way to figure it out is by finding a founder. But according to my producer, Mary... That's not as easy as it sounds. OK, Mary, three founders. Who are they?

What do we know about them?

What do we know about them?

Okay, so Dom Hoffman. What's his vibe?

Okay, so Dom Hoffman. What's his vibe?

Yes.

Yes.

Couldn't quite believe his personal website. I think there's maybe 20 words total on the whole website. It doesn't feel like a man who's aching to be contacted. Yeah.

Couldn't quite believe his personal website. I think there's maybe 20 words total on the whole website. It doesn't feel like a man who's aching to be contacted. Yeah.

obviously did not expect to get reply and then like six weeks later in my inbox hi yeah russ would maybe like to talk we now have an agreed time and place for an interview yes the time is 10 minutes from now yes the place is here exactly and he's i've had whatsapp communication with him this morning which has given me reason to believe that he is going to show up

obviously did not expect to get reply and then like six weeks later in my inbox hi yeah russ would maybe like to talk we now have an agreed time and place for an interview yes the time is 10 minutes from now yes the place is here exactly and he's i've had whatsapp communication with him this morning which has given me reason to believe that he is going to show up

Okay, so all things being equal, we should be talking to Russ in about 10 minutes. Dear listener, if the next voice you hear is Russ, we did it. If it's not, well, you know, we tried.

Okay, so all things being equal, we should be talking to Russ in about 10 minutes. Dear listener, if the next voice you hear is Russ, we did it. If it's not, well, you know, we tried.

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Surprise! He turned up. Ross Yusupov, Vine founder in the flesh. Yeah, Ross. Excited to talk to you. Thank you so much for being here. Well, not in the flesh so much as sat in New York chatting with me over video, but there he is. Jet black hair, peppered with grey, black t-shirt, professional-looking microphone, a tasteful potted plant behind him. But he does quickly disable his video.

Surprise! He turned up. Ross Yusupov, Vine founder in the flesh. Yeah, Ross. Excited to talk to you. Thank you so much for being here. Well, not in the flesh so much as sat in New York chatting with me over video, but there he is. Jet black hair, peppered with grey, black t-shirt, professional-looking microphone, a tasteful potted plant behind him. But he does quickly disable his video.