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Vine and HQ Trivia co-founder Colin Kroll found dead at 34
Vine co-founder and HQ Trivia Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Colin Kroll has been found dead of a suspected drug overdose at the age of 34.
According to TMZ, Kroll was found dead surrounded by “drug paraphernalia.” Drugs found at the scene included cocaine and heroin.
Kroll, born in Rye, N.Y. in 1984, first came to fame alongside Dom Hofmann and Rus Yusupov as a co-founder of Vine, a short-form video service acquired by Twitter for $30 million in 2013 and shut down in 2016.
With money in the bank, Kroll then went on to co-found HQ Trivia. The app, which brought a TV-style live trivia game show to the internet, was a somewhat flash in the pan application that was widely popular for a short time at the end of 2017 and early 2018.
HQ Trivia managed to raise $18 million in venture capital on a $100 million valuation in February before falling out of favor. A report in November partially blamed the crash of HQ Trivia on management problems, with Kroll allegedly subject to a formal human resources complaint because of “his aggressive management style.”
Other reports suggested that Kroll may have sexually harassed employees, though no formal complaints were made.
“We learned today of the passing of our friend and founder, Colin Kroll, and it’s with deep sadness that we say goodbye,” HQ Trivia said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
The company also dropped its usual trivia game this evening, replacing it with a memorial stream led by host Scott Rogowsky.
Long-term collaborator Rus Yusupov took to Twitter, writing, “I will forever remember him for his kind soul and big heart. He made the world and internet a better place. Rest in peace, brother.”
Photo: esthervargasc/Flickr
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