Kick: The Fast-Growing Livestreaming Platform Under Scrutiny

Founded in 2022 by Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, Kick is a Melbourne-based livestreaming platform that has rapidly gained attention—and controversy. Craven is also the co-founder of Stake, an unlicensed crypto casino. Despite claiming over 100 million cumulative users, Kick does not publish audited accounts.

"The 100 million user figure is a vanity figure." — Bijan Tehrani, co-founder

What Sets Kick Apart

Kick distinguishes itself from competitors through a dramatically different revenue model:

• 95% of subscription revenue is returned to streamers, compared to Twitch's ~50%.
• The platform permits gambling streams, although it does not pay creators for them.
• Its early growth is largely attributed to looser moderation policies than those of rival platforms.

However, the company remains unprofitable and is funded by its founders from Stake revenue. As headcount grows from 100 to 1,000, Kick is moving to a larger office in Cremorne, Melbourne.

Controversies and Criticisms

Kick has faced several high-profile incidents:

• 2023: Streamers Ice Poseidon and Sam Pepper hired a sex worker during a broadcast; Craven was alleged to have reacted with laughing emotes.
• August 2023: MMA fighter Raja Jackson knocked out a wrestler on stream, leading to a ban and criminal charges.

Critics argue that Kick attracts viewers through gambling and extreme content, despite demonetizing gambling streams.

"Kick's generous creator revenue share is a strategy to funnel users to Stake." — Andrei Zanescu, Concordia University fellow

Financial and Viewership Reality

Kick does not disclose its revenue—by contrast, Twitch reported approximately $3 billion. Viewership figures are also disputed:

Ethan Wright, Kick's director, maintains the company is "ringfenced" from Stake, with separate leadership and strategy. However, experts remain skeptical.

"Stake is unlicensed in Australia and may provide customers to the casino." — Charles Livingstone, Monash University

While Wright cites roughly 10 million weekly users, the platform's long-term viability and ethical standing remain open questions.