Cut.com, Inc.

What Cut.com, Inc. does

Cut.com, Inc. is a Seattle-based digital video content studio founded in 2014 that produces viral social experiment videos centered on relationships, dating, and human connection. Its core product is a library of recurring video formats distributed primarily through YouTube, where the company has accumulated 20M+ subscribers and 1B+ annual views. Flagship formats include Truth or Drink (couples and groups answering progressively personal questions), Lineup (participants ranking or guessing dates), and The Button (speed dating with secret jobs). The company has extended its content IP into physical products through the Truth or Drink Second Edition card game (410 questions across four intimacy levels), sold at Target and Amazon.

Cut monetizes through three primary streams: YouTube advertising revenue on billions of annual views, brand partnerships and sponsorships with a roster including Google, Netflix, Hulu, Fox, Alaska Airlines, Sesame Street, Showtime, LinkedIn, Mattel, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Pizza Hut, and Aura, and physical merchandise sales. Distribution extends beyond YouTube to Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook for short-form reach. Participant sourcing is managed through a dedicated casting infrastructure built on Airtable forms and a Cut Casting Facebook group, enabling nationwide talent recruitment. The company operates as a privately held, founder-led business (Christopher Rudy, Blaine Ludy, Jason Hakala) with 11-50 employees and offices in Seattle and Los Angeles.

Name

Cut.com, Inc.

Legal name

Cut.com, Inc.

Website

https://cut.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cut.com is a Seattle-based digital video studio that produces viral social experiment formats like Truth or Drink and Lineup on YouTube (20M+ subscribers), monetizing through advertising, brand sponsorships, and a physical card game sold at Target and Amazon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Video Entertainment

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (459120), Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Party Games, Activities & Interactive Entertainment (HSACACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family/Party Board Games Retail (CRALALAB), Party Games & Family Entertainment Games Retail (CRALAFAJ)

Keywords

• Digital video production
• Social media content
• Video entertainment
• Brand partnerships
• Physical card games

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. YouTube Ad Revenue: Content distributed on YouTube generates advertising revenue through pre-roll, mid-roll, and display ads on videos with billions of annual views
2. Merchandise Sales: Physical products including the Truth or Drink card game sold through Amazon and Target retail channels
3. Brand Partnerships & Sponsorships: Brand integrations, product placements, and custom advertising campaigns with major brands including Google, Alaska Airlines, Netflix, Hulu, Fox, and others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cut creates and distributes original digital video content centered on social experiments exploring relationships, dating, and human dynamics. Flagship formats include 'Truth or Drink' (a drinking game where couples/groups answer personal questions), 'Lineup' (a ranking/guessing format about dating), and 'The Button' (a speed-dating reveal format). The company has expanded into physical products with the Truth or Drink Second Edition card game (410 questions across four intimacy levels), distributed via Target and Amazon.

Product overview

Cut.com, Inc. is a digital media company operating primarily as a video content platform featuring two flagship branded video formats: 'Truth or Drink' (an interactive conversation game exploring relationships and secrets) and 'Lineup' (ranking and guessing games about dating and attraction). The company has expanded into physical products with the 'Truth or Drink Second Edition' card game (410 questions across four intimacy levels, sold at Target and Amazon). The portfolio is anchored by recurring episode formats including The Button (speed dating), with new formats in development. Cut maintains a casting program to source real participants for videos, and offers branded partnership opportunities for companies seeking access to their 20+ million subscriber audience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Truth or Drink: Video format featuring personal questions game; also a physical card game product sold at retail.
• Lineup

Products and services

• Truth or Drink Cut's signature video series featuring couples and individuals answering increasingly personal questions over a drinking game. The format explores relationships, secrets, and authentic conversations through a game mechanic that lowers inhibitions.
• Truth or Drink Second Edition (Card Game) Physical card game edition featuring 410 intensely personal questions across four different levels of intimacy. Available for purchase at Target and Amazon, allowing players to play the game at home.
• Lineup
• The Button
• Cut Casting Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 billion views annually
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership involving potential advertising and content integration campaigns on YouTube platform.
• Alaska AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership for content integrations and sponsored content campaigns.
• FoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership potentially involving content distribution or promotional campaigns.
• NetflixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment brand partnership for cross-promotional content or campaign collaborations.
• HuluminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStreaming platform partnership for promotional content collaborations.
• Sesame StreetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational media partnership potentially involving special content collaborations.
• ShowtimeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium cable network partnership for content promotion or co-branded campaigns.
• LinkedInminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional network partnership for branded content campaigns.
• MattelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerToys and entertainment company partnership for branded content collaborations.
• e.l.f. CosmeticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty brand partnership for promotional content and product integrations.
• Pizza HutminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuick service restaurant brand partnership for content integrations.
• AuraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital wellness brand partnership for promotional campaigns.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• ATTN: ATTN: produces short-form, social-first video content aimed at younger audiences, with comparable production economics and brand-partnership monetization as Cut.
• Cards Against Humanity: Cards Against Humanity is a category-defining adult party card game brand; Cut's Truth or Drink card game targets an adjacent 'adult party game' consumer shelf, making them category peers in retail games.

Direct peers

• Jubilee Media: Jubilee produces social experiment and 'truth or dare'-style YouTube content centered on relationships, identity, and difficult conversations, closely mirroring Cut's Truth or Drink and Lineup formats and audience.
• WatchCut: WatchCut creates short-form and long-form video content built around interactive party games and social challenges, directly comparable to Cut's core formats and YouTube-led distribution strategy.
• Smosh: Smosh is a long-running YouTube-first entertainment brand producing comedy and lifestyle content with audiences in a similar 18-34 demographic and a comparable multi-platform monetization model.
• SoulPancake: SoulPancake produces socially conscious, conversation-driven video content exploring relationships and human connection, similar in tone and audience targeting to Cut's relationship-focused formats.

Broad incumbents

• CollegeHumor (CH Media): CollegeHumor operates a broader digital comedy and entertainment portfolio with YouTube-native content, overlapping with Cut's audience and advertiser base but spanning more formats.
• BuzzFeed: BuzzFeed is a large-scale digital media company running viral video and lifestyle content across YouTube and social platforms, competing for similar advertiser dollars and audience attention as Cut.
• Mythical Entertainment: Mythical Entertainment operates a diversified creator-led digital entertainment business anchored by Smosh and Rhett & Link, with similar brand partnership, merchandise, and multi-platform monetization patterns to Cut.
• Group Nine Media / NowThis: Group Nine operates social-first video brands like NowThis targeting younger digital audiences with shareable content, overlapping with Cut's YouTube/social distribution strategy and advertiser profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/cut
• Xx.com/watchcut
• Facebookfacebook.com/WatchCut
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cut-media-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cut.com, Inc.