{"ok":true,"trend":{"id":978097,"platform":"news","region":"global","key":"whatnot’s founders had a ‘horrific’ business idea. their next bet became worth $20 billion","title":"Whatnot’s Founders Had a ‘Horrific’ Business Idea. Their Next Bet Became Worth $20 Billion","url":"https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxPaEtWVTE3Mm1KNDZGQm5aZWdIY0JyUHhlckd5eEM3Z2RsVUlXUEF0MGlzTWVoLVhJbnVLTklTWFVEYWZSVjI5TVlaRmNlODkyOHp0R190LXVXb09vVDFMdkZaQlhwSUFqZGlhbHBwNmdXUTd3d3R5Vy1TQzBSOVRYcngzUXpBNEVtWVg0TFgtRzkyc2ZzTjJ2ZUhIT3BYY0xNVThtT004WE1PSFFBR19JakJQMVQ3RjlVS3BPYQ?oc=5","first_seen":"2026-10-04T11:18:06.715529Z","last_seen":"2026-10-05T03:50:13.770525Z","last_rank":30,"peak_rank":3,"last_volume":null,"peak_volume":0,"seen_count":22,"score":38.73,"category_hint":"startups","section":"business","category":"business","summary":"The founders of live-shopping marketplace Whatnot first tried a business idea they themselves describe as horrific before pivoting to their current venture, now valued at roughly $20 billion. The story highlights how the team abandoned an early concept and built a collectibles and live-auction shopping platform that has grown into one of the most valuable startups in its category.","why":"The company's reported $20 billion valuation and the founders' story of recovering from a failed first idea are drawing attention in startup and business circles.","tone":"positive","entities":["Whatnot"],"summarized_at":"2026-10-04T23:25:36.272615Z","meta":{"via":"scan","lang":"en","term":"startup","source":"inc.com","published":"Sun, 04 Oct 2026 22:59:38 GMT"},"nw":null,"promo":null,"kind":null,"importance":null,"hidden":false,"hide_reason":null,"judged_at":null,"title_en":"Whatnot Founders Turn Failed Idea Into $20 Billion Company","section_name":"Business","category_name":"Business","timeline":[{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T11:18:06.715529Z","rank":24,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T11:23:09.513325Z","rank":20,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T12:40:05.834333Z","rank":11,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T12:45:04.131882Z","rank":15,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T14:02:03.220374Z","rank":16,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T14:07:05.119838Z","rank":13,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T15:24:46.360342Z","rank":10,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T15:29:46.557149Z","rank":16,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T16:46:45.525766Z","rank":18,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T16:51:48.317898Z","rank":15,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T18:09:28.551570Z","rank":5,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T18:14:31.425716Z","rank":14,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T19:31:49.237130Z","rank":6,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T19:36:49.985901Z","rank":13,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T20:53:50.905782Z","rank":3,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T20:58:50.032940Z","rank":14,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T22:15:48.923583Z","rank":17,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T22:20:49.604864Z","rank":17,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T23:38:10.888041Z","rank":6,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-04T23:43:11.478811Z","rank":13,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-05T01:00:56.406057Z","rank":8,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-05T01:05:54.097823Z","rank":20,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-05T02:22:54.501536Z","rank":11,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-05T02:27:54.221462Z","rank":25,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-05T03:45:12.311884Z","rank":24,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-10-05T03:50:13.770525Z","rank":30,"volume":null}],"posts":[{"platform":"news","url":"https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxPaEtWVTE3Mm1KNDZGQm5aZWdIY0JyUHhlckd5eEM3Z2RsVUlXUEF0MGlzTWVoLVhJbnVLTklTWFVEYWZSVjI5TVlaRmNlODkyOHp0R190LXVXb09vVDFMdkZaQlhwSUFqZGlhbHBwNmdXUTd3d3R5Vy1TQzBSOVRYcngzUXpBNEVtWVg0TFgtRzkyc2ZzTjJ2ZUhIT3BYY0xNVThtT004WE1PSFFBR19JakJQMVQ3RjlVS3BPYQ?oc=5","author":"inc.com","title":"Whatnot’s Founders Had a ‘Horrific’ Business Idea. Their Next Bet Became Worth $20 Billion","snippet":null,"posted_at":"2026-10-04T11:04:09Z","likes":null}],"elsewhere":[],"window":"7d"}}