Introducing the Livepeer Foundation
The Livepeer Foundation is a new, neutral entity created to steward the next phase of growth, decentralization, and ecosystem participation across the Livepeer network. Since its early days, Livepeer has grown from a proof of concept into open video infrastructure supporting millions of minutes of video per week. The Foundation continues that mission — as coordinating infrastructure across a maturing ecosystem.
How we got here
Livepeer launched in 2017 with a vision for open video infrastructure. Over the years, the protocol evolved — from mainnet launch to transcoding at scale — supported primarily by Livepeer Inc and a growing community.
As the network matured, independent Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) began delivering upgrades and research across the stack. Community governance emerged through onchain treasury proposals, and new contributors joined across verticals.
But with growth comes complexity. Coordination across multiple teams, research priorities, strategic investment, and marketing demanded a dedicated, neutral entity — not a company or a DAO, but something in between. The Foundation fills that role.
Why the Foundation, why now?
Several forces converged. Real-time video AI is generating new demand. Ecosystem developers are stepping up to expand the infrastructure. Fresh talent is entering the space.
The Foundation provides a lean coordination layer: structurally minimal, credibly neutral, and oriented around long-term network health. It's designed to support — not control — the diverse actors building on and for Livepeer.
A vehicle for ecosystem participation
The Foundation's structure is organized around three pillars:
Strategy & Vision
Advisory Boards focused on Network, Governance, Demand, and Markets ensure that strategic decisions reflect community input through structured stakeholder engagement.
Core Network Development
The Foundation coordinates research and development across Livepeer Inc and independent technical teams, supporting stable infrastructure while reducing centralization.
Ecosystem Growth
Programs target developers, founders, and contributors through gateway expansion and community engagement.
What's already underway
The Foundation has already begun work across its strategic priorities. Advisory boards are being recruited, community programs are in development, and coordination across SPEs and ecosystem contributors is underway. The Foundation is also working closely with Livepeer Inc to align technical roadmaps and ensure the network is positioned for the next wave of demand.
What comes next
The Foundation's roadmap is phased:
- 2025: Establish operations, launch Advisory Boards, drive real-time video AI adoption
- 2026–2027: Lead marketing, diversify gateway infrastructure, expand demand sources
- 2028+: Transition governance to the broader community
Meet the team
The Foundation launches with a lean, experienced team:
- Rich O'Grady — Executive Director
- Rick Staa — Technical Director
- Ben Perez — Operations Director
- Joseph Birch — Communications Lead
The Livepeer Foundation is just getting started. If you're a developer, researcher, or community member interested in contributing to the future of open video infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you.