Ozy Media went from buzzy to belly-up. Its founder, Carlos Watson, is now on trial
For nearly a decade, Ozy Media projected an image of new-media success
NEW YORK (AP) — For nearly a decade, Ozy Media projected an image of new-media success.
The company boasted big-name interviews, an Emmy-winning TV show, a buzzy music and ideas festival and impressive numbers to show prospective investors — until it imploded in 2021 amid doubts about its audience size, viability and basic integrity.
Those doubts are now at the center of a federal criminal trial. Founder Carlos Watson and Ozy are fighting charges of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Even after numerous other public and court reckonings for Silicon Valley companies that went from ballyhooed to belly-up, it's hard to forget the moment in Ozy's downfall when co-founder Samir Rao impersonated a YouTube executive to talk up the company to prospective investors.
