The Real Startup Behind The Lean Startup

How a Failed Plugin Became a $50M Avatar Platform—and Sparked a Startup Revolution

If you’ve ever read The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, you’ve probably heard of IMVU—the quirky 3D avatar chat company that quietly became a textbook startup case. But behind the buzzwords lies a powerful story of false assumptions, painful pivots, and data-driven redemption.

Let’s unpack the real story—step by step.