Sam Shahidi

Sam Shahidi (born August 1, 1983) is a businessperson and co-founder of Shots Podcast Network and CEO of Happy Dad Hard Seltzer. Also, a partner of the popular YouTube group, Nelk Boys.

In 2009, he and his brother John Shahidi started the video game development company RockLive, where they developed mobile games for athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Mike Tyson. In 2013, RockLive became Shots Mobile before becoming Shots Podcast Network.

Early life He and his older brother John Shahidi grew up in Southern California. They were raised by their mother and grandmother.

Career

RockLive John and Sam Shahidi started developing iOS apps in 2009 Their first commercial app was RunPee.

The Shahidis were childhood friends of football players Carson and Jordan Palmer. The Shahidis ran Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's social media, and developed his two apps, Chad Ochocinco Experience, and its follow-up, MadChad. To promote the game Mike Tyson Main Event in 2011, Shahidi rented a boxing ring during the festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, with Tyson making an appearance.

Shots app RockLive was rebranded to Shots Mobile. The inspiration for the app came after Facebook was forced take down a page that attracted cyberbullying. As a child, Shahidi had been bullied due to his Iranian Kurdish heritage.

Shots had a user base of 10 million people.

Shots raised $15.2 million in funding. Investors included boxer Floyd Mayweather

In its first 18 months, Shots gained 1.8 million daily active users. Due to the strong competition from other photo and video sharing apps like Instagram and Snapchat, its number of users dropped from 7 million in March 2016 to 2.5 million in October 2016. Notable users included Snoop Dogg, Shaquille O'Neal

Shahidi is the chief product officer (CPO), chief creative officer (CCO), and head of the engineering division. He often analyzes viewer data on their videos,

Other endeavors Shahidi was part of the unveiling of the new uniforms of the Golden State Warriors in September 2014. A selfie with Harrison Barnes was retweeted 4,700 times.