Autio (Formerly Hearhere)

About Autio (Formerly Hearhere)

Autio, formerly known as HearHere, is a mobile audio entertainment application that provides location-based stories for travelers. Founded in 2017 by Woody Sears, Bill Werlin, and actor Kevin Costner, the app launched publicly in August 2020. The platform's mission is to connect people with the history, culture, and stories of the places they are traveling through.

The company was born from the founders' passion for road trips and storytelling. CEO Woody Sears is an entrepreneur with a background in consumer and mobile technology. Bill Werlin, a former executive at The North Face and Patagonia, serves as Co-Founder of Content, curating the app's story library. Famed actor and director Kevin Costner, known for his love of history and storytelling, joined as a co-founder to help expand the app's content, particularly focusing on the diverse histories of the United States, including those of its indigenous peoples.

Autio operates on a subscription-based business model with a freemium option. Users can listen to the first five stories for free, after which they can purchase a subscription for unlimited access. An annual membership costs approximately $36. The app uses geolocation to automatically alert users to nearby stories, which are typically two to five-minute audio vignettes. The content library includes over 20,000 stories across the United States, narrated by well-known figures like Kevin Costner, John Lithgow, and Phil Jackson, as well as historians and local experts. While primarily designed for road trips, the app can also be used at home to explore places virtually or during other forms of travel like flights and walks.

The company has seen significant growth, with revenue increasing from $200,000 in 2021 to over $700,000 in 2022. Autio has successfully raised capital, including a $5.9 million funding round in March 2023 led by iHeartMedia, bringing its total funding to over $10 million. This funding supports content expansion, personnel growth, and new product features. The company has also formed strategic partnerships with companies like iHeartMedia, JetBlue, and The HISTORY Channel to expand its reach and content offerings.