Autio
Autio is a GPS-triggered mobile audio storytelling app delivering 25,000+ narrated stories about US landmarks and history to road-trippers and travelers, monetized via freemium subscription tiers, with celebrity narrators and planned Ford vehicle integration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSanta Barbara, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Autio does
Autio (formerly HearHere) is a US-based consumer technology company that operates a GPS-triggered location-based audio storytelling mobile application, founded in 2017 and publicly launched in 2020. The platform automatically plays curated 3-5 minute audio stories about history, culture, sports, music, geology, and natural wonders as users drive past relevant locations, using geofencing technology that factors in speed and direction of travel to ensure appropriate content delivery. Its content library spans 25,000+ stories across all 50 US states, narrated in part by celebrity voices including co-founder Kevin Costner, John Lithgow, and Phil Jackson. The company is incorporated in California with operations based in Santa Barbara and San Francisco, and a distributed global engineering and content team of approximately 15-18 people.
The underlying technology is a mobile app (iOS, Android, Amazon) with native car-audio integration via Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, plus an announced 2026 embed into Ford vehicles running Android Automotive OS. Additional features include offline mode for use in areas without cellular coverage, curated playlists, and partnerships with HISTORY Channel, Netflix, JetBlue (including inflight entertainment), Harvest Hosts, The Guestbook, and Zendrive. The company has raised approximately $5.4M across three funding rounds (2021, 2022, 2023), with iHeartMedia leading the most recent round in March 2023 and Camping World leading the 2022 round.
Autio's business model is a freemium consumer subscription. The app is free to download with a selection of free stories; full library access requires a paid subscription available in annual ($40), multi-year ($49.99 for 5 years, down from $179.99), and lifetime ($99.99-$299) tiers, plus gift subscriptions. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via app stores with self-serve acquisition, supplemented by content marketing through the Here & There blog, social media, PR coverage in major outlets, and celebrity-driven organic awareness. The company does not publicly disclose revenue or ARR.
Autio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Autio
- Legal name
- Autio Inc.
- Website
- https://autio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Autio is a GPS-triggered mobile audio storytelling app delivering 25,000+ narrated stories about US landmarks and history to road-trippers and travelers, monetized via freemium subscription tiers, with celebrity narrators and planned Ford vehicle integration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Autio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Location-Based Audio Storytelling
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interactive Multimedia Learning Content (Video, Audio, Interactive Lessons) (EDAFACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Subscriber Identity, Entitlements & Access (SSO, IAM, Paywall) (MPAHAJAB)
Keywords
Where Autio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Barbara
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Autio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Revenue: Annual auto-renewing subscriptions providing unlimited access to full story library. Multi-year subscription options available. Lifetime one-time payment option.
- Gift Subscriptions: Pre-paid gift memberships sold as one-time upfront payments. Cannot be combined with other offers.
- Freemium Access: Free app download with selection of free stories. Full library access requires paid subscription.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 5-Year Subscription - $49.99 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Lifetime Subscription - $129.97 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Lifetime Subscription - $99.99 |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Subscription - $40 |
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Tier with Premium Subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Autio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Autio is a GPS-triggered location-based audio storytelling mobile application that automatically plays curated 3-5 minute audio stories about history, culture, landmarks, and natural wonders as users drive past relevant locations. The app delivers 25,000+ stories across all 50 US states, narrated by celebrities including Kevin Costner, John Lithgow, and Phil Jackson, with hands-free operation integrated through Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Revenue is generated through freemium subscription tiers (annual, multi-year, and lifetime) unlocking the full content library.
Product overview
Autio is a location-based audio storytelling platform and mobile app that delivers GPS-triggered audio content to travelers. The core product is the Autio App (formerly HearHere), which automatically plays curated 3-5 minute stories narrated by celebrity voices (including Kevin Costner, John Lithgow, and Phil Jackson) as users drive through locations. The platform's main offering is access to 25,000+ location-based audio stories spanning all 50 US states, available via the Autio Unlimited Subscription (with Annual, Multi-Year, and Lifetime tiers). Key features include GPS-triggered audio playback, offline mode for remote areas, and curated playlists for specific destinations and themes. The product ecosystem includes the main mobile app (iOS/Android), companion web platform (app.autio.com), and integrations with car audio systems (Bluetooth, CarPlay, Android Auto).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Autio App GPS-triggered location-based audio storytelling mobile application that automatically plays curated 3-5 minute stories about history, culture, sports, music, geology, and natural wonders as users drive past relevant locations. Features celebrity narrators including Kevin Costner, John Lithgow, and Phil Jackson. Available on iOS, Android, and Amazon app stores with 25,000+ stories across all 50 US states.
- Autio Unlimited Subscription Premium subscription service providing unlimited access to the full 25,000+ story library. Offered as Annual (auto-renewing yearly), Multi-Year (5-year at $49.99), and Lifetime (one-time payment, regularly $299, promotional $99.99-$129.97) plans. Gift subscriptions also available as pre-paid one-time purchases.
Quantifiable outcome
- 900,000+ app installs validating consumer demand for location-based audio storytelling
Companies that use Autio
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Autio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature5 records
Autio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FordcoreAutio is launching on Ford vehicles with Android Automotive OS in 2026, embedding the app directly into vehicle infotainment systems for hands-free access without smartphone.
- JetBluecoreAutio became available on JetBlue's inflight entertainment system, giving customers access to exclusive Ireland playlist content during flights. Partnership expanded internationally on St. Patrick's Day with exclusive Irish history content.
- HISTORY ChannelcorePartnership with HISTORY Channel to create exclusive audio playlists for Pawn Stars Do America Season 2 episodes, allowing viewers to learn more about history featured in each show.
- NetflixminorPartnership with Netflix to create special audio playlist accompanying the release of Netflix's series Life on Our Planet, connecting streaming content with road trip audio experiences.
- Harvest HostsminorPartnership with RV and trailer destination collective to bring stories of interesting Harvest Hosts locations to Autio users, combining travel content with destination discovery.
- The GuestbookminorPartnership with hotel booking partner to highlight interesting hotel destinations along with corresponding Autio stories for the journey, with cash back and loyalty point benefits.
- ZendriveminorPartnership enables insurance qualification and referral program, allowing Autio to potentially offer usage-based insurance benefits to users.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Autio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VoiceMap: VoiceMap operates a marketplace for GPS-triggered location-based audio tours, the closest direct competitor to Autio's core offering across cities and driving routes globally.
- izi.TRAVEL: izi.TRAVEL provides a platform for location-based audio tours and museum guides, directly overlapping Autio's GPS-triggered storytelling model across multiple countries.
- Detour: Detour (acquired by Bose) built cinematic location-based audio walking and driving tours; it pioneered the GPS-triggered tour experience that Autio now competes with.
- TourSphere: TourSphere is a self-service platform for creators to build and sell location-based audio tours, overlapping Autio's GPS-triggered storytelling offering.
- Rick Steves Audio Europe: Rick Steves' free Audio Europe app provides location-triggered travel commentary for European driving and walking tours, competing for the same road-trip enrichment use case as Autio.
- Storyteller Audio Tours: Storyteller offers location-based audio tours for travelers, directly comparable to Autio's GPS-triggered storytelling model for road trips and city exploration.
Emerging players
- Roadtrippers: Roadtrippers is a road-trip planning platform with an emerging audio/content layer; it overlaps Autio's road-tripper persona and could expand into audio storytelling as a partial substitute.
Broad incumbents
- Spotify: Spotify's podcasts and audio content offering serves the same in-car audio use case Autio targets, with vastly greater scale and a free tier that pressures Autio's subscription model.
- Audible: Audible (Amazon) provides audio entertainment during drives and increasingly offers location-aware content, competing for the in-car listening time and wallet that Autio targets.
- Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts is the default free audio platform on iOS/CarPlay devices and competes directly with Autio for in-car listening time during road trips.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Autio social profiles
Digital presenceAutio compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Autio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Autio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Autio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Autio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Autio
What does Autio do?
Autio is a GPS-triggered location-based audio storytelling mobile application that automatically plays curated 3-5 minute audio stories about history, culture, landmarks, and natural wonders as users drive past relevant locations. The app delivers 25,000+ stories across all 50 US states, narrated by celebrities including Kevin Costner, John Lithgow, and Phil Jackson, with hands-free operation integrated through Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Revenue is generated through freemium subscription tiers (annual, multi-year, and lifetime) unlocking the full content library.
Is Autio a public or private company?
Autio is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Autio founded?
Autio was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Autio based?
Autio is headquartered in Santa Barbara, United States, in the North America region.
How does Autio make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Revenue is the primary driver. The others are gift Subscriptions and freemium Access.
Who are Autio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VoiceMap, izi.TRAVEL, Detour, TourSphere, Rick Steves Audio Europe and Storyteller Audio Tours. Roadtrippers is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Spotify, Audible and Apple Podcasts.
Does Autio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Autio.
What industry is Autio in?
Autio's product category is Location-Based Audio Storytelling. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFACAG, Interactive Multimedia Learning Content (Video, Audio, Interactive Lessons), with a secondary code of MPAHAJAB, Subscriber Identity, Entitlements & Access (SSO, IAM, Paywall). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7372.