HOOKED
HOOKED is a San Francisco mobile media company that delivers AI-powered short-form fiction and video content to Gen Z audiences worldwide through chat fiction and vertical-screen video apps, reaching 100 million viewers across 25+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What HOOKED does
HOOKED is a San Francisco-based mobile media company founded in 2015 by Prerna Gupta and Parag Chordia that targets Gen Z consumers with short-form fiction delivered through mobile-native formats. The company's core product, the Hooked App, pioneered the chat fiction category by presenting stories as text-message-style exchanges optimized for smartphone reading, while Hooked TV, launched in 2021, extends the format into vertical-screen video content and debuted as one of Apple's Top 10 in Entertainment. Both products leverage a proprietary AI-powered content prediction engine that analyzes billions of data points at each stage of the content development funnel to identify and produce hit stories, drawing on an engagement base of 100 million viewers worldwide and over 10 billion messages read. The company also expanded distribution through a 2018 partnership with Snapchat for the multimedia thriller series 'Dark Matter.'
The company operates a consumer freemium and subscription model distributed primarily through the Apple App Store and Google Play, where it has achieved #1 rankings in over 25 countries and is described as the top-grossing book app on iOS in the US. Hooked has raised approximately $14.95 million across multiple funding rounds through May 2017, with investors including Founders Fund, Greylock, Sound Ventures, The Chernin Group, WME/Endeavor, SV Angel, and a notable roster of celebrity investors (Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx). Recognition includes Apple's 'Best of 2017' list and Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2021. The company employs 11–50 people and maintains a single headquarters in San Francisco with global consumer reach through mobile app distribution.
HOOKED firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HOOKED
- Legal name
- Hooked
- Website
- https://hooked.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HOOKED is a San Francisco mobile media company that delivers AI-powered short-form fiction and video content to Gen Z audiences worldwide through chat fiction and vertical-screen video apps, reaching 100 million viewers across 25+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HOOKED industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Digital Storytelling & Entertainment
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customer Support, CRM & Retention Tooling (Helpdesk, Churn, Messaging) (MPAHAJAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pay-TV Value-Added Services (DVR, VOD, TV Everywhere, Apps) (MPABAGAG)
Keywords
Where HOOKED is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
HOOKED business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Mobile App Revenue: The company operates as a top-grossing book app on iOS, suggesting a freemium or subscription model where users can access content with free tiers and pay for premium content or ad-free experiences.
- Hooked TV Video Content: The company's video app Hooked TV recently debuted as one of Apple's Top 10 in Entertainment, indicating monetization through video content distribution on mobile platforms.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
HOOKED product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HOOKED is a mobile media company that creates and distributes original short fiction and serialized video content for Gen Z audiences through two consumer apps: the Hooked App, which delivers chat-fiction stories in text-message format, and Hooked TV, a vertical-screen video app. Both products rely on a proprietary AI engine that analyzes billions of data points to predict and create hit content for mobile-first consumption.
Product overview
HOOKED is a mobile media company offering a portfolio of two core products: the Hooked App (chat-fiction platform delivering stories via text-message format) and Hooked TV (mobile video app for vertical-screen television content). Both products leverage proprietary AI technology to predict and create hit content. The company has reached 100 million viewers worldwide and has achieved #1 app store rankings in over 25 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hooked TV: The company's video app that debuted as one of Apple's Top 10 in Entertainment, redefining television for mobile audiences.
Products and services
- Hooked App Mobile chat-fiction reading app that delivers original short fiction as text-message exchanges, targeting teen and Gen Z mobile users; reaches 100 million viewers worldwide and has been #1 on App Store and Google Play in over 25 countries.
- Hooked TV Mobile video app that delivers serialized vertical-screen video entertainment, redefining television for mobile-native Gen Z audiences; debuted as one of Apple's Top 10 in Entertainment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reached 100 million Gen Z viewers worldwide
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use HOOKED
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
HOOKED technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature1 record
HOOKED partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HOOKED competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wattpad: Mobile-first digital fiction and storytelling platform with a large Gen Z user base, very directly comparable to Hooked in the chat/serialized fiction category. Wattpad has similar community-driven fiction consumption and was acquired by Naver/Webtoon.
- Episode: Interactive mobile storytelling app by Pocket Gems offering choice-based visual stories for a Gen Z audience. Direct competitor in mobile-native interactive fiction.
- Yarn: Chat-fiction style storytelling app delivering fictional stories via text-message exchanges. Closest format competitor to Hooked's original product.
Broad incumbents
- Webtoon: Large-scale mobile-native digital comics/fiction platform (owned by Naver). Comparable in audience (Gen Z), distribution (mobile apps), and serialized storytelling approach.
- Snap Inc. Parent of Snapchat, Hooked's content distribution partner for 'Dark Matter.' Comparable in reaching Gen Z via mobile-first vertical content and ephemeral/short-form formats.
- TikTok (ByteDance): Dominant short-form mobile video platform competing for the same Gen Z attention and ad dollars as Hooked TV. Broader scope but direct competitor for mobile entertainment minutes.
- Netflix: Major streaming entertainment incumbent named alongside Hooked in Fast Company's 2021 Most Innovative Companies list. Competes for premium mobile video time and is a potential acquirer or distribution partner.
Emerging players
- Tapas Media: Mobile and web platform for serialized digital fiction and comics targeting Gen Z readers. Comparable business model with creator-driven content and freemium monetization.
- Pocket Gems: Mobile game and storytelling company behind Episode and other Gen Z mobile entertainment apps. Comparable in mobile-native interactive fiction for the same audience.
Others
- Quibi (defunct): Short-form mobile-first premium video service that launched and shut down within six months in 2020. Comparable in targeting mobile-native short-form video, but a cautionary tale on the difficulty of monetizing premium mobile video at scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HOOKED social profiles
Digital presenceHOOKED financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HOOKED leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
HOOKED funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HOOKED 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 HOOKED
What does HOOKED do?
HOOKED is a mobile media company that creates and distributes original short fiction and serialized video content for Gen Z audiences through two consumer apps: the Hooked App, which delivers chat-fiction stories in text-message format, and Hooked TV, a vertical-screen video app. Both products rely on a proprietary AI engine that analyzes billions of data points to predict and create hit content for mobile-first consumption.
Is HOOKED a public or private company?
HOOKED is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was HOOKED founded?
HOOKED was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HOOKED based?
HOOKED is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does HOOKED make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Mobile App Revenue is the primary driver. The others are hooked TV Video Content.
Who are HOOKED's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wattpad, Episode and Yarn. Broad incumbents are Webtoon, Snap Inc., TikTok (ByteDance) and Netflix. Emerging players are Tapas Media and Pocket Gems. Quibi (defunct) is listed as an others.
Does HOOKED have an API?
No public API is recorded for HOOKED.
What industry is HOOKED in?
HOOKED's product category is Mobile Digital Storytelling & Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHAJAM, Customer Support, CRM & Retention Tooling (Helpdesk, Churn, Messaging), with a secondary code of MPABAGAG, Pay-TV Value-Added Services (DVR, VOD, TV Everywhere, Apps). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7372.