Fonos

Name

Fonos

Legal name

Công Ty Cổ Phần Fonos

Website

https://fonos.vn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Audiobook and Audio Content

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Sound Recording Industries (5122), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290)

SIC

Retail-Record & Prerecorded Tape Stores (5735)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiobook Retail & Subscription Platforms (Direct-to-Consumer) (MPAJAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM), Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH), Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH), Audiobook & Spoken-Word Streaming Platforms (MPAIADAE)

Keywords

• Audiobook streaming
• Digital audio content
• Online learning platform
• Corporate training software
• Subscription media

Headquarters

HQ city

Ho Chi Minh City

HQ country

Vietnam

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Membership: Recurring subscription revenue from tiered membership plans (Lite, Premium, Premium Pro) providing unlimited access to curated audiobook library, ebooks, book summaries, meditation, sleep stories, and themed music. Includes Fonos credit cards for purchasing premium audiobooks and PodCourses.
2. Individual Content Purchase: One-time purchases of individual audiobooks and PodCourses using Fonos credit cards or direct single-title purchase at retail prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fonos operates a mobile-first digital audio content subscription platform serving individual consumers in Vietnam, providing access to 13,000+ licensed audiobooks, video-based PodCourses, ebooks, book summaries, meditation, sleep stories, and themed relaxation music under tiered membership plans. The company also operates Elevate, a separate B2B enterprise learning and development sub-brand that sells microlearning, gamified training, and analytics tools to corporate HR/L&D departments.

Product overview

Fonos operates as a comprehensive audio content platform combining a consumer-facing mobile application with an enterprise learning solution. The core Fonos app serves individual users with a portfolio of audio products: Sách nói (audiobooks) as the primary offering with 13,000+ licensed titles, PodCourse for expert-led video micro-courses, Ebook library, Tóm tắt sách (book summaries), Thiền định (meditation), Truyện ngủ (sleep stories), and Âm nhạc (relaxation music). The ecosystem is supported by Thẻ Fonos, a credit-based purchasing mechanism that allows permanent ownership of individual titles. A separate sub-brand, Elevate, targets enterprise clients with a B2B L&D platform featuring microlearning and gamification. Additional offerings include gift packages, English-language content from Oxford University Press, and the TVL Book Club community feature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elevate: Nền tảng Triển Khai Đào Tạo & Phát Triển Nhân Sự Cho Doanh Nghiệp (L&D platform for corporate training and human resource development). Elevate is a corporate training platform developed by Fonos that helps businesses deploy and measure training activities quickly and consistently.

Products and services

• Fonos Audio Content App Vietnam's #1 audiobook mobile app providing individual Vietnamese consumers with subscription access to 13,000+ licensed audiobooks, PodCourses, ebooks, book summaries, meditation, sleep stories, and relaxation music via iOS and Android.
• Sách nói (Audiobooks) Licensed audiobook library of 13,000+ titles including Vietnamese and international bestsellers, recorded with professional voice actors in studio quality, with the first chapter free and full titles accessible via membership or one-time purchase.
• PodCourse Video-based micro-learning courses taught by Vietnamese experts covering business, health, personal development, and professional skills, sold individually or via subscription credit cards.
• Elevate Enterprise learning and development (L&D) SaaS platform sold to corporate HR and L&D departments, featuring microlearning, gamification, expert-led video content, and real-time analytics to deploy and measure employee training at scale.
• Ebook Library Digital book library of 1,000+ licensed ebooks across multiple genres, available for unlimited access to members as part of their subscription.
• Tóm tắt sách (Book Summaries) Concise book summaries included with Fonos membership, allowing busy users to grasp the key ideas of books quickly without listening to the full audiobook.
• Thiền định (Meditation) Audio meditation content designed to help members reduce stress, improve focus, and achieve mental balance, included in the premium membership.
• Truyện ngủ (Sleep Stories) Relaxing audio bedtime stories included with membership, designed to help listeners unwind and fall asleep easily.
• Âm nhạc (Relaxation Music) Themed audio music tracks for relaxation, focus, and productivity enhancement, available as part of Fonos membership.
• Sách tiếng Anh (English Audiobooks) English-language audiobook collection sourced from Oxford University Press, designed for English-language learners with bilingual subtitle support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members listen to an average of 10 audiobooks per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Oxford University PresscoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive English-language audiobook content partnership providing the complete Oxford University Press English audiobook collection to Fonos members, enabling bilingual subtitle features and English-language learning use cases on the platform.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Audible: Audible, an Amazon subsidiary, is the global leader in audiobook subscription and a/c-download services. It is the largest scaled incumbent Fonos competes against for audiobook mind-share, and its potential entry into Vietnam is the principal strategic threat.
• Spotify: Spotify is the global audio streaming incumbent that has expanded into audiobooks across multiple markets. As a broader audio platform rather than audiobook specialist, it represents a wide incumbent threat to Fonos's consumer audiobook funnel.

Direct peers

• Storytel: Storytel is a Swedish-headquartered audiobook and podcast subscription platform operating across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It is the closest direct competitor to Fonos in business model (subscription streaming of licensed audiobooks + podcasts) and has publicly stated APAC expansion ambitions.
• BookBeat: BookBeat is a Bonnier-owned audiobook streaming subscription service active primarily in Europe. It is directly comparable to Fonos as a flat-fee audiobook streaming product competing on library size, app UX, and price.
• Nextory: Nextory is a Swedish audiobook and ebook subscription service offering tiered monthly/annual plans similar to Fonos's Lite/Premium/Premium Pro structure. Closely comparable in product bundling and pricing architecture.
• Bookmate: Bookmate is a global ebook and audiobook subscription platform with strong presence in emerging markets including Russia, CIS, and parts of Asia. Closely comparable to Fonos in combining ebooks and audiobooks in one subscription tier.
• Everand (formerly Scribd): Everand is Scribd's consumer subscription reading/audiobook service, offering unlimited access to ebooks, audiobooks, and documents for a flat fee. Highly comparable subscription economics and library model to Fonos's premium tier.

Emerging players

• Kuku FM: Kuku FM is an Indian audio content platform offering audiobooks, podcasts, and audio courses in regional languages on a subscription model. Comparable emerging-market audio-content subscription analog relevant to Fonos's regional expansion thesis.
• Podimo: Podimo is a podcast and audio subscription platform operating across Europe and Latin America with localized creator content. Comparable emerging subscription-audio model and the same PLG/creator-economy dynamic Fonos uses for PodCourses.

Regional players

• Ubook: Ubook is a Brazilian audiobook and podcast subscription platform serving Portuguese-speaking Latin America. Comparable single-region subscription-audio playbook relevant for understanding Fonos's geographic concentration risk.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgKVnpqft_rMv2WmNTQyVdg
• Facebookfacebook.com/fonosvietnam
• Instagraminstagram.com/fonosvietnam

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fonos