ASOTU

What ASOTU does

ASOTU (Automotive State of the Union), founded in 2020 by Paul J Daly during the COVID-19 pandemic as a Delaware-incorporated company headquartered in Syracuse, NY, operates a media network serving the U.S. retail automotive industry. The company's product portfolio centers on a portfolio of nine podcasts (including the flagship Automotive State of the Union daily show, Auto Collabs, ASOTU CON Sessions, Unscripted, NAMAD Sessions, The Dealer Playbook, The ASOTU Wheelhouse, Amplify, and NADA Show Sessions), the Daily Push Back email newsletter, the Truth About Car Dealers docuseries, Edge Webinars, the ASOTU Shop merchandise storefront, an AI-augmented platform called AutoIndustry.ai, and the annual ASOTU CON conference. Content is distributed across LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, podcast aggregators, and the company's website.

ASOTU's business model is sponsorship and advertising-led, working with automotive industry technology vendors, F&I providers, marketing agencies, and OEM partners on customized sponsorship arrangements. The company does not publicly disclose pricing and instead develops partnerships directly via inbound contact ([email protected]). It has cultivated a partnership ecosystem with 20+ named companies including Cox Automotive, automotiveMastermind, 700Credit, Cars Commerce, ACV Auctions, Hireology, and industry associations NAMAD and NADA Education. The technology stack is primarily a content platform: there is no disclosed proprietary model, no API, no SDK, and the product "technology" is positioned as media rather than software.

The company remains founder-led, with Kyle Mountsier joining as Partner/COO in 2021, and operates with a very lean team (1–10 employees). In March 2023, ASOTU filed an SEC Form D for a $580,000 exempt securities offering, of which $525,000 was reported raised at filing; an additional ~$330,000 round is recorded for March 2022. Geographic operations are concentrated in the United States, with content distributed globally via digital channels. Customer concentration is not publicly disclosed, but revenue is generated across two principal verticals: automotive dealer audiences (as the reach metric for sponsors) and automotive industry partners (as direct paying customers of sponsorship activations).

Name

ASOTU

Legal name

ASOTU, Inc.

Website

https://asotu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ASOTU is a U.S.-based media network serving the retail automotive industry, operating daily podcasts, a daily email newsletter, the annual ASOTU CON conference, and an AI-powered industry intelligence platform. The company monetizes primarily through sponsorship deals with automotive technology vendors, marketing partners, and OEMs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Media Network

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Publishing Industries (513)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Podcast Ad Sales Networks & Monetization Platforms (MPACADAD), Podcast Hosting, Distribution & Listening Platforms (BPAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Automotive media network
• Industry podcasts
• Daily newsletter
• Dealer events
• Automotive content

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Advertising: ASOTU generates revenue through sponsorship partnerships with automotive industry companies. The company works with sponsorship partners to develop mutually-beneficial content and experiences that impact the automotive industry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ASOTU operates a media network for the retail automotive industry, producing a portfolio of podcasts, a daily email newsletter, a docuseries, webinars, and an annual conference. The company monetizes its audience primarily through sponsorship and advertising partnerships with automotive technology vendors, F&I providers, marketing agencies, and OEMs.

Product overview

ASOTU (Automotive State of the Union) is a media network for the retail automotive industry offering a portfolio of podcast programs including Automotive State of the Union, Auto Collabs, ASOTU CON Sessions, Unscripted, NAMAD Sessions, The Dealer Playbook, The ASOTU Wheelhouse, Amplify, and NADA Show Sessions. The network complements its podcasts with the Daily Push Back Email newsletter, The Truth About Car Dealers docuseries, Edge Webinars, and the annual ASOTU CON conference. The company also operates AutoIndustry.ai for industry intelligence and maintains an e-commerce shop for branded merchandise. The product portfolio functions as an integrated content ecosystem serving automotive dealers, industry partners, and OEM leaders with news, insights, and community-building content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASOTU CON: Annual conference event for the automotive retail industry featuring sessions, networking, and industry insights.
• Push Back Email
• AutoIndustry.ai
• Automotive State of the Union Podcast
• Auto Collabs Podcast
• ASOTU CON Sessions
• Unscripted Podcast
• NAMAD Sessions Podcast
• The Dealer Playbook
• The Truth About Car Dealers
• Edge Webinars

Products and services

• Automotive State of the Union Podcast Flagship daily podcast hosted by Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier covering automotive industry news, car dealerships, retail trends, emerging technology, and cultural shifts.
• Auto Collabs Podcast

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 700CreditcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner providing credit, compliance, and soft pull solutions for automotive dealers.
• automotiveMastermindcoreTechnology or IntegrationMarketing and sales intelligence platform for automotive dealers, emphasizing partnership over vendor relationships.
• Cox AutomotivecoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor automotive technology and services provider offering inventory management, financing, and data solutions.
• XtimecoreTechnology or IntegrationService scheduling and customer engagement platform for automotive dealers.
• NAMAD (National Association of Minority Auto Dealers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support minority dealer representation and diversity in automotive retail. ASOTU produces NAMAD Sessions podcast series.
• NADA EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing professional development and training resources for automotive dealers.
• Connected Dealer ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationSales automation and lead management platform for automotive dealers.
• Effectv (Comcast Company)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerData-informed advertising solutions targeting car buyers. Regional Director of Automotive represents Effectv as ASOTU contributor.
• MiacoreTechnology or IntegrationAI-powered virtual employee solution for dealerships. Sponsors NAMAD Sessions podcast.
• Cars CommercecoreTechnology or IntegrationAutomotive marketplace and advertising platform connecting dealers with car shoppers.
• ACV AuctionscoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital auction platform for wholesale vehicle transactions. CEO serves as ASOTU contributor.
• vAuto (Cox Automotive)coreTechnology or IntegrationInventory management and pricing solutions for used vehicle dealers. Founder Dale Pollak is an ASOTU contributor.
• Reunion MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward-winning automotive digital marketing agency. Founder serves as ASOTU contributor.
• GroundTruthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocation-based marketing platform targeting automotive consumers.
• HireologycoreTechnology or IntegrationHiring and talent management platform for automotive dealers. CEO Adam Robinson is an ASOTU contributor.
• Webster UniversityminorOthersEducational partnership for automotive management programs.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CBT Automotive Network (CBT News): CBT News is a media outlet producing daily news, video, and podcast content for automotive dealerships and their vendor partners. It targets the same audience as ASOTU — franchised and independent dealers — with a similar daily-news-plus-video content model and sponsorship-driven revenue.
• DrivingSales: DrivingSales is a community, content, and events platform for automotive dealers and vendors, including the annual DrivingSales Executive Summit. It is structurally comparable to ASOTU in targeting dealer audiences with media, events, and a community-led GTM.
• Digital Dealer: Digital Dealer is a media and events brand serving automotive dealers with conferences, articles, podcasts, and webinars. It overlaps with ASOTU directly on dealer-facing events (similar to ASOTU CON) and on multi-format dealer education content.
• Dealer News Today (Cox Automotive): Dealer News Today produces daily news, videos, and podcasts for automotive retail professionals. Operated by Cox Automotive, it competes head-to-head with ASOTU for the same dealer audience and the same vendor sponsorship dollars, but with vastly greater resources.

Broad incumbents

• Automotive News: Automotive News is the leading trade publication for the global auto industry, with print, digital, and event properties reaching dealers, OEMs, and suppliers. It is a much broader incumbent that overlaps with ASOTU on dealer and vendor audiences but is not podcast-native.
• WardsAuto (Informa): WardsAuto, part of Informa, provides industry intelligence, data, and editorial coverage for automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers. It competes with ASOTU for vendor sponsorship and dealer mindshare but at a much broader industry-wide scale.
• Auto Remarketing: Auto Remarketing covers the used-vehicle and remarketing side of automotive retail, with news, events, and data products aimed at dealers, auctions, and lenders. It overlaps with ASOTU on dealer audiences and event-driven revenue.

Emerging players

• Fixed Ops Magazine: Fixed Ops Magazine focuses specifically on dealership fixed operations (service, parts, body) with editorial content and events. It is a smaller, more niche media outlet within ASOTU's broader automotive retail footprint, comparable on content model but narrower in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/asotu
• Facebookfacebook.com/automotivestateoftheunion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asotu
• Instagraminstagram.com/asotu_morethancars
• TikToktiktok.com/@asotumorethancars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

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 ASOTU