TravelStorysGPS

What TravelStorysGPS does

TravelStorysGPS, LLC is a private, Wyoming-based SaaS company that operates a GPS-triggered mobile audio tour platform serving both consumer travelers and institutional partners. Its core technology, protected by U.S. Patent Nos. 8,965,410 and 9,078,096, automatically plays location-aware audio stories as users approach designated geographic points of interest and functions offline without requiring cell service or WiFi after the initial download. The platform spans a consumer iOS/Android app and a web-based tour discovery interface with virtual tour capability through Google Street View integration, plus a self-service TravelStorys Publisher platform that allows partner organizations to build and manage their own tours.

The company monetizes through a diversified model: an affordable annual subscription program for organizations that build tours (covering platform access, technical support, and quarterly analytics), one-time premium tour purchases by consumers (e.g., $9.99 for the Historic Charleston tour narrated by Darley Newman), full-service and shared tour production services, and white-label or SDK integration licensing for partners embedding its patented GPS-audio technology into their own apps or websites. The consumer app is free with most tours free, generating downstream value through partner subscriptions and premium upsells.

TravelStorysGPS serves 160+ partner organizations including conservation nonprofits such as The Nature Conservancy, government agencies including the Tennessee Valley Authority and CDOT, scenic byways such as Route 66 Alliance and A1A, tourism bureaus such as Park City CVB, parks such as Garden of the Gods, and hospitality brands such as KOA and Jackson Lake Lodge. Content spans 9,000+ mini-podcast-style stories across 47 U.S. states and 4 countries, with traveler usage in 174+ countries. The company is led by Founder and CEO Story Clark and is operated by an approximately 11-person team based in Wilson, Wyoming, with team members distributed in locations including Teton Valley, Idaho.

Name

TravelStorysGPS

Legal name

TravelStorysGPS, LLC

Website

https://travelstorys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TravelStorysGPS is a Wyoming-based SaaS company that operates a GPS-triggered, offline-capable mobile audio tour platform for travelers, serving 160+ partner organizations including nonprofits, tourism bureaus, scenic byways, parks, and government agencies with a patented location-aware audio delivery system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Audio Tour Platform

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (487110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Destination/Activity Booking Marketplaces (Tours & Tickets Aggregators) (THAKAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Guided Tours & Personal Tour Guides (THAJALAA), Wildlife & Nature Interpretation Guides (Birding, Photography, Naturalist) (THAAALAE)

Keywords

• Mobile audio tours
• GPS-triggered storytelling
• Location-based experiences
• Scenic byway tours
• Tourism audio guides

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Premium Tour Purchases: Consumers purchase individual premium tours through the mobile app (iOS via iTunes, Android via Google Play) or website. Tour prices vary (e.g., $9.99 for Historic Charleston with Darley Newman). Revenue collected through app store payment systems.
2. Partner Annual Subscription: Organizations that build tours pay an affordable annual subscription program for technical assistance, platform upgrades, detailed analytics, and ongoing support.
3. Tour Production Services: Full-service tour production where TravelStorysGPS handles entire development (research, scriptwriting, narration, sound design, map integration, testing, marketing). Shared production model where responsibilities are split between partner and TravelStorysGPS team.
4. White-Label and SDK Integration: Custom-branded app development powered by TravelStorys technology, and SDK integration into existing partner apps for GPS-audio technology.
5. Freemium Base Access: Free app and many free tours available to consumers. Most TravelStorys tours are free to the public, generating value through partner subscriptions and premium upsells.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TravelStorysGPS operates a patented GPS-triggered mobile audio tour platform that automatically plays location-aware audio stories as users explore destinations on iOS, Android, and the web, working fully offline without cell service. Organizations use the TravelStorys Publisher self-service platform (or full-service and shared production services) to build, edit, and launch tours, while consumers discover and download tours through a freemium app with optional premium tour purchases.

Product overview

TravelStorysGPS operates as a platform-plus-modules SaaS company offering the TravelStorys™ ecosystem for mobile audio tours. The core offering consists of the TravelStorys™ mobile app (iOS/Android) and web platform, which deliver GPS-triggered audio tours that automatically play as users explore destinations—works offline without cell service. The TravelStorys Publisher™ platform enables partners to build and manage tours. Professional services include Full Production, Shared Production, and Content Conversion for tour creation. Add-on modules include White-Label App, SDK Integration for embedding technology into existing apps, Website Plugin for web embedding, and Concierge Connection for hospitality guest engagement. The platform is trusted by 160+ organizations including nonprofits, tourism destinations, scenic byways, and parks, with tours spanning 47 U.S. states and 4 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TravelStorys™ Mobile App Award-winning GPS-triggered mobile audio tour application for iOS and Android that automatically plays location-aware audio stories as users explore destinations, and operates offline without cell service or WiFi after download. Distributed via App Store and Google Play, it is free with most tours free and select premium tours available for purchase.
• TravelStorys™ Web Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 160+ organizations trust TravelStorys for their audio tour needs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nature Conservancy partners with TravelStorysGPS to create audio tours for preserves across multiple states including New Hampshire (Manchester Cedar Swamp All Persons Trail), Michigan, and Utah. Tours include accessibility features and Spanish language support. TNC chapters actively co-market tours to their members and visitors.
• Tennessee Valley AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTVA partners with TravelStorysGPS to deliver audio tours for TVA destinations and landmarks, enhancing visitor engagement and education.
• Grand Teton National Park FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGTNP Foundation partners to create audio tours connecting visitors to the park, including content about the 1988 Yellowstone fires and Grand Teton experiences.
• Garden of the GodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Colorado Springs partners for audio tours at Garden of the Gods. Tour reaches 90,500+ users, drives visitor center engagement, and supports on-site economic activity.
• Historic Hudson River TownscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHRT partners for new and updated free audio tours across Hudson Valley communities, featured in Yahoo Finance and multiple regional publications.
• Kampgrounds of America (KOA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKOA partners to provide audio tours as guest perks for campers, enhancing the camping experience at KOA locations.
• Park City Convention and Visitors BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPark City CVB partners for audio tours covering Utah's winter sports capital, helping visitors discover the area's history and attractions.
• National Forest FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFF partners to create audio tours for National Forest destinations, enhancing visitor experiences on public lands.
• Historic Highway Route 66coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoute 66 Alliance partners for audio tours sharing stories along the iconic highway. Route 66 Alliance Executive Director Ken Busby calls it a 'terrific platform for telling interesting stories.'
• A1A Scenic HighwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA1A Scenic Highway partners for audio tours showcasing Florida's coastal scenic byway attractions and heritage.
• New York State Thruway AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNY Thruway Authority partners to provide audio content for travelers along New York's major highway corridors.
• White River Valley Conservation LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRVC partners for audio tours at conservation areas, engaging visitors with local natural and cultural heritage.
• CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDOT partners for audio tours along Colorado scenic byways and highways, enhancing driver experiences.
• Darley NewmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmmy Award-winning PBS travel host partners with TravelStorysGPS for GPS-triggered walking tour through historic Charleston. Premium tour priced at $9.99. Featured in Parade Magazine.
• American Friends of LafayettecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight immersive mobile audio tours across four states following Lafayette's farewell tour. Secured National Park Service funding and regional/historical funding.
• Huerfano County TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuerfano County partnered to launch flagship driving tour and three walking tours. Measurable tourism growth with strong community engagement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GPSmyCity: GPSmyCity provides self-guided city walks and driving tours with GPS-triggered commentary via mobile apps; its walking-tour and city-discovery focus directly overlaps with TravelStorys' urban cultural and historical tour content.
• izi.TRAVEL: izi.TRAVEL provides a free mobile app and CMS for museums, cities, and cultural institutions to publish GPS-triggered audio guides; its shared marketplace model and nonprofit/city partner base directly parallel TravelStorys' destination partner offering.
• PocketSights: PocketSights offers self-guided audio walking tours built by local historians and partner organizations for cities, campuses, and historic districts; it competes directly for tourism bureau, university, and downtown-district customers.
• VoiceMap: VoiceMap operates a marketplace of GPS-triggered self-guided audio walking tours across hundreds of cities worldwide, with a creator-publisher model and individual tour purchases—directly comparable to TravelStorys' city, cultural, and historical tour offering and premium pricing model.
• Clio Muse: Clio Muse offers audio tour content and a content management platform for museums, cities, and historic sites globally; its B2B subscription and white-label orientation positions it as a comparable peer for TravelStorys' partner business.
• TourSphere: TourSphere offers a self-service platform for cultural attractions and tour operators to build mobile audio tours with location-triggered playback; it competes for the same historical society, attraction, and CVB budgets as TravelStorys.
• STQRY: STQRY provides a white-label and self-service GPS audio tour platform for museums, historic sites, and attractions; its B2B partner model and app-based delivery closely mirror TravelStorys Publisher and the white-label/SDK product line.
• Guide-ID: Guide-ID provides multilingual GPS-triggered audio guides and tour apps for cities and attractions; its technology-and-content model targets the same tourism boards and cultural institution customers as TravelStorys.

Emerging players

• Gesso: Gesso offers mobile audio tour and storytelling tools for cultural institutions and historic sites; it overlaps with TravelStorys' B2B CMS and partner subscription offerings but with a narrower customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Bloomberg Connects: Bloomberg Connects is a free app from Bloomberg Philanthropies aggregating audio and video guides from major cultural institutions; it competes indirectly for museum and attraction audiences and partnerships where TravelStorys sells partner subscriptions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/travelstorysgps
• Xx.com/TravelStorysGPS
• Facebookfacebook.com/TravelStorysGPS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madiquissek

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 TravelStorysGPS