99% Invisible
99% Invisible is a small Oakland-based media company, founded in 2010, that produces a long-running radio show and podcast about design, architecture, and the hidden systems shaping the built environment, serving a general-interest audience interested in design and urbanism.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What 99% Invisible does
99% Invisible is a small, privately held media company founded in 2010 and based in Oakland, California, operating with 1-10 employees. Per its own description, it produces a radio show — originally broadcast on public radio and now primarily distributed as a podcast — focused on design, architecture, and the often-unnoticed ("99% invisible") physical and systemic activity that shapes the built environment. The product surface centers on long-form, narrative-driven audio content aimed at a general-interest audience with an affinity for design, urbanism, and culture.
The company's core product is audio programming; the technical stack, hosting infrastructure, and editorial workflow are not disclosed in the available source material. No apps, APIs, integrations, patents, certifications, or proprietary technology components are recorded. The company's own website (99percentinvisible.org) is the primary public-facing property, and no parent company, subsidiaries, or ownership structure has been disclosed.
The revenue model is not specified in the source data: no pricing, sponsorship, membership, or advertising details are available, and the third-party firmographic source returned only a placeholder page. Based on standard practice for independently produced podcasts of this profile, plausible revenue mechanisms include listener donations/memberships, advertising and sponsorship reads, live event ticket sales, and ancillary product revenue (books, merchandise). No management team, funding history, investor base, financial filings, or growth metrics were extractable from the provided input.
99% Invisible firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 99% Invisible
- Website
- https://99percentinvisible.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- 99% Invisible is a small Oakland-based media company, founded in 2010, that produces a long-running radio show and podcast about design, architecture, and the hidden systems shaping the built environment, serving a general-interest audience interested in design and urbanism.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
99% Invisible industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Podcast Media
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Sound Recording Industries (5122)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Podcast Hosting & Enterprise Solutions (Private/Branded Podcasts) (MPACADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Podcast Hosting, Distribution & Listening Platforms (BPAMAJAD), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)
Keywords
Where 99% Invisible is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
99% Invisible business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
99% Invisible product offering
Product offeringCore offering
99% Invisible produces and distributes a radio show and podcast focused on design, architecture, and the often-unnoticed design activity that shapes the everyday environment. The content is delivered as audio episodes to a general listener audience interested in the built world and design culture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 99% Invisible Radio Show / Podcast An ongoing radio show and podcast about design, architecture, and the 99% invisible activity that shapes the world, produced for general audiences of individual listeners.
Companies that use 99% Invisible
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
99% Invisible technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
99% Invisible partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves1 record
99% Invisible competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wondery: Amazon-owned podcast network producing high-profile narrative shows. Comparable as a scaled podcast network competitor for advertiser attention and exclusive distribution deals.
- Gimlet Media: Major podcast network owned by Spotify producing multiple branded shows. Comparable as a podcast-network operating model with portfolio monetization, though significantly larger and platform-backed.
Direct peers
- Freakonomics Radio: Long-running independently produced podcast exploring the hidden side of everything. Comparable in audience scale, niche topical authority, single-host brand identity, and advertising-supported monetization.
- This American Life: WBEZ flagship narrative radio/podcast program. Highly comparable in terms of audio production quality, public-radio origins, distributed/podcast-first distribution, and single-brand iconic status.
- Radiolab: WNYC-produced narrative podcast exploring hidden systems and ideas through sound design. Direct format peer to 99% Invisible: prestige long-form audio storytelling with a similar high-production, lean-team operating model.
- The Moth: Storytelling-focused podcast and live event series. Comparable in craft-driven audio content, niche-but-loyal audience, and live event monetization extensions.
- Stuff You Should Know: iHeartRadio educational podcast covering overlooked topics in everyday life. Comparable in long-running independent production, evergreen topical content, and broad listener appeal.
- Invisibilia: NPR podcast about the invisible forces shaping human behavior. Strongly comparable in subject matter (unseen design/forces), production values, and public-radio distribution lineage.
- TED Radio Hour: NPR-distributed curated audio show based on TED talks. Comparable in narrative-craft approach, public-radio distribution, and education/intellectual positioning with design-adjacent audiences.
Emerging players
- Radiotopia: Podcast network from PRX that includes 99% Invisible. Direct distribution and ecosystem peer, as 99% Invisible is housed within this network's portfolio of independent narrative podcasts.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
99% Invisible social profiles
Digital presence99% Invisible financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
99% Invisible leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
99% Invisible funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
99% Invisible 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 99% Invisible
What does 99% Invisible do?
99% Invisible produces and distributes a radio show and podcast focused on design, architecture, and the often-unnoticed design activity that shapes the everyday environment. The content is delivered as audio episodes to a general listener audience interested in the built world and design culture.
When was 99% Invisible founded?
99% Invisible was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 99% Invisible based?
99% Invisible is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
Who are 99% Invisible's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wondery and Gimlet Media. Direct peers are Freakonomics Radio, This American Life, Radiolab, The Moth, Stuff You Should Know, Invisibilia and TED Radio Hour. Radiotopia is listed as an emerging player.
Does 99% Invisible have an API?
No public API is recorded for 99% Invisible.
What industry is 99% Invisible in?
99% Invisible's product category is Podcast Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACADAF, Podcast Hosting & Enterprise Solutions (Private/Branded Podcasts), with a secondary code of MPAIADAJ, Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms. Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.