Gesso

What Gesso does

Gesso is a Brooklyn-based creative studio and technology platform that produces location-based audio, film, and editorial storytelling experiences for cultural institutions, brands, and independent creators. Its product surface consists of a GPS-triggered mobile application on iOS and Android, a no-download mobile-web platform, a self-serve creator publishing tool (with map markers, MP3 uploads, transcripts, and 30-meter default trigger radii), and a dedicated white-label Museum Guide Platform featuring automated translation into 15-18 languages and accessibility features (transcripts, dynamic text, alt text, ASL video embed, screen-reader compatibility). Creators can publish free or paid tours at fixed price points of $11.99 or $17.99, with Gesso taking a transaction fee; selected tours are offered on a recurring monthly subscription basis.

Gesso operates a dual business model combining bespoke agency production services (podcasts, audio tours, exhibition videos, translation work) for museum and brand clients with a scalable SaaS-style platform for creators and institutions to self-publish. Customers include the New Museum, ICP, Rockefeller Center, Open House New York, the SoHo Memory Project, Welcome to Chinatown, and independent creators; founder Henna Wang, Michael Reynolds, and Demetrio Filocamo established the company in 2019 through NEW INC's Museum Technology track, with the Knight Foundation underwriting the original museum-tech prototyping. No institutional venture funding rounds have been disclosed.

Operationally, Gesso is a 1-10 employee private company incorporated in New York, with content deployed across New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Venice, Florence, Rome, and London. The company reports a 75% audio guide uptake and 90% completion rate among client users, versus an industry average of 5-10% uptake, and has accumulated 500+ podcast episodes with 60,000+ downloads. No revenue, ARR, or valuation figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Gesso

Legal name

Gesso, Inc.

Website

https://gesso.app

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gesso is a Brooklyn-based studio and platform that produces GPS-triggered location-based audio guides and editorial storytelling for museums, brands, and independent creators, monetizing via platform fees on paid creator tours and bespoke production contracts with cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Location-Based Audio Storytelling

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFAIAJ

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Content Marketing & Production (Copy, Video, Design)

SECONDARYMPAIAHAA

Recording Studios (Commercial, Project, Mobile)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Music Production Services (Studios, Producers, Session Musicians)

SECONDARYMPACAEAC

Creator Live Audio Broadcasting Tools (Studios, Mixing, Call-In)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Digital Media & Content Platforms (Online Video, Podcasts, Creators)/Audio Social & Live Audio Platforms

Keywords

• Location-based audio guides
• Cultural storytelling platform
• Mobile walking tours
• Audio guide software
• Place-based experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Paid Audio Tours (Transaction-based): Creators can publish paid audio tours at set price points of $11.99 or $17.99. Gesso takes a transaction fee from sales. Free tours available without fees.
2. Subscription Tours: Some tours available on subscription basis with recurring billing. Payment due at beginning of each subscription term.
3. Professional Content Production Services: Gesso available for hire to produce podcasts, audio tours, and exhibition videos for museums and cultural institutions.
4. Donations: Creators of audio experiences can solicit donations on behalf of certain locations. Donations processed through the App.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gesso is a creative studio and platform that produces and publishes location-based audio experiences for cultural institutions, creators, and brands. It operates a mobile-web and app-based platform that delivers GPS-triggered audio guides, walking tours, and immersive narrative content, and offers a self-serve creator publishing tool along with full-service content production for museums and cultural organizations.

Product overview

Gesso is a place-based audio and video storytelling platform consisting of a mobile app (iOS/Android), a mobile-web platform, and creator/museum-facing publishing tools. The core offering includes the Gesso Platform for hosting GPS-triggered audio experiences, the Creator Platform for independent creators to publish paid or free audio walking tours, and the Museum Guide Platform for cultural institutions to create branded mobile guides with accessibility and multilingual features. The company also offers full-service content production for clients wanting custom audio, video, and translation work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gesso Mobile App Location-based audio guide mobile application available on iOS and Android. Users experience GPS-triggered audio content when approaching specific locations, with support for transcripts and multilingual accessibility.
• Gesso Mobile-Web Platform Lightweight mobile-web platform for publishing and hosting audio guides. No app download required for listeners. Features multilingual support, accessibility features, and GPS-triggered audio.
• Creator Platform Self-service tool for creators to publish and sell their own location-based audio experiences. Creators can upload audio, images, transcripts, set pricing (free or paid at $11.99 or $17.99), and manage their tours across iOS, Android, and mobile web.
• Museum Guide Platform White-label mobile guide solution for cultural institutions with customization options, accessibility features (transcripts, dynamic text size, alt text, ASL video embed, screen-reader compatibility), and automated translation in 15+ languages. Available via DIY production or full-service production.
• Free Web App Builder for Museums Free web-based tool for museums to create mobile experiences and bring exhibitions online. Provided at no cost during COVID-19 pandemic to help smaller institutions engage audiences digitally.
• Professional Content Production Services Full-service creative production offering for museums, cultural institutions, and brands. Gesso is available for hire to produce podcasts, audio tours, exhibition videos, multilingual translations, and editorial content.
• Audio Tours and Walking Experiences Immersive audio guides, walking tours, podcasts, and narrative sound design experiences covering cities including New York, Sydney, San Francisco, Venice, Rome, Florence, and London. Includes themed series such as the Summer Staycation Series, museum partnerships, and creator-published tours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% audio guide uptake with 90% completion rate compared to industry average of 5-10% uptake
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Beta partner since September 2019. Gesso built and evolved the platform to meet New Museum's needs. New Museum's Deputy Director Karen Wong expressed that 'Gesso's UX is simple and seamless' and allows museums flexibility to build online exhibitions based on their resources.
• NEW INC (New Museum's Incubator)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince September 2019, Gesso has been a member of NEW INC's Museum Technology track, underwritten by the Knight Foundation. Gesso was tasked with prototyping innovative technology solutions for the museum sector.
• HoboHut Media GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSydney-based audio production company that collaborated with Peter Moore to produce the Walk an Irish Mile tour using binaural recording techniques for immersive audio.
• SoHo Memory ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the history of SoHo. Teamed up with Gesso to launch a free audio AR walking tour honoring SoHo's past, present, and future, available August 23, 2021.
• Welcome to ChinatownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit initiative. Proceeds from Chromic Duo's Chinatown audio tour are donated to Welcome to Chinatown's Longevity Fund, a small business relief fund for Manhattan Chinatown.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GuideID: GuideID provides audio guide hardware and software for museums, attractions, and tourism operators, with multilingual support and analytics. It competes with Gesso in the museum and cultural institution audio guide market, particularly for institutions that want a more managed offering.
• Smartify: Smartify is a direct peer offering a mobile app that provides audio guides, multimedia tours, and object recognition for museums and cultural institutions globally. It competes head-to-head with Gesso on the same museum-customer use case, including multilingual guides and visitor engagement features.
• STQRY: STQRY provides a mobile app and content management platform for self-guided museum and heritage tours, including audio guides, interactive maps, and AR features. It competes with Gesso on the museum digital guide proposition with similar enterprise sales motion.
• izi.TRAVEL: izi.TRAVEL is an open platform for museums, cities, and creators to publish multilingual audio tours, with mobile apps for travelers and a CMS for institutions. It is a direct competitor to Gesso across both the museum and creator monetization sides of the market.
• Detour (acquired by Bose): Detour was a location-based audio tour platform with professionally produced, cinematic walking tours, acquired by Bose. It pioneered the creator/professional location-based audio tour format that Gesso's creator and museum platforms also pursue.
• Clio Muse: Clio Muse offers a platform for museums and cultural sites to create and distribute audio tours and storytelling content, often producing tours on behalf of clients. It overlaps directly with Gesso's combined platform-plus-production model.
• VoiceMap: VoiceMap is a direct peer offering a platform for creators to publish and monetize location-based audio walking tours via GPS-triggered playback. Its creator-led, marketplace model closely mirrors Gesso's creator platform, including pricing tiers and global tour catalog.

Broad incumbents

• Bloomberg Connects: Bloomberg Connects is Bloomberg Philanthropies' widely adopted museum and cultural institution app offering audio guides, exhibition content, and event information. It is a broad incumbent alternative for the same museum buyers Gesso targets, with the credibility of Bloomberg's brand and philanthropic backing.

Others

• Peek (Peek.com): Peek is a marketplace and booking platform for tours, activities, and experiences, including audio-guided tours. It is adjacent to Gesso as a distribution and monetization channel for location-based audio experiences rather than a direct technology competitor.

Emerging players

• Cuseum: Cuseum builds digital engagement tools for museums and cultural institutions, including audio tours, AR, and visitor analytics. It is an emerging player in the same museum digital engagement category, with overlap on audio-guide functionality but a broader product suite.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gessoapp
• Instagraminstagram.com/gesso.app
• Xx.com/gesso_app
• Facebookfacebook.com/gesso.fm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Gesso