What Viertausendhertz does

Viertausendhertz GmbH is a Berlin-based B2B podcast production studio founded in 2016 by four co-founders — Marie Dippold, Nicolas Semak, Christian Conradi, and Hendrik Efert — emerging from the Radiobüro freelance radio author collective. Following the 2022 departure of two co-founders, Marie Dippold and Hendrik Efert became the company's sole shareholders and managing directors in 2023, consolidating all operations under the original brand after dissolving the 'Viertausendhertz Studio' sub-brand. The company delivers full-service 360-degree audio production services — consulting, concept development, research, host casting, sound design, studio or remote recording, post-production, multi-platform distribution, and performance analytics — to enterprise brands, NGOs, cultural institutions, and audio platforms.

The company operates from an in-house studio in Berlin-Kreuzberg (Prinzessinnenstrasse 16) and leverages a curated network of over 30 freelance editors, producers, authors, and hosts. Its portfolio includes more than 40 distinct podcast projects since founding, split between proprietary original productions (e.g., the sleep-learning 'Wissen unterm Kissen' franchise with extensions into space, kids, and English-language editions; 'Der Sage nach' folklore series; 'Reflektor' music interviews; 'Elementarfragen' biography interviews; 'Mikrodilettanten'; 'Aufnahmen aus der Geisterwelt'; 'Historische Heldinnen') and commissioned work for external clients. Technology-wise, Viertausendhertz has demonstrated AI-integrated production workflows, most notably through 'Historische Heldinnen', produced end-to-end with AI for scripts, voice synthesis, music, graphics, and publication text, with human fact-checking applied.

Revenue is generated primarily through B2B contract production fees from custom podcast projects for clients including Audi, Audible, Lufthansa, Deezer, ProSiebenSat.1/FYEO, Berlinale, Goethe Institut, WDR/1Live, Ärzte ohne Grenzen, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Öko-Institut, DRK-Blutspendedienst, and the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, with secondary income from licensing and royalties on proprietary originals. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, varying by project scope and complexity. Distribution occurs across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Deezer, Audible, and ARD Audiothek for public-broadcaster collaborations. The company is privately held with no external institutional investors, markets primarily through its portfolio website, newsletter, and organic social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook), and carries credibility markers including the 2019 World Media Award (for the Audi 'Die Zukunft ist elektrisch' series) and the 2016 iTunes Germany 'Bestes Interviewformat' for 'Durch die Gegend'.

Name

Viertausendhertz

Legal name

Viertausendhertz GmbH

Website

https://viertausendhertz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Berlin-based B2B podcast production studio founded in 2016, offering full-service 360° audio production for enterprise brands, NGOs, cultural institutions, and streaming platforms, from an in-house studio supplemented by a 30+ freelancer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Podcast Production Services

NAICS

Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Sound Recording Studios (512240), Teleproduction and Other Postproduction Services (512191)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Podcast Production, Editing & Post-Production Services (MPACADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE), Enterprise Audio Publishing & Private Podcast Platforms (MPAIADAI)

Keywords

• Podcast production services
• Audio content creation
• Branded podcast production
• Narrative audio formats
• AI-generated audio production

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Contract Production: Viertausendhertz produces custom podcasts for enterprise clients, brands, and institutions on a project basis. This is their primary revenue stream, with notable clients including Audi, Audible, Lufthansa, Deezer, and various public institutions. Production services range from concept development to finished, distribution-ready audio content.
2. Podcast Originals: The company develops and produces proprietary podcast concepts (e.g., 'Frequenz 4000', 'Aufnahmen aus der Geisterwelt', 'Historische Heldinnen') which may be monetized through licensing, platform deals, or advertising.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Viertausendhertz GmbH is a Berlin-based B2B podcast production studio that produces and develops podcasts and audio formats for enterprise clients and brands, covering the full 360° workflow from concept development, research, host casting, and studio or remote recording through sound design, post-production, multi-platform distribution, and analytics. The company supplements commissioned work with proprietary podcast originals (e.g., the 'Wissen unterm Kissen' sleep-learning franchise, 'Der Sage nach', 'Frequenz 4000') and integrates AI-driven production workflows such as the fully AI-generated 'Historische Heldinnen' podcast.

Product overview

Viertausendhertz is a Berlin-based podcast production company offering both original productions and commissioned audio content services. The company provides full 360-degree audio production including consulting, ideation, research, host casting, sound design, studio recording, post-production, and multi-platform distribution. Their portfolio includes over 40 podcast productions spanning original brands like the 'Wissen unterm Kissen' sleep-learning franchise, 'Der Sage nach' legend exploration series, 'Reflektor' music interviews, and 'Elementarfragen' biography interviews. For commissioned work, they produce content for major clients including Audible, Audi, Lufthansa, DRK, Goethe Institut, Berlinale, Deezer, ProSiebenSat.1/FYEO, and various foundations. The company notably created an AI-produced podcast 'Historische Heldinnen' using AI for scripts, voice output, music, and graphics. Founded in 2016, the company operates from Berlin-Kreuzberg with a team of over 30 freelance editors, producers, authors, and hosts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Podcast Production Services Full-service B2B podcast production for enterprise brands, NGOs, cultural institutions, public broadcasters, and audio platforms. Covers consulting, ideation, research, host casting, sound design, studio and remote recording, post-production, distribution, and analytics.
• 360° Audio Production End-to-end audio production service covering consultation, concept development, research, editing, hosting, sound design, in-studio (Berlin) or remote recording, post-production, and multi-platform distribution.
• Frequenz 4000 Original Viertausendhertz podcast about the podcasting industry, functioning as the company's own communication channel and content showcase.
• Wissen unterm Kissen (franchise) Proprietary sleep-learning podcast franchise produced for Audible, including multiple seasons ('Schlauer einschlafen', 'Einschlafen im All', 'KIDS') and an international English-language version ('Sleep Yourself Smart').
• Der Sage nach Proprietary true-story podcast series exploring German legends and folklore at real locations, with multiple seasons including the 2025 dark-fairy-tales edition.
• Durch die Gegend Proprietary walking-interview podcast featuring cultural figures at locations related to them.
• Historische Heldinnen – Inspirierende Frauen der Geschichte AI-produced original podcast about inspirational women in history; all content (scripts, voice, music, graphics, texts) generated by AI and verified by humans.

Quantifiable outcome

• World Media Award 2019 for 'Die Zukunft ist elektrisch' podcast series for Audi
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Produced 'Protest und Propaganda. Wo ist Russlands Zivilgesellschaft?' podcast about Russian civil society, distributed through BPB's media platform.
• KIDDINX StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Ongoing partnership producing 'Kira Kolumna Reportage' (since 2024) and 'Rekorder - Das Hörspielmagazin' (since 2021, 53 episodes), leveraging the famous German audio entertainment brand.
• WDR/1LivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Public broadcaster partnership producing 'Missing Robert' horror audio drama series, distributed through ARD Audiothek and WDR/1Live platforms.
• DeezercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for Deezer Originals productions including 'Gang Stories' (co-produced with Radio Propaganda), 'Underground of Berlin' (with DAZN), and 'Wissens-Snacks'.
• Radio PropagandaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-production partner with Viertausendhertz for 'Gang Stories' on Deezer Originals, narrated by Kontra K.
• Goethe InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Multiple collaborations including 'Ankommen in der Berufswelt' podcast (for integration of refugees into German workforce) and co-production of Berlinale podcasts with Viertausendhertz.
• Berlinale (International Film Festival Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Ongoing collaboration producing 'Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast' and 'Berlinale's House of Talents' podcast, both co-produced with Goethe Institut. These podcasts cover the entertainment industry, film talent, and Berlinale programming, serving the festival's educational and industry outreach mission.
• AudiblecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic partner for original podcast productions. Viertausendhertz produces multiple Audible Original podcasts including 'Der Sage nach', 'Wissen unterm Kissen' series (multiple seasons), 'Fette Beute', and international versions 'Sleep Yourself Smart'.
• DAZNminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-production partner alongside Deezer for 'Underground of Berlin' documentary podcast about Berlin football talents.
• Öko-InstitutminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Produces 'Wenden bitte!' podcast on sustainability transformations and scientific topics for the independent research institute.
• ProSiebenSat.1/FYEOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Ongoing partnership producing original podcast series including 'Stranger Sounds' (2020-21, 20 episodes) and 'In Haft' (2020), branded audio content for the ProSiebenSat.1 entertainment group.
• Ärzte ohne Grenzen (Doctors Without Borders)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Ongoing collaboration producing the 'Notaufnahme' podcast (2020-2022) for humanitarian aid storytelling, helping the NGO communicate its global mission and work to German-speaking audiences.
• Studio BummensminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Production partner for 'Reflektor' podcast (2019-2022). After Viertausendhertz's co-production period, the podcast moved to Studio Bummens for continued production.
• Lufthansa GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Early major client for 'Backup - Sag mir, wer ich bin' podcast series (2019), a 5-episode audio drama about identity and mobility.
• AudicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017One of the first major enterprise clients. Viertausendhertz developed, conceived, and produced two seasons of 'Die Zukunft ist elektrisch' podcast on electromobility for Audi, which won a World Media Award in 2019.
• Heinrich-Böll-StiftungminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Early production partner for 'Tipping Point' podcast on climate and geoengineering topics, distributed through the foundation's media channels.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gimlet Media: US podcast production studio behind narrative hits like Reply All and StartUp (now part of Spotify). Direct category peer at much larger scale, providing benchmark for what scaled podcast studios can look like.
• KIDDINX Studios: Long-established German children's audio and media brand (Bibi Blocksberg, Benjamin Blümchen). Viertausendhertz produces multiple KIDDINX-affiliated podcasts ('Rekorder', 'Kira Kolumna', 'Bibi Blocksberg' podcast), making it both collaborator and adjacent incumbent in family/kids audio.
• Wondery: Large-scale US podcast studio and network (owned by Amazon). A broad incumbent in the same category of premium narrative podcast production, with deeper resources but a similar production-services DNA.

Direct peers

• Argon Audio: Berlin-based audiobook and podcast production house. Comparable as a German audio production company that produces both commissioned audiobooks/podcasts for major publishers and platforms, including work for Audible-adjacent clients.
• Studio Bummens: Berlin-based independent podcast production studio producing original podcasts and branded shows. Directly comparable as a German podcast studio of similar scale with a mix of commissioned and original productions (Viertausendhertz even co-produced 'Reflektor' with them).
• Podstars by OMR: Hamburg-based podcast production and consulting arm of OMR, producing branded and editorial podcasts for German enterprises. Direct competitor in the DACH branded-podcast market with a similar B2B service model.
• Storyglass: UK-based branded podcast production studio producing high-end narrative podcasts for global brands. Comparable as a specialist branded-podcast studio focused on storytelling for major enterprise clients.
• Pool Artists: Munich-based full-service podcast and audio production company offering concept, production and distribution for brands and media companies. Comparable as another German B2B podcast studio serving enterprise clients with end-to-end production.
• Lamm & Kirch: Hamburg-based podcast production studio serving brands and media companies with original and commissioned podcasts. Comparable as a German independent studio competing for similar enterprise storytelling budgets.

Emerging players

• Rocket Beans Entertainment: Hamburg-based entertainment company with significant podcast and audio-on-demand production alongside TV/streaming. Comparable as a German independent podcast producer with both original IP and branded content for media clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/4000hertz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@viertausendhertz1208
• Facebookfacebook.com/viertausendhertz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viertausendhertz
• Instagraminstagram.com/viertausendhertz
• TikToktiktok.com/@viertausendhertz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Viertausendhertz