Earcatch
Earcatch is a Dutch accessibility technology company that provides iOS and Android apps delivering synchronized audio description, subtitles, and hearing-impaired audio for films, TV, and theatre. It serves visually and hearing-impaired consumers for free and monetizes via B2B partnerships with studios, cinemas, and broadcasters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersHuizen, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Earcatch does
Earcatch International B.V. is a privately held Dutch accessibility technology company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Huizen, Netherlands. It builds consumer-facing iOS and Android applications (Earcatch and Subcatch) that deliver synchronized audio description (AD), subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (SDH), sign language, audio subtitles (AST), amplified sound, and hearing-impaired audio (HI-audio) for films, TV shows, and live theatre. The core technology is audio fingerprinting, which generates a unique digital signature of a film's ambient soundtrack and, within seconds, synchronizes the corresponding pre-recorded audio description on the user's personal device, eliminating the need for venue-installed hardware.
The company operates a hybrid GTM: a freemium consumer app distributed via Apple App Store and Google Play is provided free of charge to end users with visual or hearing impairments, while revenue is generated through B2B managed-services contracts with cinema chains (Vue, Pathé, Kinepolis, UGC, Cinema City), broadcasters (TVNZ+), film studios (Disney, Universal, Netflix, Sony, Lionsgate, A24, Studiocanal), and theatre producers (Stage Entertainment France, Disney Theatrical). Geographic expansion is executed via a templated NGO/government-funded playbook, with active markets in the Netherlands, Ukraine (since 2019 with Fight For Rights), New Zealand (since August 2023 with Able and Manatū Taonga funding), and France (since October 2025 via Théâtre Mogador).
Earcatch is mission-driven, with no disclosed external funding, M&A, or leadership changes. Its competitive position rests on infrastructure-free BYOD distribution, proprietary synchronization technology, and a content library built on relationships with the world's largest film and theatre rights holders. Key 2025 milestones include the launch of HI-audio at the Wicked: For Good premiere and the Audio Description Innovation Award from the American Council of the Blind, signaling continued product and credibility expansion.
Earcatch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Earcatch
- Legal name
- Earcatch International B.V.
- Website
- https://earcatch.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Earcatch is a Dutch accessibility technology company that provides iOS and Android apps delivering synchronized audio description, subtitles, and hearing-impaired audio for films, TV, and theatre. It serves visually and hearing-impaired consumers for free and monetizes via B2B partnerships with studios, cinemas, and broadcasters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Earcatch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Accessibility Technology
- NAICS
- Other Sound Recording Industries (512290)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Podcast Transcription, Captioning & Accessibility Services (MPACADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Multilingual Multimedia Localization (Subtitling, Dubbing, Voiceover) (MPAAANAH)
Keywords
Where Earcatch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Huizen
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Earcatch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- B2B Accessibility Services: Earcatch provides its technology and produces audio description content for cinemas, theatres, and broadcasters. Content producers and distributors pay for the accessibility service, which includes both the technology platform and the production of accessibility content (AD, SDH, sign language, etc.).
- Free Consumer App: The Earcatch app and all available audio description content are provided free of charge to end users with visual or hearing impairments. This is funded through B2B partnerships with content providers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free for end users with visual or hearing impairments |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Earcatch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Earcatch develops and operates a mobile accessibility platform (iOS and Android apps) that delivers audio description, subtitles, and other accessibility formats for films, TV series, and live theatre performances. The platform uses proprietary audio fingerprinting technology to synchronize pre-recorded accessibility content with audiovisual media, enabling visually and hearing impaired users to autonomously access content at cinemas, at home, and in theatres. The company also produces accessibility content and provides the technology as a managed service to cinemas, theatre operators, broadcasters, and film studios.
Product overview
Earcatch is a mobile accessibility platform providing audio description and subtitle services for people with visual or hearing impairments. The core product is the Earcatch app, which delivers synchronized audio descriptions for films, TV shows, and live theatre performances using audio fingerprinting technology. The platform includes a companion module called Subcatch that provides SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) for audiences with auditory impairments. Both applications are available free of charge for end users on iOS and Android devices, and integrate with Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids and speakers for enhanced accessibility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Earcatch App Mobile accessibility application for iOS and Android that delivers synchronized audio description for films, TV series, and live theatre performances using audio fingerprinting technology, enabling visually impaired users to autonomously access audiovisual media via their own smartphone and headphones.
- Subcatch App Companion mobile accessibility application that provides subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (SDH) on users' smartphones or tablets, making films accessible when subtitles are not displayed on screen.
- Earcatch Theatre Live theatre accessibility service that delivers real-time synchronized audio description for theatrical performances, connecting to a dedicated theatre network server to provide audio description during live shows such as Disney's The Lion King at Théâtre Mogador in Paris.
- HI-audio (Hearing Impaired Audio) Enhanced dialogue audio feature providing hearing-impaired accessible audio with optimized speech intelligibility delivered through headphones, complementing closed captions for cinema and theatre experiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Independent cinema and theatre access for visually impaired individuals without venue hardware dependencies
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Earcatch
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Earcatch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Earcatch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Stage Entertainment France / Théâtre MogadorflagshipOfficial launch of Disney's The Lion King audio description on International White Cane Day. Audio description now available for all upcoming shows at Théâtre Mogador in Paris, marking Earcatch's expansion into French theatre market.
- Able (New Zealand)coreA not-for-profit organisation working towards a more inclusive Aotearoa. Partnered with Earcatch to enable 180,000+ New Zealanders who are blind or have low vision to access TVNZ+ programmes on demand with audio description. Partnership enabled by funding from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and HeritagecoreNew Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage provided funding that enabled the Earcatch launch in New Zealand through partnership with Able, making audio description available for TVNZ+ on-demand programmes.
- Fight For Rights (Ukraine)coreUkrainian NGO with the goal of improving accessibility for people with impairments. Expanded into media accessibility by launching Ukrainian language versions of both Earcatch and Subcatch apps in Ukrainian cinemas.
- Bartiméus FoundationcoreOriginal co-founder of Earcatch alongside Soundfocus. Foundation focused on serving people with visual impairments, bringing expertise in accessibility needs to the development of the Earcatch app.
- SoundfocuscoreOriginal co-founder of Earcatch alongside the Bartiméus Foundation. Developed the initial Earcatch app to make films accessible in Dutch cinemas without expensive hardware requirements.
- Disney Theatrical ProductionsflagshipMajor studio partner providing audio description accessibility content for Disney theatrical productions including Aladdin, Frozen, AIDA, and The Lion King.
- NetflixflagshipStreaming partner providing audio description accessibility content through the Earcatch platform for Netflix productions.
- Universal PicturesflagshipMajor studio partner providing audio description accessibility content for Universal film productions.
- Sony PicturesflagshipMajor studio partner providing audio description accessibility content for Sony Pictures film productions.
- A24coreIndependent studio partner providing audio description accessibility content for A24 film productions.
- LionsgatecoreMajor studio partner providing audio description accessibility content for Lionsgate film productions.
- StudiocanalcoreEuropean studio partner providing audio description accessibility content for Studiocanal film productions.
- Vue CinemascoreEuropean cinema chain partner enabling Earcatch accessibility services in Vue cinema locations.
- PathécoreEuropean cinema chain partner enabling Earcatch accessibility services in Pathé cinema locations.
- KinepoliscoreEuropean cinema chain partner enabling Earcatch accessibility services in Kinepolis cinema locations.
- UGCcoreFrench cinema chain partner enabling Earcatch accessibility services in UGC cinema locations.
- Cinema CitycoreEuropean cinema chain partner enabling Earcatch accessibility services in Cinema City locations.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Earcatch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aira: Smartphone-based visual assistance service for blind and low-vision users, combining an app with on-demand human agents. Comparable audience (visually impaired smartphone users) and overlapping mobile app distribution model.
- Be My Eyes: Mobile platform connecting blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers and corporate partners. Directly comparable audience and freemium mobile distribution model, though service mechanism (live human help) differs.
- Rev: B2B transcription, captioning, and subtitling platform with global freelancer network. Comparable as a paid, tech-enabled accessibility/transcription service competing for the same studio, broadcaster, and enterprise customers.
- AssistiveWare: Developer of Proloquo and Keeble, leading augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) apps for people with disabilities. Comparable mobile-first accessibility app model serving impairment communities with paid and freemium tiers.
- Voice Dream: Accessibility-focused reading and audio apps (text-to-speech, audiobook player) used heavily by blind, low-vision, and dyslexic users. Comparable mission-driven accessibility app distribution to the same impairment communities.
- 3Play Media: B2B captioning, transcription, and audio description provider for video, broadcast, and e-learning. Directly comparable to Earcatch's B2B accessibility services across SDH, captions, and audio description workflows.
Emerging players
- Audible: Audio-first content platform (audiobooks, podcasts) with overlapping accessibility value for visually impaired users. Comparable as a parallel audio-content channel that competes for attention in the same impairment-audience segment.
Broad incumbents
- Netflix: Already an Earcatch content partner but also a competing accessibility provider, embedding native audio description and SDH in its streaming UI. Represents both customer and substitute risk as a broad incumbent in media accessibility.
- Disney+: Major studio platform that both supplies content to Earcatch (Disney Theatrical) and offers its own native AD/SDH on Disney+. A broad incumbent whose own accessibility investment is both an opportunity (content) and competitive threat (substitution).
Others
- ACB (American Council of the Blind): Awarding body that granted Earcatch the 2025 Audio Description Innovation Award and a key advocacy organization in the U.S. blindness community. Adjacent ecosystem actor influencing adoption, partnerships, and credibility rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Earcatch social profiles
Digital presenceEarcatch compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Earcatch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Earcatch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Earcatch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Earcatch 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 Earcatch
What does Earcatch do?
Earcatch develops and operates a mobile accessibility platform (iOS and Android apps) that delivers audio description, subtitles, and other accessibility formats for films, TV series, and live theatre performances. The platform uses proprietary audio fingerprinting technology to synchronize pre-recorded accessibility content with audiovisual media, enabling visually and hearing impaired users to autonomously access content at cinemas, at home, and in theatres. The company also produces accessibility content and provides the technology as a managed service to cinemas, theatre operators, broadcasters, and film studios.
Is Earcatch a public or private company?
Earcatch is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Earcatch founded?
Earcatch was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Earcatch based?
Earcatch is headquartered in Huizen, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Earcatch make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. B2B Accessibility Services are the primary driver. The others are free Consumer App.
Who are Earcatch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aira, Be My Eyes, Rev, AssistiveWare, Voice Dream and 3Play Media. Audible is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Netflix and Disney+. ACB (American Council of the Blind) is listed as an others.
Does Earcatch have an API?
No public API is recorded for Earcatch.
What industry is Earcatch in?
Earcatch's product category is Accessibility Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACADAK, Podcast Transcription, Captioning & Accessibility Services, with a secondary code of MPAAANAH, Multilingual Multimedia Localization (Subtitling, Dubbing, Voiceover). Its NAICS code is 512290.