Podcastschmiede

What Podcastschmiede does

Podcastschmiede AG is a Winterthur-based, full-service Swiss podcast agency founded in 2019 by former radio reporter Nico Leuenberger. The company operates with an 11-person team of award-winning audio storytellers and communications professionals, delivering end-to-end podcast services — consulting, workshop-based concept development, full production, distribution, video podcasts, live podcasts, moderation, audio spots, and studio rental — to corporate clients, foundations, government agencies, and NPOs. Production is built on standard audio hardware (RODE Wireless GO II, Zoom H5, Yellowtec Flashmic, Adobe Audition) with Captivate as the hosting platform distributing to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.

The business model combines professional services revenue (project-based podcast production priced from CHF 15,000 per season and CHF 5,000 per Hörspiel episode) with advertising revenue transacted through 'Sam', the firm's proprietary Sound Ad Marketplace, which enables brands to book host-read or producer-read ads across a network of Swiss podcasts at TKP rates of CHF 70–500. The go-to-market is sales-led for B2B production (personalized consultations and workshops) with a product-led motion on the Sam marketplace; brand authority is reinforced through the annual 'dezibel' podcast conference and team teaching roles at ZHAW, ZHdK, and MAZ.

The company is privately held and bootstrapped, with no disclosed institutional funding rounds or parent company. It is a member of Leading Swiss Agencies (since October 2025) and won the 2026 Suisse Podcast Award in the 'Unternehmen & NPOs' category for 'Auf Bewährung: Leben mit Gefängnis'. The customer base spans at least 25 named enterprise and institutional logos across retail, media, banking, insurance, transport, healthcare, government, and tourism, including Migros, SBB, AXA, CSS, SRF, NZZ, Blick, Kantonsspital Aarau, Kanton Zürich, and Swiss Olympic. Geographic focus is DACH, centered on the Swiss market.

Name

Podcastschmiede

Legal name

Podcastschmiede AG

Website

https://podcastschmiede.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Podcastschmiede AG is a Winterthur-based, full-service Swiss podcast agency offering end-to-end production, distribution, and advertising via its Sam marketplace to corporate, government, foundation, and NPO clients across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Podcast Production Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (51224), Media Buying Agencies (54183), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers (MPACADAB), Podcast Ad Sales Networks & Monetization Platforms (MPACADAD), Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC), Live Podcast Recordings (MPAGACAJ)

Keywords

• Podcast production services
• Audio storytelling agency
• Podcast advertising marketplace
• Corporate podcast production
• Branded audio content

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Podcast Production Services: Full-service podcast production including consulting, workshops, concept development, audio production, and distribution for corporate clients
2. Podcast Advertising (Sam): The Sam marketplace allows brands to advertise in podcasts, with dynamic and static advertising options, host-read and producer-read formats
3. Studio Rental: Rental of professional podcast recording studio facilities to external clients
4. Moderation and Audio Spots: Moderation services and audio spot production for external clients

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Podcastschmiede is a full-service Swiss podcast agency that produces branded and corporate podcasts end-to-end, from concept development and consulting through recording, sound design, and multi-platform distribution (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, YouTube). It also operates Sam, a proprietary Sound Ad Marketplace that connects brands with Swiss podcast audiences for host-read and static/dynamic podcast advertising, and runs the annual dezibel podcast conference.

Product overview

Podcastschmiede is a full-service Swiss podcast agency offering end-to-end podcast solutions across consulting, concept development, production, distribution, and advertising. Its core service portfolio spans Beratung & Coaching, Workshop & Konzeption, Produktion, Distribution, Videopodcast, Live-Podcasts, Moderation & Audiospot, and Studiomiete. The agency operates Sam, its proprietary Sound Ad Marketplace, through which brands can advertise in podcasts across its network. Podcastschmiede also produces branded podcasts across multiple formats (conversation, reportage, fictional audio drama/ear drama) and organizes the annual 'dezibel' podcast conference. The team of 11 audio professionals works from a studio in Winterthur and serves clients including Migros, SBB, Kantonspital Aarau, and various government agencies and NGOs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sam: The Sound Ad Marketplace operated by Podcastschmiede AG, enabling brands to advertise in popular Swiss podcasts. Podcaster registration and ad campaign management are facilitated through this platform.
• dezibel
• Head of Music (Hannes Diggelmann)
• Captivate (podcast hosting)

Products and services

• Beratung & Coaching Personalised consulting and coaching service ('Sprechstunde') for organisations that want to start or refine a podcast, including concept definition, target audience analysis, format selection, and publication strategy. Sold as a standalone engagement.
• Workshop & Konzeption Concept workshop service for organisations planning a podcast, covering format selection, episode structure, host profiles, and publication cadence.
• Produktion (Podcast Production) Full-service podcast production covering recording, scripting, editing, mixing and mastering, and sound design for both conversation formats and narrative reportages. Produced by an in-house team of award-winning audio storytellers.
• Distribution Distribution and promotion of client podcasts across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, YouTube and other major platforms via the Captivate hosting platform, including social media promotion.
• Videopodcast Video podcast production combining video capture with audio podcast production so that the finished show can be distributed on YouTube as well as audio-only podcast platforms.
• Live-Podcasts Live-streamed podcast recordings and live events with audience participation, offered as a standalone service within the agency's full-service portfolio.
• Moderation & Audiospot Professional voice-over, narration, and audio spot production for podcast intros, outros, and promotional audio content.
• Studiomiete (Studio Rental) Pay-as-you-go rental of Podcastschmiede's professional podcast recording studio in Winterthur, equipped with RODE Wireless GO II, Zoom H5, Yellowtec Flashmic, and Adobe Audition.
• Sam (Sound Ad Marketplace) Proprietary self-serve Sound Ad Marketplace connecting brands with Swiss podcasters for host-read, producer-read, static and dynamic podcast advertising campaigns. Podcasters register and set their own TKP rates; advertisers access reach and audience demographics.
• Podcastwerbung (Podcast Advertising) Podcast advertising service for brands leveraging the Sam marketplace and Podcastschmiede's partner podcast network, delivering static (baked-in) and dynamic ads as well as host-read and producer-read formats to Swiss audiences.
• Audiogram Short animated audio snippets with subtitles and imagery, produced for social media promotion of podcast episodes on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter).

Quantifiable outcome

• Average completion rate of 75% for Podcastschmiede productions (compared to industry benchmark of 36%)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers29 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Leading Swiss AgenciescoreOthersPodcastschmiede is a member of Leading Swiss Agencies (LSA), the leading association of Swiss communications and marketing agencies. LSA supports member agencies in maintaining market leadership, optimizing value for customers, employees and consumers, and shaping the Swiss communications landscape.
• CaptivatecoreTechnology or IntegrationCaptivate is Podcastschmiede's podcast hosting platform of choice. From Captivate, podcasts are distributed to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and other platforms. Captivate also provides analytics for the podcasts.
• Arte Terra Clima FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for 'Chunnt das guet?' podcast on climate solutions and future-positive stories, produced in partnership with Arte Terra Clima Foundation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Podimo: Copenhagen-based podcast and audiobook subscription platform active in DACH. Comparable as a regional audio platform pursuing monetization and creator partnerships in the same DACH footprint, though its model is subscription-led rather than agency-led.
• Libsyn: Long-standing podcast hosting platform with monetization and distribution tools. Comparable as a peer on the hosting and ad-tech layer that supports enterprise podcasters, similar to how Captivate underpins Podcastschmiede's distribution.
• Audioboom: UK-listed podcast hosting and ad-tech platform offering dynamic ad insertion and programmatic marketplace for podcasters. Comparable in providing an ad marketplace layer on top of podcast distribution, but does not offer Podcastschmiede's premium bespoke production services.
• Megaphone (Spotify): Podcast monetization and ad-targeting platform now owned by Spotify. Comparable as an enterprise podcast ad-tech layer analogous to Sam, though operating at a much larger scale and primarily in the US market.

Direct peers

• Studio Funk: German full-service podcast and audio production agency serving corporate and public-sector clients with end-to-end production and storytelling. Highly comparable to Podcastschmiede in service scope, vertical mix (enterprise, government, NGO), and narrative-led positioning in a neighboring DACH market.
• Podstars by OMR: German podcast network and production operation run by OMR, producing branded podcasts for enterprise marketers and aggregating inventory for advertising. Comparable in offering branded podcast production plus an ad monetization layer that resembles Podcastschmiede's Sam marketplace.
• Podigee: Berlin-based podcast hosting and monetization platform with enterprise distribution and ad insertion capabilities. Comparable in combining podcast distribution infrastructure with monetization tools for the DACH market, similar to how Podcastschmiede pairs production with Sam.

Broad incumbents

• iHeartMedia: Largest US podcast publisher and ad network. Comparable as a broad incumbent in podcast ad sales and network publishing, though not a direct competitor in the Swiss enterprise production market.
• Acast: Swedish-founded global podcast hosting and advertising marketplace. Acast's open ad marketplace is the closest large-scale analogue to Sam, and Acast also works with enterprise creators on production. Operates at a much larger scale and multiple geographies, so it functions as a broader incumbent peer.
• Spotify (Podcasts): Global audio streaming leader and the dominant podcast distribution platform in Switzerland. Comparable as the underlying infrastructure Podcastschmiede distributes through (Spotify, via Captivate) and as the dominant audio advertising venue against which Sam competes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/podcastschmiede

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Podcastschmiede