Highlights
- Woody Sears pitches Autio (formerly HearHere) in Shark Tank episode 1421, seeking $1,000,000 for 5% equity.
- The app, featuring narratives by celebrities and historians, provides rich, location-based stories.
- Sears received significant attention from the Sharks for the app.
Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Autio (formerly HearHere) |
| Founder(s) | Woody Sears, Bill Werlin, Kevin Costner |
| Industry | Travel / Storytelling Technology |
| Product | Storytelling app providing location-based narratives |
| Funding | $1,000,000 investment ask |
| Investment Ask | $1,000,000 |
| Equity Offered | 5% |
| Valuation | Not explicitly stated |
Woody Sears hopes for an investment in Autio, his storytelling travel app, in Shark Tank episode 1421. The company was originally founded as HearHere in 2020 by Sears, Bill Werlin and award-winning actor Kevin Costner. They rebranded to Autio in June, 2022. The app, which has been downloaded over 500,000 times, tells stories about the places you are traveling through or to. They’re narrated by Kostner, John Lithgow, Phil Jackson and others like famous historians and indigineous leaders.
As of the original air date, there are about 9000 stories in the Autio library. The stories offer insights to communities and events that shaped them. According to the company’s website, the stories are about “history, sports, culture, music, geology, pretty much everything you can think of.” The company also partners with non profit storytelling organization The Moth which features stories from under represented groups. One dollar from each sale goes to The Moth.
The app is free to download and gives you five stories. A $36 annual membership grants you access to the entire library. RV organization Good Sam members get a discounted rate of $19.99 per year. While the company appears to have solid backing, they likely want a Shark to help spread the word.
Company Information
Video
Posts about Autio on Shark Tank Blog
Autio Shark Tank Recap
Woody enters the Shark Tank seeking $1,000,000 for 5% equity in his company.
Did Shark Tank Invest In Autio?
No, none of the Sharks seemed interested. As a result, Woody ended up leaving with no deal.
Autio Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show.
The first rerun of this episode in June, 2023 is just 3 months after the original air date. Fans accused Woody of being on the show for a commercial. Other than a radio ad campaign, not much has changed with this business in three months.
The Shark Tank Blog will follow-up on Autio & Woody Sears as more details become available.
More products from this episode! Check out other businesses that participated alongside Autio.
