Get Your Voice Heard!

Who doesn't love a good podcast. At a time when people want information about COVID19 and entertainment to distract them from information overload, Sounder.fm provides an audio platform to help spread the valuable news and entertainment for sheltering in place. They offers free hosting and transcription and can help manage, market and measure the podcast.

Sounder.fm's technology platform uses search and analytics to improve the podcaster and user experience by allowing pinpoint location of data on analog recordings, as well as facilitating the creation and marketing process for podcasters. 

We are delighted to welcome Sounder.fm to the Ulu portfolio. Let’s hear from co-founders and serial entrepreneurs Kal Amin and Dan Daugherty about how the market for audio content drove them to find a better way.

1) Tell us the big idea behind Sounder.fm and how you came up with it.

Dan Daugherty: Kal and I love podcasts. But we realized that the market for audio content is fragmented and broken. It’s way too difficult for podcasters to create, distribute and monetize their craft. Worse, it’s too hard for users to discover fresh audio content, nearly impossible to search for specific moments within audio to share those moments with friends. 

We want everyone to have the ability to have their voices heard. Kal and I are trying to make that mission a reality -- and make the audio experience better for everyone. With Sounder, we’re building an end-to-end platform with and for creators that allows for a genuinely open and thriving audio ecosystem. 

2) How has the outbreak of COVID19 impacted your big idea?

Kal Amin: There's no doubt that COVID-19 will change the way all of us interact and engage going forward. During peak outbreaks of COVID-19 in countries around the world, we've seen more creators sign-up to share their podcasts and stories. As an example, we saw significant spikes in sign-ups in Spain, Italy, and the UK when shelter-in-place orders were implemented. We have also seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 related podcasts on our platform. Sounder can facilitate the connection between creators and the audiences who want to hear what these creators have to say. This can be informational, educational, or simply an outlet for entertainment during challenging times. 

2) Who were some of your important influencers or mentors?

Kal Amin: Dan and I first met during the early days at Google, and then I spent time at Spotify. Those experiences have dramatically and positively influenced how we approached starting and growing Sounder. It influences everything from how we set OKRs and our long-term vision, as well as how we are building out a world-class team. 

For me personally, my parents have been my most important mentors in life. Professionally, I’m proud to have business leaders like Jeff Levick, Kurt Abrahamson and David Bell coaching me to be better at everything I do. It’s a testament to the potential Sounder has that a number of current and former Google and Spotify executives are also investors in the company. 

3) Why did you want to work with Ulu Ventures?

Dan Daugherty: Kal and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Ulu Ventures family. We are aligned with Ulu’s investment values, including being extremely data-driven and valuing the diversity of ideas. The same way Ulu is investing in diverse founders, we’re providing tools to podcast creators for free so that every voice -- especially underrepresented voices -- can have a chance to be heard. And of course, we’re looking forward to meeting other leaders in the Ulu network who can help fuel Sounder’s growth by connecting us with potential customers and partners or by joining the team. 

4) What are your dreams for your company?

Kal Amin: Ultimately, Dan and I hope to fuel an open, thriving audio ecosystem. We want creators of all sizes to be able to focus on creating great content—not on learning a mountain of tools to produce their craft. The industry needs an end-to-end solution that makes each part of the creator journey easy and efficient. It also needs to power discovery, helping creators connect with more listeners, and empowering listeners to find and share content more easily. 

These are big challenges, and we are excited to tackle them! If you’d like to join us and help usher in a new age of audio, please drop us a line at [email protected].