Autio Travel App Update | Shark Tank Season 14
While driving through scenic routes, Woody Sears saw how many travelers pass places without knowing their history or stories. To change this, he created Autio, a smartphone app that shares location-based stories told by celebrities, historians, and local leaders. The app makes trips more fun and meaningful and has been downloaded over 500,000 times. Will his company earn a deal? Find out in our Autio update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Autio after
Woody entered
In terms of an Autio update, the company reduced customer acquisition costs, secured $4.8 million in funding, and reached a $20 million net worth by January 2024, solidifying its position in the travel tech market.
| Shark | Result |
| Kevin O’Leary | $1,000,000 for 15% equity |
| Robert Herjavec | No offer |
| Mark Cuban | No offer |
| Barbara Corcoran | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
Shark Tank Autio Pitch
- Entrepreneur: Woody Sears
- Business: Mobile audio travel app
- Ask: $1,000,000 for 5% equity
- Result: No deal
- Sharks: None
Woody stepped into
He introduced Autio, a smartphone app that uses location-based technology to share stories about the places people travel through.
Narrated by celebrities and historians, these stories aim to educate and entertain travelers by bringing history and culture to life.
Woody seeks a sharks’ funding to expand Autio’s story library and improve its marketing reach.
Woody Sears, Bill Werlin, and award-winning actor Kevin Costner initially launched the app in 2020 as HearHere.
In June 2022, the company rebranded to Autio. Since its launch, the app has been downloaded over 500,000 times.
It features narrations from Costner, John Lithgow, Phil Jackson, and other notable figures, including indigenous leaders and historians.
The app offers stories covering a wide range of topics, including history, sports, music, and geology.
Autio also collaborates with nonprofit organization The Moth, which highlights underrepresented voices in storytelling.
For every subscription sold, $1 is donated to The Moth. Autio transforms a smartphone into a personal tour guide by using GPS to deliver stories tailored to the user’s location.
Travelers can download the app from the App Store and start with five free stories. To access the full library, users must subscribe for $36 per year.
The app primarily caters to road-trippers, RV drivers, and anyone looking to enrich their travel experiences with meaningful insights.
During the pitch, Kevin O’Leary questioned the company’s valuation. Woody revealed that Autio had generated $200,000 in revenue in 2021 and more than $700,000 in 2022.
He also mentioned that other investors had bought in at a higher valuation, and the sharks were being offered a discounted deal.
The impressive sales figures caught the sharks’ attention, but most expressed concerns about the high valuation and dropped out of the deal.
In contrast, Kevin made an offer of $1 million for 15% equity.
Woody negotiated down to 10% equity but ultimately chose not to accept the deal, deciding to walk away.
What became of his company after the show? Keep reading our Autio update to find out.
Shark Tank Autio Update
Our Autio update found that despite not securing a deal, the company saw a remarkable surge in growth after the episode aired.
Downloads on its app increased by 464%, subscribers by 105%, and website traffic soared by 1,600%.
By March 2023, Autio surpassed 200,000 registered users. In addition, the company also secured approximately $4.8 million in funding, further fueling its expansion.
The company reported annual revenues nearing $2 million, driven by a 70% renewal rate among paid subscribers.
Additionally, Autio reduced its customer acquisition cost from $38 to just $10, showcasing its improved operational efficiency.
At the time of this writing, Autio’s estimated net worth reached $20 million.
Even without a
Do you want to learn about the other companies featured in Season 14 Episode 17? Follow the links below for our other company updates from the episode.
Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 14 products.
Jeremy is a regular contributor at Shark Tank recap. He has a ton of passion for the show and enjoys researching information about what all the companies are up to now. His favorite Shark Tank companies are The Cookie Dough Cafe and Kronos Golf!