Acast

Acast is a podcasting app and web service that provides free, on-demand audio content, enhanced by additional rich media and links. Headquartered in Stockholm and founded by Karl Rosander and Måns Ulvestam, Acast first launched in Sweden in April 2014, and opened a London office in October 2014. The company also has an office in New York. The platform distributes content for publishers like Buzzfeed and the Financial Times. Available for Android, iOS, and desktop, as of May 2015, the service has 1 million users and 12 million streams per month.

Acast currently hosts 50% of commercial podcasts broadcast in the UK, including content from xfm, Naked Scientists, Spectator, ASOS, and The Guardian. The platform enables producers to host podcasts for free and monetise them via its ad-supported platform. Clean advert breaks can be inserted to ensure the flow of an episode is not disrupted. The platform enables digital publishers to easily insert ads targeting niche audiences.

On May 23, 2016, Acast launched a premium, ad-free paywall strategy called Acast+. As opposed to traditional methods in which direct-response ads are embedded in the podcasts, Acast+ lets podcast creators sell content directly to their audiences. Creators can set their own price and split revenue with Acast. For a recommended $2.99 to $6.99 per month, listeners can purchase a monthly show pass with additional content, though they can purchase one-offs as well.

In May 2015, Acast closed a $5m Series A funding round, led by Bonnier Growth Media. This was supplemented by an undisclosed follow-on investment from early-stage VC firm MOOR, which is owned by serial entrepreneur Kaj Hed, majority owner of Rovio Entertainment, creators of Angry Birds.

In 2014, just four months after launch, Acast was named Start-up of the Year by IDG magazine, Internetworld, and ‘Most innovative media service’ at leading mobile industry awards Mobilgalan.