{{short description|Swedish podcasting company}} {{Multiple issues| {{More citations needed|date=March 2020}} {{buzzword|date=March 2023}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox company | name = Acast | logo = frameless|class=skin-invert | logo_size = | type = Public | traded_as = {{OMX|SSE227666|ACAST|First North}} | industry = {{ubl|Podcasting|Advertising}} | founder = {{Unbulleted list|Karl Rosander|Måns Ulvestam}} | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = {{ubl|{{wd-chairperson}}|{{wd-ceo}}}} | products = | services = {{flatlist| * media * data and insights * production}} | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | num_employees = 386<ref name="InterimReportQ122">{{cite web |title=Acast Interim report January – March 2022 |url=https://storage.mfn.se/d63c2c1c-9918-49ab-9f9a-97b2116ab874/acast-interim-report-q1-2022.pdf |publisher=Acast |access-date=23 July 2022}}</ref> | parent = | subsid = Podchaser | footnotes = | foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|2013}} | location = | homepage = {{URL|acast.com}} | hq_location_city = Stockholm | hq_location_country = Sweden }} '''Acast''' is a Swedish-founded company that provides podcast hosting services and advertising-based revenue tools, and podcast advertising solutions for brands and media agencies. Launched in 2014,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2015 |title=Acast öppnar för reklam i podden - Dagens Media |url=http://www.dagensmedia.se/nyheter/dig/article3822928.ece |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=1 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201001217/http://www.dagensmedia.se/nyheter/dig/article3822928.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> it developed dynamic insertion technology which can target advertising within podcasts based on location, time, and personal data, which has become the standard of the modern podcasting industry.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Brady |title=Stockholm Startup Acast Solves Podcasters' Advertising Problem |url=https://observer.com/2015/06/stockholm-startup-acast-solves-podcasters-advertising-problem/ |work=Observer |date=12 June 2015}}</ref> The company champions an independent and open ecosystem for podcasting, where podcasts hosted with Acast are available on all podcast listening apps.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sinclair |first=Sophia |date=23 September 2020 |title=Acasts kamp för att fortsätta dominera poddvärlden |language=sv |work=Svenska Dagbladet |url=https://www.svd.se/a/pA6gMX/poddjattens-grundare-vi-ar-redo-for-borsen |access-date=29 November 2022 |issn=1101-2412}}</ref> Acast was founded by {{interlanguage link|Karl Rosander|sv}} and Måns Ulvestam in 2013;<ref>{{cite news |title=Podcast platform Acast raises $19.5 mln to fund expansion, boost staff |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/acast-funding-idUSL5N1M1446 |work=Reuters |date=20 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=31 July 2017|title=Podcasts were guys talking about tech, then along came Serial|url=http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2017/jul/31/acast-founders-podcasts-industry-tech-serial|access-date=25 November 2020|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> together with Johan Billgren as co-founder.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Få spinn på din försäljning på Amazon – experten ger dig supertipsen|url=https://www.breakit.se/artikel/26964|access-date=25 November 2020|website=Breakit|language=sv}}</ref> Acast hosts over 140,000 podcasts, with over 330 million listens every month. The company operates worldwide with a physical presence in 15 countries, and has its headquarters in Stockholm.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://investors.acast.com/pressmeddelanden/acast-lanserar-keyword-targeting-och-oppnar-upp-nya-mojligheter-for-podcastannonsering |title=Acast lanserar Keyword Targeting och öppnar upp nya möjligheter för podcastannonsering |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=investors.acast.com}}</ref>
In addition to the founders, Bonnier has also invested in the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redaktionen |title=Bonnier Ventures köper aktier i Acast för 150 miljoner |date=15 February 2022 |url=https://borsposten.se/bonnier-ventures-koper-aktier-i-acast-for-150-miljoner/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |language=sv-SE}}</ref> In 2018, additional investors stepped in with more than $67 million. In 2019, the European Investment Bank invested 25 million euros in Acast,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ha |first=Anthony |date=5 December 2018 |title=Acast raises $35M to help podcasters make money |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/04/podcast-series-c/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> and on 17 June 2021, Acast was listed on the Nasdaq First North Premier Market at a valuation of approximately SEK 7 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=WendelText |first=Analys:Johan |date=11 June 2021 |title=Ledningen de största vinnarna när Acast noteras |url=https://www.di.se/analys/ledningen-de-storsta-vinnarna-nar-acast-noteras/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=Dagens industri |language=sv}}</ref>
Acast enables digital publishers to insert ads targeting defined audiences.<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news |last1=Lawson |first1=Alex |title=After Serial, funding pours into podcasting |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/podcast-boom-serial-s-wake-sees-acast-record-5m-funding-10257029.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522143205/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/podcast-boom-serial-s-wake-sees-acast-record-5m-funding-10257029.html |archive-date=22 May 2021 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=18 May 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cellan-Jones |first1=Rory |title=Can podcasts turn a profit? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37130786 |work=BBC News |date=19 August 2016}}</ref> The platform distributes, monetizes and markets podcasts including Giggly Squad, My Dad Wrote A Porno, The Adam Buxton Podcast and Toni and Ryan as well as publishers including ''The Guardian'', ''The Economist'', The Athletic, The Times and the ''Financial Times''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Acast Sets Its Sights On Smaller Podcasters. |url=http://www.insideradio.com/podcastnewsdaily/acast-sets-its-sights-on-smaller-podcasters/article_7f4ed4c8-0c88-11ea-85e4-a7e8ed24f62f.html |work=Insideradio.com |date=21 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Thiessen |first1=Connie |title=Acast to sell CBC/Radio-Canada podcast slate globally |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/acast-to-sell-cbc-radio-canada-podcast-slate-globally/ |work=Broadcast Dialogue |date=25 November 2019}}</ref>
==History==
In 2014, four months after launch, Acast was named Start-up of the Year by IDG magazine, ''Internetworld'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Startuplistan 2014: Här är årets vinnare |url=http://internetworld.idg.se/2.1006/1.591814/startuplistan-2014-har-ar-arets-vinnare |work=Internetworld |date=31 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103173711/http://internetworld.idg.se/2.1006/1.591814/startuplistan-2014-har-ar-arets-vinnare |archive-date=3 November 2014 |language=sv}}</ref> and ‘Most innovative media service’ at the mobile industry awards {{interlanguage link|Mobilgalan|sv}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Guldmobilen: här är bilderna på årets vinnare |url=https://www.mobil.se/mobilbusiness/events/guldmobilen-h-r-r-bilderna-p-rets-vinnare |work=Mobil |date=7 November 2014 |language=sv-SE}}</ref>
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 venture capital firm MOOR, owned by Kaj Hed, majority owner of Rovio Entertainment.<ref name="independent.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Schweizer |first1=Kristen |title=Swedish Startup Rides 'Serial' Wave Taking Podcast App to U.S. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-09/swedish-startup-rides-serial-wave-taking-podcast-app-to-u-s- |work=Bloomberg |date=9 November 2015 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2016, Acast launched a paid subscription service called Acast+.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Perlberg |first1=Steven |title=Podcasts Experiment With Paid Subscriptions |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/podcasts-experiment-with-paid-subscriptions-1463997601 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=23 May 2016}}</ref>
In December 2018 the company raised $35 million from AP1 and Swedbank Robur (sv) funds Ny Teknik and Microcap in Series C funding. This has brought total funding to more than $67 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/04/podcast-series-c/|title=Acast raises $35M to help podcasters make money|website=TechCrunch|date=5 December 2018 |access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref> In 2019, Acast acquired Pippa, another podcast hosting platform.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stories|first=Acast: For The|date=2 May 2019|title=ACAST, THE LARGEST GLOBAL PODCAST COMPANY, ACQUIRES PIPPA|url=https://medium.com/acast/acast-the-largest-global-podcast-company-acquires-pippa-2204826bf8da|access-date=3 December 2021|website=Acast|language=en}}</ref>
Since 2019, Acast has offered a free hosting tier for podcasts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Acast introduces free option to host podcasts |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/11/acast-introduces-free-option-to-host-podcasts/ |work=RadioToday |date=21 November 2019}}</ref> The European Investment Bank invested €25 million in Acast in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Infrastructure for an era of crisis|url=https://www.eib.org/en/stories/coronavirus-infrastructure-investment|access-date=24 August 2020|website=European Investment Bank|language=en}}</ref>
In early 2021, Acast announced the acquisition of RadioPublic, a Boston-based startup founded by the public radio organization PRX.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acast acquires podcasting startup RadioPublic |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/19/acast-acquires-radiopublic/ |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=TechCrunch |date=19 February 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=David |title=Podcast Distributor Acast Buys PRX Tech Spinoff RadioPublic |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dbloom/2021/02/19/podcast-distributor-acast-buys-prx-tech-spinoff-radiopublic/ |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
In April 2021, rumours about an IPO on Nasdaq Stockholm surfaced.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Nordenstam |first1=Sven |last2=Karlsson |first2=Johannes |date=22 April 2021 |title=Acast på väg till börsen – kan värderas till över 5 miljarder |url=https://www.di.se/digital/acast-pa-vag-till-borsen-kan-varderas-till-over-5-miljarder/ |website=Dagens industri |language=sv}}</ref> Founders Rosander and Ulvestam sold their last shares earlier in 2021, to fund their new startup {{interlanguage link|Sesamy|sv}}.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wisterberg|first=Erik|date=31 March 2021|title="Ska riva ned varenda betalvägg som finns"|language=sv|work=Svenska Dagbladet|url=https://www.svd.se/ska-riva-ned-varenda-betalvagg-som-finns|access-date=30 April 2021|issn=1101-2412}}</ref>
In March 2022, Acast announced that they would discontinue their podcast client app. The company cited its decreased importance as a source of user data and their preference for platform-independence in the decision.<ref>{{cite news |title=Acast to shut down its podcast app |url=https://podcastingtoday.co.uk/acast-to-shut-down-its-podcast-app/ |work=PodcastingToday |date=4 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Acast Is Shutting Down Its Own App In The Name Of An Open Podcast Ecosystem. |url=https://www.insideradio.com/podcastnewsdaily/acast-is-shutting-down-its-own-app-in-the-name-of-an-open-podcast-ecosystem/article_cc33f6dc-9b1b-11ec-8711-7f3d96050211.html |work=Insideradio.com |date=3 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
In July 2022, Acast signed an agreement to acquire Podchaser, a platform-agnostic podcast database with user reviews, for $27 million by August 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acast acquires podcast database Podchaser |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/18/acast-acquires-podcast-database-podchaser/ |access-date=18 July 2022 |website=TechCrunch |date=18 July 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2022 |title=Acast Acquires Podchaser – The World's Most Comprehensive Podcast Database |url=https://investors.acast.com/press-releases/acast-acquires-podchaser-the-worlds-most-comprehensive-podcast-database |access-date=18 July 2022 |website=Investors.Acast.com |publisher=Acast}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Podchaser Joins Acast {{!}} Articles on Podchaser |url=https://www.podchaser.com/articles/announcements/podchaser-joins-acast |access-date=18 July 2022 |website=Podchaser |date=18 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
In August 2022, Acast was ranked #2 in Podtrac's ranking of ad sales networks for podcasts in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 October 2022 |title=Podtrac Launches New Podcast Sales Network Ranking |url=https://podnews.net/press-release/podtrac-sales-network-ranking-launch |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=podnews.net |language=en}}</ref>
In November 2022, Acast entered into a partnership with Amazon. Through the agreement Amazon Music bought all advertising space for thousands of Acast's podcasts, allowing Amazon customers to listen to those shows ad-free.<ref>{{Cite web |last=EkText |first=Henrik |date=3 November 2022 |title=Acast i nytt samarbete med Amazon – aktien rusar |url=https://www.di.se/digital/acast-i-nytt-samarbete-med-amazon-aktien-rusar/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=Dagens industri |language=sv}}</ref>
In February 2024, RadioPublic announced their app would close permanently at the end of March.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://radiopublic.com/farewell-from-radiopublic-69MjRZ/s1!c639f |title=RadioPublic is Shutting Down |work=RadioPublic |date=21 February 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319182358/https://radiopublic.com/farewell-from-radiopublic-69MjRZ/s1!c639f |archivedate=19 March 2024 |accessdate=14 April 2024 }}</ref> After that date, RadioPublic show links began redirecting to the same shows on Podchaser.
In December 2024, Acast acquired creative production house Wonder Media Network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=kevincarter |date=2024-12-06 |title=Acast Acquires Wonder Media Network |url=https://ramp247.com/marketing/acast-acquires-wonder-media-network/ |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=RAMP - Radio and Music Pros |language=en-US}}</ref>
In December 2025, it was announced that Acast had acquired Wake Word Studios, a Munich and Berlin-based creative audio and video studio and podcast producer. The acquisition expanded Acast’s operations in Germany, adding Wake Word Studios’ podcast catalogue to the Acast network and including its media planning platform, Podius, which continues to operate independently. Following completion of the transaction, Wake Word Studios was rebranded as Acast Creative Studios and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Acast.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-19 |title=Acast acquires Wake Word Studios to expand German podcast operations - PodcastingToday |url=https://podcastingtoday.co.uk/acast-acquires-wake-word-studios-to-expand-german-podcast-operations/ |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=podcastingtoday.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Notable podcasts hosted by Acast==
=== Present === * ''Bold Politics with Zack Polanski''
* ''Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast'' * ''The Adam Buxton Podcast'' * ''Distraction Pieces Podcast'' * ''Dungeons & Daddies'' * ''The Magnus Archives'' * ''The Football Ramble'' * ''Aunty Donna Podcast'' * ''WTF with Marc Maron'' * ''Toni and Ryan Podcast'' * ''We're Alive''
=== Past === * ''My Dad Wrote a Porno''
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Podcasting companies Category:Companies based in Stockholm Category:Companies listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Category:2014 establishments in Sweden