INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Books on tape were the lifeblood of self-help
But e-learning startups like Khan Academy and Coursera demanded our eyes, not just our ears
Then came podcasts that make knowledge accessible, yet rarely focus on you retaining and applying what they teach.Today, a new startup
called Knowable is launching to provide gaze-free audio education at $100 per eight-hour course on topics like how to launch a startup or
The idea is that by layering chapter summaries and eventually interactive activities atop premium, long-form, ad-free lessons, it can become
the trusted name in learning anywhere
With always-in Bluetooth earbuds and smart speakers becoming ubiquitous, we can imbibe content in smaller chunks in new environments
Knowable wants to fill that time with self-improvement.The big question is whether Knowable can differentiate its content from free
First Round and Initialized
Their timing is right and their team possesses the rare combination of product expertise and creative media experience necessary to win
with 74% of those citing the desire to learn
Half of Americans have listened to an audio book
The e-learning market is $190 billion today, but projected to grow to $300 billion as bloated and expensive higher education succumbs to
cheaper and more focused options.But to score consistent revenue, Knowable must build up its library and execute on plans to offer a
subscription service with access to updates on prior lessons
Benzer have already been through the struggles of startup life together
After meeting at MuckerLab in LA and splitting from their respective co-founders, in 2007 they created SocialEngine, a community website
builder that sold to Room 214
Next they built up a video platform for independent creators called Vidme that raised $9 million but never became sustainable before selling
Why did they have to be produced on the cheap, distributed on generic platforms and supported by ads? Knowable emerged as a way to create
luxury audio, delivered through a purpose-built app and paid for with direct sales or subscriptions
Instead of recording unscripted discussions as episodes, they mapped out course curriculum and filled them with structured advice from
the learnings at the end of the chapter
An accompanying 95-page PDF workbook collects all the key learnings for rapid review later.The topic is huge, though, and Knowable is at its
how they dealt with problems
Meanwhile, it currently lacks some basic tools like in-app notetaking and sharing, or as wide a range of playback speeds and rewind options
Knowable needs to develop voice and touch-controlled exercises to help users apply and retain the lessons
Knowable is also hoping big-name experts and quality driven by a team cobbled together from NPR, The Washington Post, William Morris
Endeavor, Masterclass and Vice will set it apart
I was hoping for a Bandersnatch for education that made a broadcast experience feel more like a game.But the opportunity will only continue
to grow as we spend more of our lives in earshot of AirPods and Echoes
as you walk to the coffee shop
