Company Profile: WaitWhat

Background

Overview

Founded in 2017, WaitWhat is a media invention company based in New York City. The company specializes in creating and owning premium, original, genre-defining content across various digital media platforms. Its mission is to provide people with the ideas, information, and inspiration they need to live their best lives at work.

Mission and Vision

WaitWhat aims to develop media properties that not only engage audiences but also inspire and inform, fostering a deeper connection between content and consumers. The company's vision is to create content ecosystems that become integral to daily habits, enhancing human potential through innovative storytelling.

Industry Significance

In the rapidly evolving digital media landscape, WaitWhat has distinguished itself by producing high-quality, thought-provoking content that resonates with a diverse audience. Its innovative approach to content creation has set new standards in the industry, influencing how media companies develop and distribute content.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

WaitWhat focuses on creating media properties that can scale horizontally beyond their initial format, establishing engaged communities and ecosystems that extend into technology products, live experiences, story-driven learning programs, publishing, and partnerships.

Areas of Specialization

The company specializes in developing content that intersects daily habits and human potential, aiming to elicit emotions such as wonder, curiosity, and mastery. This approach is evident in their diverse portfolio, which includes podcasts, learning applications, and live events.

Key Technologies Utilized

WaitWhat leverages advanced digital media technologies to produce and distribute its content. This includes utilizing podcast platforms, developing mobile applications for learning experiences, and employing data analytics to understand audience engagement and preferences.

Primary Markets Targeted

The company's content appeals to a global audience, with a particular focus on professionals seeking personal and professional development. By addressing universal themes and leveraging digital distribution channels, WaitWhat effectively reaches a diverse and widespread market.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

WaitWhat has successfully secured funding to support its growth and development:

Series A (February 2019): Raised $4.3 million, led by Cue Ball Capital and Burda Principal Investments.

Series B (June 2021): Raised $12 million, led by Raga Partners, with participation from Emerson Collective, Lupa Systems, Capital One Ventures, Maywic Select Investments, GingerBread Capital, Burda Principal Investments, Cue Ball Capital, and Reid Hoffman.

Notable Investors

The company's investors include prominent entities such as Raga Partners, Emerson Collective, Lupa Systems, Capital One Ventures, and Reid Hoffman, reflecting strong confidence in WaitWhat's vision and potential.

Utilization of Capital

The funds raised have been allocated towards accelerating the development of technology products, membership programs, and partnerships that extend the core intellectual property into multi-format media experiences.

Pipeline Development

Key Pipeline Candidates

WaitWhat has developed several notable media properties:

Masters of Scale: A podcast hosted by Reid Hoffman, featuring interviews with business leaders to share entrepreneurial insights.

Meditative Story: Combines storytelling with meditation prompts and original music to create a mindfulness experience in audio.

Spark & Fire: Celebrates the creativity of the world’s most admired creators, turning the abstract idea of the ‘creative process’ into a captivating, edge-of-your-seat hero’s journey.

Should This Exist?: Explores technology’s impact on humanity, hosted by Caterina Fake.

Development Stages and Timelines

These properties have progressed from conceptualization to production and distribution, with ongoing efforts to expand their reach and impact. For instance, the Masters of Scale podcast has evolved into a comprehensive learning app and live event series.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

WaitWhat has developed proprietary platforms to enhance content delivery and user engagement, such as the Masters of Scale Courses App, which offers entrepreneurial training based on podcast content.

Significant Scientific Methods

The company employs data analytics and user feedback mechanisms to refine content and delivery methods, ensuring alignment with audience preferences and behaviors.

Leadership Team

Key Executives

June Cohen (Co-Founder and CEO): Former Executive Producer of TED Media, instrumental in launching TED Talks online.

Deron Triff (Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer): Former Head of Media Partnerships and Distribution at TED, led the global expansion of TED Talks.

Jai Punjabi (Co-Founder & Head of Television): Co-founder of WaitWhat, focusing on television content development.

Andres Morón (Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer): Former executive at Quartz, overseeing operations and financial strategy.

Key Contributions

The leadership team's extensive experience in media and content development has been pivotal in establishing WaitWhat as a leader in innovative digital media.

Leadership Changes

In June 2021, WaitWhat announced the appointment of Nur El Shami, a former New York Times executive, as Chief Operating Officer, and Andres Morón, a former Quartz executive, as Chief Financial Officer.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The digital media industry is experiencing rapid growth, with increasing consumer demand for high-quality, engaging content. Podcasts and digital storytelling have become significant components of this landscape, offering opportunities for innovation and audience engagement.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors include:

Gimlet Media: Known for producing narrative podcasts across various genres.

Wondery: Focuses on immersive storytelling podcasts.

Pushkin Industries: Produces podcasts and audiobooks with a focus on high-quality content.

These companies, like WaitWhat, aim to capture audience attention through compelling audio content, contributing to a competitive and dynamic market.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

WaitWhat has engaged in significant partnerships to enhance its offerings:

Cornerstone OnDemand: In December 2021, WaitWhat partnered with Cornerstone to deliver curated courses from the Masters of Scale podcast to organizations worldwide through Cornerstone Content Anytime.

Thrive Global: Collaborated to launch the Meditative Story podcast, blending storytelling with mindfulness practices.

Operational Insights

Strategic Considerations

WaitWhat's focus on creating content that intersects daily habits and human potential positions it uniquely in the market. Its commitment to high-quality, genre-defining content serves as a distinct competitive advantage.

Market Position

By developing a diverse portfolio of media properties and engaging in strategic partnerships, WaitWhat has established a strong presence in the digital media industry, appealing to a broad and engaged audience.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Strategic Roadmap

WaitWhat plans to continue expanding its content offerings, exploring new formats and platforms to reach wider audiences. This includes developing innovative content formats for physical well-being and intergenerational experiences.

Opportunities for Expansion

The company aims to leverage its existing content to create new products and experiences, such as learning applications and live events, further embedding its media properties into users' daily lives.

Positioning for Future Objectives

With a strong foundation in content creation and a clear vision for growth, WaitWhat is well-positioned to continue its trajectory as a leader in innovative digital media.