Otto Radio Receives Investment from Samsung NEXT

ottoradioOtto Radio, a San Francisco, California-based developer of a personal radio app that plays news and podcasts, received an investment from Samsung NEXT, the venture capital arm of the Samsung Group.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its presence in the personalized media space as it relates to connected and autonomous cars, smart audio devices and appliances, and key integrations with premium content providers.

Led by Stanley Yuan, CEO and co-founder, Otto Radio automatically curates top podcasts and audio news based on the listener’s interests. Its newly launched their Otto Everywhere API enables Internet of Things manufacturers, automotive OEMs and content distributors to provide customers with audio content from top news outlets and podcast publishers.
The company completed its first integration with Uber in November 2016 to provide personalized audio news and podcasts timed to the length of their riders’ trips. In addition, two major automotive manufacturers are also leveraging the new API to power a proof-of-concept infotainment systems.

With some lines of code, partners can build experiences that allow listeners to start their day with a personalized news briefing on their smart speaker or appliance, launch a timed broadcast on their car’s infotainment system during their morning commute, finish listening at their work computer, get news updates in a car-share on the way to a meeting, and end the day listening to their favorite shows on wireless headphones while working out.

Otto Radio will be available via both Android Auto and CarPlay in the first quarter of 2017, and can be downloaded for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

FinSMEs

05/01/2017

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