11. AUDIOMOB

Founders: Christian Facey and Wilfrid Obeng
Year founded: 2019
Website: audiomob.com

Everybody is annoyed by a video ad. Consumers, because they’re disrupted from their scrolling or gameplay; game publishers, because the customer is annoyed; and advertisers, because they don’t know if their content has simply gone in one ear and out the other.

Audiomob, a startup that promises “non-intrusive” audio ads for mobile, has heard these complaints. It’s ‘hear’ to help, using patented audibility technology that can detect the volume level of a user’s device while an ad is playing to keep developers monetising effectively.

The concept is disarmingly simple. If a device’s volume is below 30%, then the ad is paused, and the user must either manually unmute or increase the volume. Advertisers then know for sure whether an ad has been listened to, paving the way for more accurate tracking and monitoring of how their ads are performing.

Developers are able to offer rewards for users, encouraging closer engagement with the ad

Clever customer perks have seen Audiomob cement its industry-leading position in the gaming sector, such as its rewards-based delivery flow. Developers are able to offer rewards for users, encouraging closer engagement with the ad and – crucially – allowing marketing teams to more accurately track their listen-through rates.

Audiomob already demonstrated impressive growth to see it named a top UK startup last year. Its financial results were already loud; the company raised £10.3m in Series A funding in 2021, and achieved a business valuation (at the time) of £81.2m.

As well as detecting background noise in a game, the tech can also detect sound from apps like Spotify and Apple Music

In 2023, the startup established a slew of partnerships across the globe, including major media brokers like the Choueiri Group in the UAE, and the Katz Media Group in the US.

We can only speculate as to future uses of Audiomob’s disruptive audio ad technology. As well as detecting background noise in a game, the tech can also detect sound from apps like Spotify and Apple Music, providing a natural route into audio content hosting platforms.

Audiomob is that rare solution that is on a mission to make everyone’s life easier, from ad developers to end users. Next, it plans to raise international awareness around the efficiency and scalability of its tech, helping it become the go-to firm for mobile games and apps. We’re all ears.