What Really Became Of Autio From Shark Tank?

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A top tip for anyone going on a road trip is to learn about the places you're visiting — even the ones you're driving through. For example, driving across the vast expanse of the Great Plains, you might wonder about the region's storied history. But maybe you forgot to pick up a guidebook and the content on Wikipedia is a bit dry. Who could be a better travel guide to this frontier land than the actor who played Wyatt Earp himself, Kevin Costner? Or perhaps you're a fan of the '80s classic "Footloose" and you happen to be passing through the town of Provo, Utah. Who  else would you want (apart from maybe Kevin Bacon) to give you a brief guide to the shooting locations than John Lithgow, the movie's main baddie?

Local history told by familiar voices was the brainchild of Woody Sears, entrepreneur and software developer behind Autio. As an avid road-tripper, Sears saw the value of learning about the history and culture of lesser-visited destinations across the country. "We wanted an experience that was more hands-free, drawing you into your surroundings so you could learn and listen to what was going on outside the car window," he said in an interview with Zendrive.

In Season 14, Episode 17, he walked into the "Shark Tank" studio asking for $1 million in exchange for a 5% stake in his travel app. The amount seemed high for a subscription service that only cost $36 a year, but Sears already had some investors and had secured the vocal talents of co-founder Costner, Emmy-winning Lithgow, and several other celebrities to narrate over 10,000 stories for locations across the United States. Sears and Autio already seemed so well-established that it prompted the question from "warm-blooded Shark" Lori Greiner: "Why do you need a Shark?"

Deals that are $1 million or over definitely aren't unheard of on "Shark Tank," but they often tend to come with a larger equity than the 5% Woody Sears offered when he made his pitch for Autio. This low stake provoked some rather startled reactions from the Sharks when he laid his figures on the line, but the business had shown steady growth. With $200,000 revenue in 2021 and over $700,000 in 2022, Autio looked promising. He came across as a steady and confident entrepreneur who clearly knew his product and business inside out, impressing potential investors with his experience in the market and a credible pitch.

While four of the Sharks respectfully declined to make Sears an offer, Autio grabbed the attention of Kevin "Mr. Wonderful" O'Leary, who made his own fortune through software before becoming a TV personality. O'Leary offered Sears the full $1 million but wanted a 15% stake in the company. 

Sears wasn't rattled. He also didn't want to undervalue his product and stuck to his guns, maintaining that O'Leary would already be getting a discount compared to his other investors at 5%. A rapid-fire series of negotiations followed, in which O'Leary dropped his end to 10% while Sears was only prepared to go as high as 7%. It seemed evident from Sears' performance that he went into the studio with a very firm idea of the maximum he was willing to give up, and he calmly walked away without a deal but with the respect of the Sharks.

Autio began life under the name HearHere in 2020 and had good fortune from the start. Oscar-winner Kevin Costner learned about the project through his wife and was instantly hooked on the idea. The acclaimed actor and history buff was drawn to the app's potential for storytelling and education, and came on board to join Woody Sears as co-founder of the company.

Naturally, Costner's involvement helped generate publicity and investors for a few years before Sears pitched Autio to the Sharks, and the rebranded travel app certainly hasn't suffered after its innovator walked away without an investment. Away from the glitz of the popular reality show, Sears has had little trouble attracting investors: He raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding in 2021, another $3.2 million in early 2022, and yet another $5.9 million in March 2023, the same month that Sears' episode aired. And those investments are paying off — the company's net worth is an estimated $20 million in 2025.

Since appearing on "Shark Tank," Autio has also signed a deal with JetBlue to share content for 29 of the carrier's destination cities via onboard entertainment, and is partnering with Netflix to share the history behind its recently-released film, "The Six Triple Eight," a war drama based on a true story. The Autio stories will be narrated by star Kerry Washington and director Tyler Perry. While Sears and Autio didn't necessarily need Kevin O'Leary's money to succeed, the company acknowledged that the show helped generate a huge spike in website traffic and downloads.

Autio is going strong, now boasting well over 20,000 stories across the United States, with steady expansion across Europe, Asia, Australia, and Mexico. Its already celebrity-laden profile has been raised further by features in several major outlets, including Forbes and Insider. Autio uses its platform to support The Moth, a non-profit organization focused on raising underrepresented voices by promoting and celebrating diversity through storytelling. It has also partnered with AAA to offer members a 25% discount on the app's subscription.

In 2025, Autio offers five free stories as a trial, and a one-year subscriptions costs $35.99. Woody Sears is concentrating on building up the app's database of fascinating stories and trying to distribute the experience evenly across the 50 states. With a focus on heritage, Autio is listening to subscribers for ideas and working with historic associations in scenic places like Texas, with its underrated state parks and stunning scenery. You can now also book educational tours and excursions with Get Your Guide directly through the Autio app, allowing you to plan an action-packed road trip itinerary.

While we have a whole internet's worth of information at our fingertips, it's easy to skip over some historical places across America and around the world when you're traveling. Autio deserves praise for taking the hard work out of learning and bringing these tales to life for curious travelers. "Shark Tank" is available for purchase on Prime Video.