Mobile-based in-destination audio tour guide service provider AudioCompass has raised $400,000 in seed fund from a group of investors including Blume Ventures and Urrshila Kerkar.
The India-based company will use this fund to expand its destination coverage, strengthen product development and launch new marketing initiatives.
AudioCompass develops audio guides for monuments, historical sites and museums, and makes it accessible to travellers via a smartphone app (for iPhone, Android), a device that can be rented at a destination, and also via phone call for feature phones.
The latter service is interesting - the company has partnered with telecom operators where a user with a non-smartphone can just dial a specific number and listen to a destination's audio explanation via a recorded phone call.
The company generates revenue via its in-app purchases, phone call service. It is also the official audio tour guide for the global "Incredible India" campaign being run by Ministry of Tourism, India.
A spokesperson for Blume Ventures says:
"Given the exponential growth in content consumption via smartphone, AudioCompass can become an indispensable part of every traveler’s toolkit."
Competitors of AudioCompass include MyTourIndia, Guiddoo, and GoPlaces.
Currently, AudioCompass has guides for over hundreds of points of interest in India, and it also provides audio guides for Bollywood movie star homes.
As part of its marketing initiative, AudioCampass ran Twitter campaigns where it live tweeted a tour to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.