Biography of Neha Sharma: Founder & CEO of Vobble- Entrepreneur
Biography of Neha Sharma:
Rise of Vobble: A Kid-Centered Audio Platform
Vobble is an innovative audio content platform aimed at
children, offering a fresh approach to storytelling and entertainment for kids
between the ages of 4 and 12. Founded in 2022 by Neha Sharma and Sowmya
Jagannath, Vobble is designed to enrich children's early years with immersive
and engaging audio experiences. The platform includes a variety of content,
such as story series, music, podcasts, game shows, activities, and weekly news,
all curated with the help of experts from around the world. Vobble’s primary
goal is to reignite the imagination of young minds through auditory
experiences.
Vobble's Mission: Enhancing Early Childhood with Audio
The core idea behind Vobble is to create a space where
children can develop listening skills in addition to reading, fostering their
imagination and creativity. The platform aims to offer parents a valuable tool
to cultivate their child's listening habits, much like how parents encourage
reading. The team believes that listening to stories and other engaging content
can positively impact a child's development, helping them build cognitive and
language skills.
A Unique Approach to Content Creation
Vobble's content is unlike most other children's audio
platforms. It sets itself apart by ensuring that the majority of the voices
heard on the platform belong to children themselves. With a team of over 100
kids, Vobble provides a unique and authentic perspective in its content. These
young participants, who work on the platform without payment, gain valuable
experience and develop new skills, while their parents see it as an opportunity
to learn and grow.
Shark Tank India: A Major Milestone
Vobble gained significant attention when it was featured on
the third season of Shark Tank India. During the show, Vobble's founders
pitched their vision, asking for ₹25 lakhs for a 1.5% equity stake in the
company. The pitch was well-received, and Namita Thapar, Executive Director of
Emcure Pharmaceuticals, invested ₹25 lakh for a 2% equity stake, leading to a
deal valuation of ₹12.5 crore. This investment helped Vobble gain recognition
and provided the necessary funds to scale its operations.
Collaborations with Leading Publishers
Vobble has formed partnerships with several renowned
publishers, including HarperCollins, Scholastic, Hachette, and Amar Chitra
Katha, to offer a broad and diverse range of content. These collaborations
ensure that the platform provides high-quality audio material for children,
combining educational value with entertainment. Vobble’s flagship product, The
Vobble Box, includes special kid-safe headphones, activity books, and a
six-month subscription to the platform, making it a comprehensive learning tool
for young audiences.
A Focus on Child Safety and Privacy
Vobble places a strong emphasis on child safety, especially
when it comes to digital interactions. The platform is designed with artificial
intelligence (AI) to ensure children's privacy is protected. Moreover, Vobble
aims to encourage kids to create their own audio content, allowing them to
record and share their stories. The founders are working on developing a
specialized language model that prioritizes the safety of children while they
interact with the platform.
Biography of Neha Sharma: Founder & CEO of Vobble- Entrepreneur/age/net worth/investor/startup/audio content for children/Vobble story
Subscription-Based Model and Growing User Base
Vobble’s subscription model starts at ₹199 per month,
offering access to over 2,200 minutes of content and 700+ episodes. The
platform frequently adds new content, keeping the experience fresh and engaging
for its users. The company has already acquired over 2,500 subscribers, and the
number continues to grow. Additionally, around 500 children are using the
Vobble headphones, which are designed with a volume limiter to protect young
ears.
The Vobble Box: An Innovative Product
Vobble’s flagship product, The Vobble Box, offers an
all-in-one experience for children. Priced at ₹3,500, the box includes
child-friendly headphones, activity books, and a six-month subscription to the
platform. The headphones are specially designed to be safe for children, with a
volume limiter that ensures the sound is never too loud. These headphones are
compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device, allowing parents to monitor their
child’s listening experience without the need for screens.
Challenges in the Crowded Audio OTT Market
Vobble faces competition in the crowded audio OTT market,
especially in India, where several platforms are already offering content for
children. Popular platforms like Voot Kids, Audible, and Spotify Kids have a
significant presence in the market, and many of these platforms offer similar
content, such as audiobooks, music, and podcasts. Despite this, Vobble
differentiates itself by focusing on immersive, interactive, and engaging
content that is tailored to the attention spans and interests of young children.
Interactive Content: The Key to Success
One of Vobble’s core differentiators is its focus on making
content interactive and immersive. Unlike other platforms that rely on
monotonous content created by adults, Vobble aims to create an engaging
experience that keeps children’s attention. The platform is designed to be fun
and educational, using dialogue, sound effects, and music to create a more
dynamic experience. By ensuring that the content is kid-centered and features
the voices of children, Vobble makes the experience more relatable for its audience.
User-Generated Content: Empowering Kids
Vobble’s future plans include enabling kids to create their
own content. The platform is working on features that will allow children to
record their voices as part of various series. This initiative is designed to
give children a voice and encourage their creativity. By allowing kids to
contribute to the platform, Vobble hopes to empower them and give them a sense
of ownership over the content they consume.
Expanding Content and Genre Variety
Vobble is constantly expanding its content library to cater
to a wider range of interests. The platform is currently working on introducing
new genres, including content around popular video games like Minecraft. This
will provide children with an opportunity to learn new tricks and strategies
for their favorite games in a format they enjoy. Vobble plans to continue
adding content that reflects the latest trends and interests among children,
ensuring that the platform remains relevant and engaging.
Long-Term Vision: Achieving Product-Market Fit
Vobble’s founders are confident that their platform will
succeed, even in the face of stiff competition. While the company is still in
its early stages, they are focused on finding the right product-market fit and
expanding their user base. Sharma and Jagannath are optimistic about Vobble’s
potential, believing that the benefits of audio content for children will
resonate with both parents and kids. With plans to enhance its AI capabilities
and expand its content offerings, Vobble is determined to carve out a niche for
itself in the growing audio market.
Vobble’s Impact on Kids’ Development
Ultimately, Vobble’s mission is to contribute to the
development of children by providing them with enriching and safe audio
content. Whether it's through storytelling, music, or educational podcasts,
Vobble aims to nurture children’s curiosity and imagination. The platform
recognizes the value of audio as a tool for growth and believes that it can
play a pivotal role in the development of young minds.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Vobble
With a strong foundation and growing recognition, Vobble has
the potential to become a leading player in the children’s audio content space.
By focusing on high-quality, immersive content and expanding its features to
allow kids to create their own audio, Vobble is positioning itself for
long-term success. As the company continues to scale, its founders remain
dedicated to their vision of providing kids with a platform that sparks
creativity and fosters learning.
A timeline for Vobble’s journey:
2022: Vobble is founded by Neha Sharma and Sowmya Jagannath,
aiming to provide engaging audio content for children aged 4-12 to foster
creativity and enhance listening skills.
2022: Vobble launches with content including stories, music,
podcasts, and activities, curated by experts and featuring children's voices.
2023: Vobble appears on Shark Tank India, where the founders
pitch for ₹25 lakhs in exchange for 1.5% equity, securing an investment from
Namita Thapar for ₹25 lakh for 2% equity, at a valuation of ₹12.5 crore.
2023: Vobble partners with major publishers like
HarperCollins, Scholastic, Hachette, and Amar Chitra Katha to diversify and
expand content offerings.
2023: The Vobble Box is launched, combining headphones with
volume limiters, activity books, and a six-month subscription, priced at
₹3,500.
2023-2024: Vobble sees continued growth with over 2,500
subscribers and 500 kids using its headphones, while expanding its content
library.
2024 and beyond: Vobble plans to introduce features allowing
children to create and share their own content, empowering young users to
engage creatively with the platform.
2024 and beyond: The company looks to expand its content
genres, including gaming-related content, and is focused on finding
product-market fit to scale further.
