Pierson Marks, a former Amazon employee, left the company after three years to launch his own startup, Jellypod. With a background in computer science from UCLA, Marks stayed in Seattle to develop an AI-powered service that transforms daily newsletters into personalized podcasts. His passion for voice technology and staying informed inspired him to create a solution for the overwhelming amount of content in his email inbox. Using open source and fine-tuned AI models, Marks built Jellypod to extract key details from a variety of newsletters and compile them into a 10-to-15 minute daily digest podcast.
Jellypod officially launched in December and is currently available on iOS. The app offers a free version where users can create a 6-minute podcast, as well as a premium version that allows for longer podcasts, more newsletter subscriptions, and the ability to export podcasts to other players. Listeners can also choose between six different voices, adding a personalized touch to their listening experience. The startup has already gained over 1,000 users, with 10% opting for the premium version. While Jellypod is currently bootstrapped, Marks plans to raise funding in the near future to further develop the platform.
To address any potential rights issues related to the original newsletter providers, Marks clarified that Jellypod does not redistribute content, but rather summarizes it and reads it back in audio format. He compared the service to Blinkist, which offers summaries of books and podcasts. Marks believes that Jellypod encourages users to engage more with the content they are already subscribed to, as they may be more likely to prioritize information that stands out in the podcast summaries. By leveraging his tech skills to help people stay informed, Marks aims to provide a convenient way for listeners to access long-form content from credible sources in an audio format.
Marks emphasizes the importance of consuming information from authoritative sources, particularly in a world where younger generations are often exposed to short-form and non-authoritative content on social media. He believes that long-form content created by knowledgeable writers is essential for understanding the complexities of the world. By making this content more accessible through audio, Marks hopes to facilitate learning and encourage more people to engage with in-depth information. Through Jellypod, he seeks to provide a solution that aligns with his passion for leveraging technology to help individuals consume high-quality content and stay informed.
Overall, Pierson Marks’ journey from working at Amazon to launching Jellypod demonstrates his commitment to creating innovative solutions that address the challenges of information overload and facilitate access to credible sources. With a focus on using AI to streamline the process of digesting newsletters and transforming them into podcasts, Marks has created a platform that offers users a convenient way to stay informed. By combining his passion for voice technology, staying informed, and helping others access credible content, Marks aims to make a meaningful impact in the realm of audio-based information consumption.
