Audissey Guides, a Chelsea-based company specializing in audio walking tours for iPods and smartphones, has advanced to the top five finalists in Forbes’ “Boost Your Business” Competition. The firm now competes for a $100,000 grand prize and requires public support to win. “Everyone helped get us into the finals of this contest,” explained owner Rob Pyles. Voting is available through www.audisseyguides.com or directly at www.bit.ly/voteforaudissey. “Now we’re asking the neighborhood to vote one more time, to help us bring the victory back.” Pyles noted. “Every vote will help us,” he added.
The company’s model is straightforward: users download free city tours from the Audissey website, then explore destinations like Boston, New York, or New Orleans while local celebrities serve as personal guides. This experience approximates having an actual resident lead the way. From thousands of initial applicants, Audissey advanced through September voting to secure a spot among the final twenty, then climbed further into the top five. Rob and his wife Juliet, his business partner, subsequently traveled to New York City to present their concept to Forbes executives. “For the finals, Forbes Magazine flew us and the other finalists on an all expenses paid trip to New York City,” Pyles recounted. “There, each business presented their business plan to a panel of five expert judges, who were investors and CEOs. T he judge’s decision will make up 50 percent of the final vote while the last round of online voting from the public makes up the other 50 percent.”
Prior to the Forbes meeting, Audissey worked with a presentation coach to refine their pitch. “Then, the following day was the big presentations,” Pyles shared. “We walked into the board room, stared down the judges, and launched our presentation. It was like American Idol for entrepreneurs. I was just hoping there was no Simon Cowell.” Though initially apprehensive, both Rob and Juliet maintained confidence about their prospects. “We knew everybody back home was pulling for us,” Pyles acknowledged. “Even though we were in New York, we felt like we had a home court advantage.” The ten-minute presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session where judges posed inquiries that the Audissey team had largely anticipated. “Nothing caught us off-guard,” Pyles stated. “We walked out of there feeling good. Our heads were held high. We figured, win or lose, we gave it our best shot, and we felt good about it. No regrets, no complaints. And that was the way to do New York. We felt like stars, getting a once in a lifetime opportunity to pitch our business before these experts – with $100,000 on the line. And it felt good to have our idea, our hard work, and our creativity rewarded.”
Major U.S. cities including Washington DC, Houston, Texas, and Boston have engaged Audissey’s services. The company has created four distinct Boston-area tours: the Boston Public Garden, the Downtown Harborwalk, the Fort Point Channel, and “Secret Boston.” Mayor Thomas Menino appears in the Harborwalk tour’s introduction. Within the last six months, Audissey has earned three major industry honors, including the MUSE Award from the American Association of Museums and the Media Award from the National Association of Interpretation for their Boston Public Garden tour. All tours remain free on www.AudisseyGuides.com.