Loading organizations...
Loading organizations...
A podcast company.
Breaker has raised $7.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Breaker.
Breaker was founded in 2016 by Leah Culver (Founder/CTO).
Breaker has raised $7.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Breaker is a podcast listening and discovery application.
Most podcasts are free, but serious publishers are spending big budgets to make high quality audio content like Serial, which hit 100 million downloads and made podcasts mainstream. 67 million Americans are already listening to podcasts a month. Breaker wants to sign exclusive deals to distribute the best premium podcasts and charge users $6 per month. First, its goal is to build a huge listener audience by making the best podcast consumption app. It launched today, and will offer podcasters ways to connect and get feedback from their community, and analytics about what content performs best. It has a stunning 67% retention rate after a month for beta users. If it can convince people to pay for what’s often free, it could become the preferred place for podcasters to talk.
Key people at Breaker.
Breaker is a podcasting company that originally built a social podcast app designed to enhance podcast discovery and listening by integrating social features such as liking, commenting, and sharing episodes with friends. It served podcast listeners who sought a more interactive and community-driven experience, addressing the problem of podcast discovery and engagement in a market where podcasts were traditionally consumed passively. Breaker gained traction by transforming podcast apps from mere productivity tools into social platforms, fostering community interaction around audio content. After its acquisition by Twitter in early 2021, the Breaker app was shut down, but its team and technology contributed to Twitter’s audio initiatives like Twitter Spaces. Later, the Breaker brand and platform were revived under Maple Media, a private equity-backed company, to continue competing in the podcast discovery space with a large catalog of shows and integration across multiple podcast apps[1][3][4].
Breaker was founded in 2016 by CEO Erik Berlin, previously founder and CTO of social advertising company 140 Proof, and CTO Leah Culver, a notable developer and co-author of web standards OAuth and oEmbed. The idea emerged from their vision to make podcast listening more social and engaging, at a time when podcast apps were largely utilitarian. Early on, Breaker distinguished itself by enabling users to follow friends, comment on episodes, and share favorites, which helped it build a loyal user base and attract attention in the podcast ecosystem. The acquisition by Twitter marked a pivotal moment, validating Breaker’s social podcasting approach and enabling its team to influence broader audio social networking[1][3].
Breaker rode the wave of rising podcast popularity and the growing demand for social and interactive media experiences. Its timing was critical as podcasts transitioned from niche audio feeds to mainstream entertainment and social engagement platforms. The company addressed key market forces: the challenge of podcast discovery in an increasingly crowded space and the desire for community around content consumption. By integrating social features, Breaker influenced how podcasts could be consumed and shared, contributing to the broader trend of social audio that platforms like Twitter and Clubhouse later capitalized on. Its acquisition by Twitter and subsequent integration into Twitter Spaces underscore its role in shaping live and social audio communication[1][4].
Breaker’s future lies in continuing to evolve as a social podcast discovery platform within a competitive and expanding podcast ecosystem. With backing from Maple Media, it is positioned to leverage cross-platform promotion and a large content library to address ongoing discovery challenges. Trends such as increased podcast consumption, creator monetization, and social audio engagement will shape Breaker’s trajectory. Its influence may grow as it helps bridge podcast listening with social interaction, potentially integrating more deeply with other media platforms and expanding creator tools. The company’s journey from a startup to a Twitter acquisition and then a revitalized platform under private equity highlights its adaptability and the enduring value of social podcasting innovation[1][4].
Breaker was founded in 2016 by Leah Culver (Founder/CTO).
Breaker has raised $7.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Breaker's investors include Bessemer Venture Partners, David Cowan, Mike Zimmerman, Main Sequence Ventures, Weekend Fund.
Breaker has raised $7.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $6.0M Breaker Seed in February 2026.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2026 | $6.0M Breaker Seed | Bessemer Venture Partners, David Cowan | Mike Zimmerman |
| Mar 1, 2025 | $1.0M Seed | Main Sequence Ventures | Weekend Fund |
