Behind the Site

Descript

descript.com

AI-powered video and audio editor that lets creators edit recordings by editing a text transcript.

  • Content creation software
  • active
  • Founded 2017
  • Researched Sep 2026
Confirmed
Age9 yearsDomain registered 1999
Confirmed
Based inSan Francisco, California
Likely
Employees101-200PitchBook company profile lists 187 employees; LinkedIn company page shows a 51-200 band
Confirmed
Funding$100M raisedSeries C $50M
Unverified
PlatformsWeb, Mac, Windows
Confirmed
FoundersAndrew MasonCEO

The story

Descript was spun out of Andrew Mason's location-based audio startup Detour in 2017 after his team built a text-based audio editing tool there. It grew from an audio transcription editor into a combined audio/video platform, acquiring voice-cloning startup Lyrebird in 2019 and remote-recording service SquadCast in 2023, and raised a Series C led by the OpenAI Startup Fund in 2022. It remains an independent, venture-backed private company based in San Francisco.

Timeline

  1. Founded2017

    Spun out of Detour

    Andrew Mason spins text-based audio editing tool out of Detour as Descript

  2. Acquired2019

    Acquired Lyrebird

    Voice-cloning startup acquisition powers new Overdub feature

  3. New platform2020

    Added video editing

    Extended platform from audio-only to video recording and editing

  4. FundingOct 2022

    Series C led by OpenAI

    $50M raised at $550M valuation, OpenAI Startup Fund led

  5. AcquiredAug 2023

    Acquired SquadCast

    Bought remote-recording platform SquadCast, folded into product free

Founders

  • Andrew Mason

    CEO

    Founded and ran Groupon (2008-2013); founded Detour, acquired by Bose (2017)

    linkedin.com

15 sourcesEvery fact above links back to these.
  1. Descript homepagedescript.com
  2. Descript Business Breakdown & Founding Story - Contrary Researchresearch.contrary.com
  3. Descript with Andrew Mason - Software Engineering Dailysoftwareengineeringdaily.com
  4. I'm Andrew Mason, CEO and Founder of Descript, AMA - Product Huntproducthunt.com
  5. Andrew Mason - LinkedIn profilelinkedin.com
  6. Andrew Mason - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  7. Descript Raises $50 Million Series C Led by OpenAI Startup Fundpodnews.net
  8. Descript and the OpenAI Startup Fund: The All-New Appdescript.com
  9. Descript 2026 Company Profile - PitchBookpitchbook.com
  10. Descript - LinkedIn company pagelinkedin.com
  11. Descript Company Profile - Craft.cocraft.co
  12. Descript San Francisco Office: Careers, Perks + Culture - Built In SFbuiltinsf.com
  13. Descript acquires SquadCast - podnewspodnews.net
  14. TinySeed-backed Squadcast Has Been Acquired by Descript - TinySeedtinyseed.com
  15. Descript Acquires SquadCast - PRWebprweb.com
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