Tech Entrepreneur Mike Macadaan Launches Ground Control, In Partnership With Creative Artists Agency
Company Focused on the Development of Voice-Activated Entertainment Experiences and Technology That Helps Consumers Find New Experiences
LOS ANGELES and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aiming to set a new standard in the burgeoning world of interactive audio, Ground Control has been launched to develop voice-activated entertainment experiences populating the nascent interactive audio space. Created by highly regarded technology entrepreneur Mike Macadaan, in partnership with leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Ground Control is currently developing compelling original experiences with well-known personalities across entertainment, sports, politics, music and beyond. With an initial focus on current affairs and interactive games, the company aims to grow into other promising categories.
While developing these voice-activated experiences, Ground Control is equally dedicated to helping audiences find and return to those experiences. Catalyzed by a relationship with Amazon, it's building a tech platform addressing these challenges, both for the benefit of audiences and brand partners. The company is focused on three areas – discoverability, engagement and retention – utilizing the marriage of technology and pop culture to foster deep connections with a targeted audience.
"The proliferation of voice interface platforms speaks to the growing audience that's looking for new ways to compute," said Ground Control CEO Mike Macadaan. "Our voices and minds have greatly reduced the need for computer screens, keyboards, and other aging computing tools. This exciting new phase is a milestone in the advancement of personal computing."
Many consumers today are voicing their desire to connect with useful information and, increasingly, unique experiences. According to Gartner, Edison Research, it's estimated that, by 2020, 75% of U.S. households will own a smart speaker. Technology companies are investing heavily in voice-enabled personal assistants and devices such as Amazon Alexa (Echo), Google Assistant (Home) and Apple Siri (HomePod). Ground Control aims to engage audiences through these mediums as well as streaming apps such as Spotify, iTunes and TuneIn, and automotive technology including Apple CarPlay, AndroidAudio and Tesla's in-car streaming services.
Ground Control is led by CEO Mike Macadaan, a serial entrepreneur with nearly two decades in product design and user experience. A childhood fascination with audio toys sparked a career in technology, leading to such early roles as principal UI designer for Intuit, VP user experience and design at AOL, and chief creative officer at Fox Interactive. He launched his first venture as co-founder and CCO of Science Inc., leading design and branding initiatives for companies such as Dollar Shave Club before launching This Is Ground, a designer of leather organizing goods for mobile creatives. Over the years he has been integral to the sale of a half-dozen companies, in acquisitions valued at more than $1 billion, and is the primary author of nearly a dozen patents. His interest in audio technology made Macadaan an early adopter of voice interactivity, and his user-experience career has honed his appreciation for the most minimal, easy-to-use consumer interfaces.
CAA has a proven incubation track record, having conceptualized and co-founded six companies, including FunnyorDie and WhoSay, for which the agency has collectively raised more than $100 million in third-party funding. With expertise in principal investing, CAA manages CAA Ventures, a venture fund that invests third-party capital in consumer technology businesses with high-growth opportunities. To date, the fund has invested in more than three dozen companies, including Giphy, Medium, Patreon, August, Bark + Co., and Drone Racing League.
Announcements of specific content and partnerships will be made in the upcoming months.
Ground Control is based in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Visit the site: www.groundcontrol.ai.
SOURCE Ground Control
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