Rising Giants Network (RGN), a Dubai-based bilingual podcasting network, has announced it has secured an investment deal valued at $1m, in what is considered to be the biggest investment in a podcasting network in the region. The round was led by Triangle Media, Barry Kirsch Productions and individual investor Said Al Sayyed.
Founded in early 2020 by veteran podcaster and host of the ‘Basel Meets’ podcast, Basel Anabtawi, BKP chairman Barry Kirsch and audio engineer Bashar Najjar in the midst of Covid-19 lockdowns, Rising Giants Network is a podcast company dedicated to producing immersive audio experiences in Arabic and English.
Launching shows like Amalikat Al Tareek (Road Giants) with F1 host Firas Al Nimri, Sehtak Aham (Better Health) with fitness influencer Baraa Al Sabbagh, Rihlat Al Mosara’a (Wrestling Ride) with wrestling commentators Faisal Al Meghaisib and Yusef Callaway as well as English show Legendary Rock Stories, Rising Giants Network managed to consistently top the charts in the short time the company has been live in various categories.
Anabtawi, who assumes the role CEO for the network said: “The global podcasting industry has recently witnessed significant milestones with Amazon acquiring podcasting giant Wondery for $300M, and Spotify licensing The Joe Rogan Experience exclusively for $100M. There is an engaged audience of nearly 7 million people who are looking for top-notch shows to get into, and the time to invest in growing this base in the region is now.”
He continued: “Our goal is to tell the most compelling stories from all corners of the earth. With this investment, RGN is well placed to be the leading audio story-telling company in the region. We want to create the next ‘Serial’, the next ‘Dirty John’ or even the next ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’. With a varied slate of shows in development, we’re confident that we can reach that goal and produce shows that will appeal to varied audience groups from all backgrounds”.
