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Subscription models are a common topic of debate in the app world, and we often find ourselves having to justify the subscription fee associated with the AudioCat app. This blog post aims to clarify why we opted for a subscription-based model over other potential revenue stream. 

First and foremost, it’s important to recognize that the AudioCat team operates with limited resources. Our team members are either volunteering their time or working on a modest retainer. Despite our lean operation, there are significant costs involved in keeping AudioCat up and running. These include not only the ongoing development and maintenance of the app but also the associated expenses of managing our website, producing our newsletter, and other operational needs that ensure the app remains accessible and functional for all users. 

Currently, we are actively seeking investor funding to accelerate AudioCat’s growth. However, for investors to consider partnering with us, we need to demonstrate that our business model is sustainable and profitable. This brings us to the crux of our decision-making process: How do we achieve profitability without compromising the user experience? 

Many mobile games rely on methods that we find problematic. For instance, some apps use misleading advertising to attract downloads, then bank on a small percentage of users—often called “whales”—to make significant in-app purchases. This approach not only feels ethically questionable but also creates an environment where gameplay is less about enjoyment and more about extracting revenue from a select few. 

We don’t want to go down that path. Similarly, we’re committed to avoiding the trap of overcrowding our app with ads, which can disrupt the user experience and detract from the enjoyment of the game. Our goal has always been to create an accessible, enjoyable gaming experience, particularly for our primary audience—people who are blind or visually impaired. 

Given the niche nature of our audience, we are unlikely to reach the massive user base needed to survive solely on in-app purchases or ad revenue. This reality led us to the subscription model as the most viable option. It allows us to maintain a steady revenue stream while continuing to provide a high-quality, ad-free experience for our users. 

We understand that subscription fees are not ideal for everyone and may not fit within everyone’s budget. As we grow and our user base expands, we hope to reassess the subscription cost and explore ways to make it more accessible. But for now, this model is crucial to keeping AudioCat alive and thriving. We hope that by sharing our reasoning, our community can better understand and support the decisions we’ve made. 

We’re excited to announce that in the coming weeks, we’ll be launching a Kickstarter campaign aimed at raising the funds needed to help expand AudioCat and reach a global audience. Currently, our marketing budget is extremely limited, which has unfortunately meant passing up several incredible opportunities to collaborate with influencers and brands that could help promote AudioCat to a wider community of blind and visually impaired individuals. Through Kickstarter, we not only hope to secure the necessary funding but also plan to offer tiered rewards to those who choose to support us from the outset. This approach allows us to incentivize investment in a way that’s both engaging and sustainable, helping us grow even further. 

It’s important to emphasize that AudioCat is not a get-rich-quick scheme; our motivations are far from purely financial. However, it would be unrealistic to think we can sustain and grow the brand long-term without the financial support that a campaign like this can provide, and our subscription-based app. 

We hope that this announcement clarifies our approach and the reasons behind our decisions. We’ll be sharing this blog post periodically to address any questions that arise on social media, ensuring our community stays informed and engaged with our journey.