2024
Investing, Fundraising, and Podcasting: How Perseverance Leads to The Greatest Successes
– The Jasmine Star Show (Jan 9, 2024). Jasmine Star interviews Josh Muccio about the origin and growth of The Pitch. Josh candidly shares his journey of "accidentally" started his first company in college and the early failed podcast that eventually led to The Pitch. Then the moment over $1 million was committed on the show, and the “loneliness and isolation” he felt building the company. They also cover the three podcast acquisitions and how COVID-19 halted production before Josh bought back the show and starting a VC fund. (Notably, Jasmine herself credits The Pitch with deepening her understanding of fundraising and even became an investor in The Pitch Fund, bringing the story full-circle.)
2023
The Pitch is back! An interview with the creators of the anti-Shark Tank podcast
– RealityBlurred (Feb 8, 2023). TV critic Andy Dehnart interviews Josh and Lisa Muccio about The Pitch’s relaunch as an independent show. Andy describes The Pitch as one of his “favorite nonfiction podcasts” and that the show emerged from “the rubble of Gimlet Media” to start anew. The piece highlights changes in the new season – including breaking the fourth wall (their first episode back features Josh and Lisa pitching The Pitch itself to investors) – and underscores that The Pitch aims to show how deals truly get done, letting listeners hear unfiltered VC pitches, real investor deliberations, and revealing the true story of what happens after everyone shakes hands and walks out of the room.
The Pitch fund is raising their Fund I in public
– Hustle Fund (Oct 4, 2023). Kera DeMars, investor at Hustle Fund, interviews Josh Muccio on launching The Pitch Fund I. After recounting the history of the show, the article then dives into Josh’s experience using the SEC’s 506(c) rule to publicly raise a venture fund. It paints a picture of a podcast-turned-business that not only entertains but now enables its listeners to invest alongside the show, underlining Josh Muccio’s dual role as podcast host and emerging VC.
One Podcast, Three Acquisitions
– The Pitch Insider (Jan 27, 2023). In Part 2 of The Pitch’s origin story, Lisa Muccio chronicles the three times the podcast changed hands. Acquisition #1 (2017) – when a starstruck Josh cold-emailed Gimlet and quickly sold The Pitch, kicking off an exciting but challenging chapter as Gimlet employees. Acquisition #2 (2019) covers Spotify’s purchase of Gimlet; Lisa recalls celebrating the deal (seeing The Pitch mentioned on CNN) but then weathering the storm as the show was deprioritized and eventually halted during the pandemic. Finally, Acquisition #3 (2022) describes how, after two idle years, the couple “did something unorthodox” – they bought The Pitch back from Spotify and made it their own again.
2022
The Pitch Joins the Vox Media Podcast Network in Strategic Partnership
– Vox Media (Nov 14, 2022). Vox announces that The Pitch podcast, hosted by Josh Muccio, has joined the Vox Media Podcast Network. While the show remains independently owned, Vox Media will handle sales, marketing, and distribution, collaborating with the team to explore new growth opportunities. This partnership aligns The Pitch with Vox Media’s robust slate of business-focused podcasts, including Pivot, Decoder, and The Prof G Pod.
Former Gimlet Podcast 'The Pitch' Joins Vox Media Podcast Network (Exclusive)
– The Hollywood Reporter (Nov 14, 2022). In this exclusive by J. Clara Chan, The Hollywood Reporter reveals The Pitch's new distribution deal with Vox Media: the show would remain independently owned and produced, while Vox Media’s podcast network would handle advertising, marketing, and distribution for new episodes. This deal, announced as Season 9 was in the works, gave The Pitch a major platform boost without sacrificing its indie ethos.
Another Podcast, 'The Pitch,' Leaves Spotify's Gimlet Media
– Bloomberg News (July 27, 2022). Bloomberg reported that The Pitch was leaving Spotify as host Josh Muccio bought his show back from Gimlet Media/Spotify for an undisclosed sum. After Spotify’s 2019 takeover of Gimlet, The Pitch had gone dark (no new episodes since late 2020). In mid-2022, Muccio negotiated to reacquire the IP and operate it independently going forward. This made The Pitch one of the first Gimlet shows to break free from Spotify’s exclusive roster, setting the stage for its revival as an independent production.
Spotify Sells ‘The Pitch’ Back To Show Creator Josh Muccio
– Inside Radio (July 28 2022). Reports on Spotify’s decision to sell The Pitch podcast back to its original creator, Josh Muccio. This move marked a significant shift, allowing Muccio to regain ownership and creative control over the podcast. The article highlights the implications of this transition for both Spotify and the podcasting industry, emphasizing the importance of creator autonomy in the evolving digital media landscape.
The Pitch Origin Story Part 1: How It All Began
– The Pitch Insider (Dec 4, 2022). In a candid blog post on The Pitch Insider, co-founder Lisa Muccio pulls back the curtain on the show’s early days. The Substack post reveals that Josh literally dreamed about starting a podcast in 2015 – and by that evening had published a “very mediocre” first attempt . Lisa recounts how Josh, an incessant idea machine, found his “diamond in the rough” when chatting with 20VC host Harry Stebbings about a Shark Tank–style podcast showing how startup deals really get done . She describes the serendipitous cold email from Sheel Mohnot (who “totally blew smoke” by praising Josh’s radio voice) that led to their collaboration. This origin blog sets the stage for the rollercoaster to come – from initial concept to Gimlet acquisition – through Lisa’s behind-the-scenes perspective.
2019
Spotify's Podcasting Bet (Gimlet Acquisition)
– CNN Business (Feb 6, 2019). As podcasting hit the mainstream, Spotify announced a landmark $230 million deal to acquire Gimlet Media. CNN’s coverage of the acquisition noted that The Pitch was among Gimlet’s well-known podcasts included in the sale: "StartUp, Crimetown, Reply All, The Pitch, Homecoming & more".
2018
The Pitch podcast comes to Penn
– Penn Today (Dec 13, 2018). A recap of The Pitch LIVE! recorded at the University of Pennsylvania. The event featured senior molecular biology major Katherine Sizov pitching her startup, Strella Biotech, which develops biosensors to monitor fruit ripeness and reduce food waste. Sizov’s compelling presentation won over investors Jillian Manus and Phil Nadel, earning her the opportunity to pitch again on a future season of the show.
At Brooklyn’s GimletFest, the Podcasters Meet the People
– The Bridge (June 15, 2018). Gimlet Media announces their inaugural festival, GimletFest, held at BRIC House in Brooklyn. The event featured live performances, panel discussions, and interactive sessions with hosts from Gimlet’s popular podcasts, including The Pitch. A highlight was a live pitch competition, emulating the format of The Pitch, where entrepreneurs presented their business ideas to a panel of judges in front of an audience.
2017
Shark Tank-like podcast aims to get diverse founders funded
– CNN Money (Nov 1, 2017). An in-depth look at The Pitch podcast’s efforts to promote diversity among startup founders. The article highlights host Josh Muccio’s commitment to featuring a diverse set of entrepreneurs, including five founders of color and seven women on the cofounding teams of the 12 pitches in that season. It also discusses the podcast’s acquisition by Gimlet Media and its realistic portrayal of the fundraising process.
How The Pitch Podcast was Acquired by Gimlet Media
– Hack the Entrepreneur (Sep 12, 2017). A podcast interview with Josh Muccio about the journey of The Pitch podcast. In this episode, Josh discusses the origins of the podcast, the challenges faced during its early days, and the pivotal moments that led to its acquisition by Gimlet Media. He also shares insights into the importance of perseverance, the value of cold emailing, and the lessons learned from his entrepreneurial experiences.
Gimlet’s New Podcast Puts You Right in the Room as Entrepreneurs Pitch Their Businesses to Real Investors
– Adweek (June 6, 2017). An overview of The Pitch’s integration into Gimlet Media’s lineup. The article highlights how the podcast offers listeners an authentic experience of entrepreneurs pitching their businesses to real investors, emphasizing the show’s commitment to capturing the high stakes and intimacy of startup funding.
The Pitch Joins Gimlet Media
– Gimlet Media (June 6, 2017). An official announcement that The Pitch was acquired by Gimlet Media for its second season. Gimlet’s post welcomes the “hit independent podcast” – recently lauded by Inc. and Forbes – into its roster, describing The Pitch as “a show where real entrepreneurs pitch to real investors, for real money,” with all the high-stakes moments and nitty-gritty details of deals on the line. It introduced Muccio as an entrepreneur-turned-podcaster who ditched his e-commerce venture to bring listeners inside the fundraising rollercoaster.
Gimlet acquires podcast about the startup world
– Technical.ly Brooklyn (June 15, 2017). Tech reporter Tyler Woods covers Gimlet’s acquisition of The Pitch, which remarkably came about via a cold email from Josh Muccio. The article recounts how Muccio sent Gimlet co-founders Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber the Season 2 Pilot episode, they saw potential in turning The Pitch into a “juggernaut,” and made an offer to buy the show and bring Muccio on board as host/producer.
These Silicon Valley investors set out to create the antithesis of 'Shark Tank'
– Business Insider (Feb 23, 2017). A feature by Melia Robinson focuses on investor Jillian Manus and her desire for The Pitch to provide a realistic look at startup deals, as opposed to TV theatrics.
2016
The Top 13 Entrepreneur Podcasts You Should Be Listening to Right Now
– Inc. Magazine (July 7, 2016). In this Inc.com list by Neil Patel, The Pitch is recommended to listeners who like the concept of Shark Tank but “are less keen on… the reality TV drama.” Patel notes that early-stage startups on The Pitch present to investors who then give raw feedback on whether they’d invest – and highlights The Pitch’s as a "must-listen business podcast".
The Pitch Podcast Is Like Shark Tank Except Ten Times More Realistic
– The Hustle (Feb 25, 2016). Tech writer Tam Pham describes how The Pitch delivers a raw, authentic look at founder–investor conversations, in contrast to the dramatized “false reality” of Shark Tank . The article explains that entrepreneur Josh Muccio and angel investor Sheel Mohnot created The Pitch to demystify the venture funding process for founders.
2015
The 12 Best Podcasts For Entrepreneurs
– Forbes (Oct 12, 2015). In a Forbes roundup, The Pitch is listed as a top podcast for entrepreneurs, praised for its honest portrayal of early-stage investment.
'The Pitch' is a podcast version of 'Shark Tank' for startups
– The Next Web (July 22, 2015). The Next Web introduces The Pitch as a new show where startups pitch real investors. Muccio noted that The Pitch merges three trends – Shark Tank, podcasting, and startup funding – to give busy investors easy access to deals during their commute. He envisioned making fundraising “as easy as clicking a few buttons after listening to a podcast” by eventually allowing listeners to invest in the startups that pitch on the show.
This new podcast lets you invest in early-stage startups
– BetaList Blog (July 22, 2015). An in-depth Q&A with co-hosts Josh Muccio and Sheel Mohnot, published on launch day of The Pitch. They discuss combining Shark Tank-style investment with the storytelling of Gimlet's StartUp, and how a cold email from Sheel helped get the project off the ground.