1Huddle, a workforce tech company based in Newark that onboards, upskills and develops employees through the use of science-backed, quick-burst mobile games, has closed a $1M deal with Audible, the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling.

The partnership will make 1Huddle’s offerings available to Audible employees through onboarding and continued corporate learning and development. This new contract will also provide select community organizations in Newark, where both companies are based, access to 1Huddle.

With the rise of remote work, 1Huddle’s gamified approach will help Audible launch new ways to train and develop its employees and move beyond traditional learning methods. 1Huddle will connect Audible employees to Audible’s mission, history and distinctive culture through unique and creative storytelling models, launching listening-based experiences and enlisting renowned creative talent to guide employees through their journey.

The deal builds on the success of Audible’s existing partnership with 1Huddle focused on Customer Care onboarding, to the entire Audible community, as well as create new content focused on educating staff about Audible’s distinctive culture of Activate Caring.

“Audible is the leading creator and provider of premium spoken word audio content and we are very excited to deepen our relationship with a company that stands for so many of the values we hold near and dear to our mission,” said Sam Caucci, founder and CEO of 1Huddle. “Since arriving in Newark six years ago, thanks to Audible Founder and Executive Chairman Don Katz, we have been honored drive meaningful impact in this great American city. We hope that by opening up 1Huddle to deserving organizations across the city, we can continue to help fuel innovation in Newark for decades to come.”

“Data shows most traditional job training methods don’t work as well as they should, with learners forgetting up to 90% of what was taught within a week if there’s no meaningful reinforcement,” said Anne Erni, chief people officer at Audible. “By working with 1Huddle, we hope to empower each and every one of our employees to reach their highest potential. Through this partnership, in concert with a robust list of other recent workforce initiatives, we are confident we can create a best-in-class company onboarding and engagement model for organizations around the world.”

A key investment of Newark Venture Partners (NVP), the early-stage venture capital fund launched by Audible’s Founder and Executive Chairman Don Katz, 1Huddle joined Audible in Newark to leverage NVP’s founder support resources. NVP’s national B2B investment platform is rooted in the mission to help grow the city’s innovation corridor while generating market rate returns by investing in fast growing B2B software companies. NVP’s investment in 1Huddle included strategic introductions to executives within the Audible C-suite, which led to the initial pilot project and a long-term partnership between the companies.

As a reflection of both companies’ deep commitment to the city, Audible will also provide access to 1Huddle for a variety of Newark community organizations and nonprofits to accelerate skill development. These organizations include Covenant House of New Jersey, New Jersey Reentry Corporation, All-Stars Project of New Jersey, and more.

“We are proud to announce this partnership with our Newark neighbor, 1Huddle, which will be a transformational mechanism for Audible to provide our employees a deeper connection to our culture, while providing a practical way to incorporate Audible’s People Principles into onboarding and continued development—especially for employees who have joined us since our pivot to remote and hybrid work,” said Abhinav Mathur, senior vice president of the global center for urban development at Audible. “At Audible, we’ve made improving the lives of the communities in which we operate a defining principle. This partnership with 1Huddle contributes greatly to this work, giving organizations making a difference in Newark the opportunity to strengthen their own talent and, in turn, build a stronger city.

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