Every day, millions of podcast listeners consume content in isolation, their insights, reactions, and experiences invisible to creators. What if that could change? What if podcast audiences could truly be heard? This is the question that sparked Dome, a revolutionary platform transforming how we experience podcasts.

The Birth of Dome

"Where Listeners Go to Be Heard"

Dome emerged from a simple observation: podcast listeners deserve to be heard. While podcasting has exploded in popularity, the connection between hosts and their audiences remains surprisingly one-sided. Bella and Sophie saw an opportunity to transform this dynamic.

Dome transforms passive podcast audiences into engaged communities while empowering hosts to create content that truly resonates with their listeners. Through exclusive audience intelligence and AI-powered engagement insights, they're helping podcast creators make data-driven content decisions that keep their audiences coming back for more.

A Partnership Built on Complementary Strengths

Meet Bella Filacuridi and Sophie Greiner, the innovative founders behind Dome, a groundbreaking podcast engagement platform.

While many co-founders clash over their differences, Sophie and Bella thrive on theirs.

"We're similar in all the ways that matter - work ethic, values, drive," Sophie explains. "But how do we achieve things? Totally different." Where Sophie lights up a room with her electric presence, drawing people into conversations and building instant connections, Bella crafts the perfect words to tell their story.

Their complementary skills and balance of vision and execution create a perpetual innovation engine.

Red Bull Basement Competition 2024

Red Bull Basement is a global movement designed to empower the next generation of innovators. With a mission to accelerate outstanding ideas through AI technology, the platform invites young visionaries from around the world to challenge the status quo and drive positive change.

Out of an extraordinary 110,000 global applications, Dome was selected to represent Australia at the World Final in Tokyo.

With just 10 days to prepare for the World Final, Sophie and Bella transformed their preparation into a strategic masterclass of innovation and precision. Their approach went far beyond traditional competition readiness. They spent days and nights working on their Business Model Canvas, HERO Asset, and pitch deck, studying judges and other founders to ensure they could present with confidence and clarity.

The result? Dome secured a place in the top 10 against 70 founders from 40 different countries.

And in that moment, "it felt like the world was finally understanding our vision." – Bella

Beyond the Competition: Unexpected Moments

While they ultimately placed in the top 10, the most memorable moments happened off-stage. 

Like the spontaneous pitch practice on Tokyo streets, drawing curious looks from passersby. 

Or the night before their presentation, when they found themselves on a quintessential tourist adventure—eating at a sushi train restaurant and going to a fighting ring, decked out in robot suits and engaging in playful combat.

The competition's most surprising aspect? The depth of personal connections. The judges and mentors weren't just evaluating their pitch—they were genuinely invested in participants' journeys. Each interaction they made with other founders broke down the traditional barriers of competitive environments.

"In the startup world, everyone really wants to help each other," Sophie explains. Bella agrees, noting it "didn't feel like a competition at all." Instead, it felt like a global community of passionate innovators supporting one another.

The HEX Impact

For Bella, HEX was more than just a program - it was her gateway into the startup ecosystem. "HEX introduced me to the world of startups and entrepreneurship," she shares. During her time in the HEX International Program, she gained invaluable experiences, from visiting venture capital firms to pitching to members of the Australian embassy. These experiences planted the seeds for her entrepreneurial journey and helped shape her vision for what would eventually become Dome.

As Dome continues to grow and transform the podcast industry, it's clear that the entrepreneurial spirit and global mindset fostered during Bella's time at HEX continues to influence their journey. Their story serves as an inspiration for current and future HEXies, showing how the right combination of education, opportunity, and determination can lead to global success.

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