Hernan Lopez is the founder and CEO of Wondery, an American podcast network with backing from 20th Century Fox.
Education
Hernan Lopez earned an MBA from the University of Miami – School of Business in 2001.
Early career
Hernan Lopez’s first job was at Fox Latin America as a Senior Vice President for almost three years before he became the President at Fox International Channels, a division of 21st Century Fox, in June 2003. After five years as President of Fox, Lopez became the COO of the company. After three years, Lopez got promoted to become the President and CEO at Fox. After five years, Lopez decided to leave the multimedia giant in 2016 to create his podcast company.
Wondery
Lopez ended making television and turned to rock up the podcast world. Lopez got a seed investment from his colleagues and former employers at 20th Century Fox and used his bank account. In January 2016, Lopez launched Wondery, an American a podcast studio with a mission to produce shows that sound more like a Hollywood film and less like public radio.
The goal of the network is to curate and produce audio shows with a focus on audio-on-demand and mobile users. Lopez was joined by a former head of current programming at 20th Century Fox Television Jeffrey Glaser. The name Wondery comes from “Factory of Wonder.” Lopez came up with the name in the fall of 2015. Lopez wanted a brand name that excites the imagination and speaks to curiosity.
Wondery released its original breakout hit in the fall of 2017. As of 2018, Dirty John, a true crime story produced with the LA Times, has been heard to more than 15 million times since it debuted in October, with three million people tuning in to at least one complete episode. In April 2018, Wondery partnered with DAX to monetize its podcast content in the UK.
In July 2018, Wondery hired Jen Sargent, a former president of Uproxx Media Group and co-founder of entertainment site HitFix, as the company’s chief operating officer. Sargent is tasked with extending the podcaster’s audience and revenue streaming, including overseeing the company’s Wondery+director-to-consumer service and developing TV, film projects, and book from its library of podcast programs.
Wondery has also hired Declan Moore, who previously headed up the NatGeo-Walt Disney Company joint venture National Geographic Partners.
Wondery has reached massive crucial and commercial progress for its immersive strategy to sound and storytelling. Wondery is the fastest to become a top 10 publisher on Podtrac, along with the likes of WNYC, NPR, ESPN, HowStuffWorks, and The New York Times. Wondery’s No. 1 podcasts include Dirty John, American History Tellers, Business Wars, and Young Charlie, and these podcasts have been featured and recommended by The New York Times, USA Today, The New Yorker, The Guardian, Entertainment Weekly, NBC’s Today show, Rolling Stone, and many top publications and broadcast channels.
Wondery had four several shows nominated in six categories at the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards, where Dr. Death won for Most Bingeable Podcast, and Dirty John took the prize for Podcast of the Year.
Funding rounds
In April 2016, Wondery raised an undisclosed amount from investors NXTP Labs and Michael Kassan. In March 2018, Wondery raised $5 million in a Series funding round, co-led by Lerer Hippeau, Advancit Capital, and Greycroft’s Alan Patricof. Other new investors in the company include Watertower Ventures, Fox Networks Group, BDMI, Bam Venture and industry experts, including Michael Kassan and Stanley Shuman.
In June 2019, Wondery secured $10 million in a Series B round, led by Palo Alto-based Waverley Capital with existing investors include Greycroft, Watertower Ventures, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, and Advancit Capital. Powerhouse Ventures has also participated in this round. Declan Moore, a former National Geographic Partners Chief Executive, has joined Wondery’s executive team following this round as Head of International Programming. The new investment is meant to kindle the Los Angeles-based podcast studio’s expansion into international markets, further grow its show portfolio, and dive into daily podcast production.
Wondery has raised $18 million to date, according to industry tracker PitchBook Data Inc. Wondery has $1 million in estimated revenue annually. Wondery competes with TuneIn, Midroll Media, LLC, and PodcastOne.