Our Mission

EchoPath turns every path into a chorus of local voices—so the next person who walks, drives, or rides hears a story, not silence. We believe the world comes alive when communities share their hidden histories, personal anecdotes, and quirky facts right where they happened.

Our Story

In February 2025, UCLA-Anderson MBA Johanna Topalian had a simple insight: why should audio tours be stale, scripted, or produced by a single narrator? She teamed up with Bay-Area engineer Michael Lam—20 years building geofencing and data pipelines—to build a hands-free, community-powered audio app. In just 10 weeks they shipped an MVP, loaded 25-stop and 34-stop flagship routes (San Diego Zoo, UCLA campus), and recruited their first alpha testers through UCLA’s International Business Bruins program. Today, they’re racing toward a full public launch—with EchoPath, every sidewalk, park, and street corner could have a story waiting to be heard.

Our Values

• Community First: We empower everyday storytellers—historians, comedians, tour guides, and neighbors—to share authentic audio wherever they roam.
• Seamless Discovery: GPS-triggered clips mean no tapping, no searching—just pure, hands-free exploration.
• Creator-Centric: We’ve built tools and a revenue share model so that creators get paid fairly (80 % of route sales, plus tips) and can focus on what they do best.