Storytelling is a timeless art that transcends cultures, generations, and boundaries to connect us to one another. The power of telling our story lies in its ability to foster understanding, empathy, and a shared sense of humanity. We all have a story, but most of us don’t know where to begin telling it. What should we talk about, and more importantly, how do we put it all together so our message comes across loud and clear? Through an innovative approach to telling our story, John Ehrhard and his team bring us Orson a Story as a Service platform – the new SaaS.

In a world where communication can often feel stilted and authenticity can be hard to come by, Orson steps in as a game-changing platform. It leverages the collective wisdom of seasoned TV directors who have spent decades deciphering the intricacies of authentic human stories. Orson’s innovation lies in its ability to automate the storytelling process. By directing, extracting, and assembling these stories through the lens of experienced directors, Orson produces fully edited, scored, and visually engaging videos. Whether the purpose is personal, professional, or social, Orson makes anyone a master storyteller.

For Orson’s founder and CEO, John Ehrhard, the platform’s inception during COVID-19 was driven by a twofold epiphany. The first realization was that throughout his career in unscripted TV, he was not just in the entertainment business but, fundamentally, in the human connection business.

“What I was paid to do was take a real person and connect millions of strangers with them within minutes by helping them tell their story in a compelling way for whatever the intended audience and purpose was,” he recalls.

The second epiphany struck when he realized the personal stories he had neglected to capture—moments with his kids, the life story of his 96-year-old grandmother, and other meaningful experiences. With more time on his hands during the pandemic, John began documenting these stories, creating powerful videos. The response from others was overwhelming, with people expressing a desire for similar videos for their loved ones facing challenging situations.

Because this process is time-consuming, John set out to find a way of automating what he had done in unscripted TV. He recognized the emotional power of storytelling and the potential to democratize it by putting it in everyone’s pocket. Thus, the idea for Orson emerged—an automated platform that leverages the emotional impact of storytelling to help people connect, share, and preserve meaningful experiences in a more accessible way.

John’s journey from unscripted television to founding Orson spans over 20 years, during which he and his wife operated production companies birthed out of MTV, focusing on unscripted content. They produced shows for numerous networks, covering a wide range of subjects, from celebrities to plumbers to serial killers, capturing various slices of humanity and subcultures.

The valuable experiences during this time shaped Orson’s vision, providing insights into connecting with diverse audiences and breaking through barriers to tell authentic stories. John emphasizes the importance of understanding not only storytelling but also the specific audiences and how to connect human stories in a relatable way.

John’s vision involves a transformation from entertainment to human connection, recognizing that the essence of unscripted TV lies in connecting real people, not characters crafted out of thin air.

“The difficulty and challenge in this transformation, particularly with the integration of AI, lies in extracting authentic stories from individuals who may have walls up. While creating a fictional story with AI is relatively easy, the complexity arises when attempting to authentically extract and craft real stories from people,” says Ehrhard

Joining the leadership team at Orson is Corey Whitt, the Head of Business Management & Strategy, and Eli Weinstock-Herman, the CTO and Technical Co-Founder. Corey brings a wealth of experience to Orson, having spent his career helping companies find their path and grow in various fields, ranging from nanotechnology to banking software. One notable aspect of Corey’s professional journey is his involvement in a significant exit, where he learned a crucial lesson. He explains, “I learned you should never work towards an exit; instead, focus on building a great company that people would want to work at for the long term.”

His insights into creating a successful workplace revolve around the importance of people, fostering a culture without ego, and encouraging collaboration among smart individuals with diverse perspectives. The art of directing people to tell their story within Orson involves creating an environment where users feel comfortable being vulnerable, sharing their stories, and connecting authentically.

Eli brings a wealth of experience in startups and software engineering to the company. His pivotal role in shaping Orson’s vision, technical aspects, and approach to innovation is evident in his strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Eli’s background includes over 20 years in software engineering. He has been involved in various startups, spanning industries such as manufacturing electricity and fintech. Eli has held leadership roles in engineering and product management for multiple startups, showcasing his versatility in technical and managerial domains.

Orson’s journey into storytelling automation represents a groundbreaking and innovative approach driven by a dynamic team, diverse experiences, and a culture of trust. Its diverse team has come together in a unique venture that will transform how stories are told and shared, making storytelling a universally accessible and authentic experience. To learn more about Orson, visit heyorson.com.