Bleeped (Logan, UT), a Utah State University startup, uses AI to censor explicit content in digital media, providing customizable content filtering for families. The company plans to expand beyond audiobooks.
Logan, Utah - March 26, 2025
Bleeped, a company based at Utah State University, is on a mission to make digital media more accessible to younger audiences. Using a custom AI model, Bleeped can automatically censor specific words or phrases from audio files, allowing users to customize their listening experience through the Bleeped app.
The Utah State University startup won the People’s Choice Online Vote Award (a $1,000 prize) at the 2025 Tim Draper Utah Entrepreneur Challenge.
The Inspiration Behind Bleeped
Founder and CEO Benjamin Barnes developed the idea for Bleeped after returning from an LDS mission. He recalls a pivotal moment that sparked the concept:
“My two sisters were watching a YouTube video, and while the content itself was fine, the people in the video suddenly started swearing a lot. I wondered if there was a tool that could filter this out—but I couldn’t find anything like it.”
With a background in programming from high school and college, Barnes decided to take matters into his own hands.
“Since I had some experience coding, I thought, ‘I can start developing this.’”
Building Momentum Through Competitions and Funding
Bleeped has already secured funding and recognition through various entrepreneurial competitions.
“Last year, we competed in the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge and won the People’s Choice Award, which provided initial funding,” Barnes shared. “We also took first place in the Utah State Shark Tank event, which helped us financially. Beyond that, we’ve received support from myself and a few investors.”
The company is now exploring venture capital opportunities.
“We’re in talks with different venture capital firms and are preparing to start a fundraising round soon.”
How Bleeped Works
Bleeped leverages its own custom AI model alongside third-party models to ensure high accuracy.
“We’ve developed a proprietary AI system but also use external models to double-check results,” Barnes explained. “The great part is that once we process an audio file, we never have to analyze it again, keeping costs low.”
The platform allows users to personalize their content moderation settings.
“Users can select what they want filtered. If an audio file has already been processed, others can listen to the censored version without additional processing.”
User Experience and Customization
Designed with families in mind, Bleeped offers a fully customizable experience through its mobile app.
“We don’t dictate what users should or shouldn’t listen to—we just provide the tools,” Barnes said. “Parents, for example, can create profiles for their kids with different settings. An eight-year-old might have all swearing removed, while a teenager could have more flexibility.”
Expanding to More Digital Media
Currently, Bleeped supports audiobook filtering through AudiobooksNow, but the company has ambitious plans to expand.
“We want to integrate with platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, and TikTok so users can browse content without encountering swearing, violence, or explicit material.”
Bleeped is also in discussions with major audiobook providers.
“We’re in talks with Audible, Libby, and Audiobooks.com. Once our mobile app launches this summer, we’ll announce new partnerships.”
Subscription Model and Business Strategy
Bleeped operates on a subscription-based model similar to Audible.
“Users pay a monthly fee, which includes credits to access audiobooks,” Barnes explained. “Our pre-sale pricing is $10 per month, which includes one audiobook credit, 10% off an annual plan, and early app access.”
In addition to direct sales, Bleeped is exploring a business-to-business (B2B) referral model.
“If a user selects an audiobook through Bleeped, we can redirect them to platforms like Audible or AudiobooksNow, earning a commission from those referrals.”
From Classroom Concept to Growing Startup
Bleeped was born out of Utah State University’s entrepreneurship courses.
“I’m pursuing an entrepreneurship minor at Utah State, and through those classes, I met our CTO, Josh Bosley, who previously founded Rain Room Creative, a web development company. I also connected with our CMO, Akira Muramoto.”
The team has since expanded to include full-stack developers and graphic designers working on the mobile app.
As Barnes puts it, the company’s goal is simple:
“We’re excited to revolutionize digital media and give families and individuals the ability to consume content on their own terms.”
Learn more about Bleeped here.