{
  "id": 145677,
  "title": "Meet Wrinkles, an app that uncovers the hidden stories of the places around you",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/meet-wrinkles-an-app-that-uncovers-the-hidden-stories-of-the-places",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-04T19:34:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/04/meet-wrinkles-an-ai-app-that-uncovers-the-hidden-stories-of-the-places-around-you/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Wrinkles, an innovative app that uncovers hidden stories about locations, has been developed by two friends, David Stemler and Ryan Hansan. This AI-powered audio tour guide, available on iOS and Android, aims to enhance the exploration experience by revealing local history and lore without requiring users to stare at their phones. Stemler, an advertising executive, and Hansan, a former founder of a meal delivery service and shared commercial kitchen, initially conceived the idea while discussing travel and how experiences could be improved. Their curiosity led to the birth of Wrinkles, which has amassed a global foundation of 1.3 million points of interest across 177 countries. Users can engage with the app by discovering stories as they move through the world or by browsing the map remotely. The app allows users to ask questions and interact with the places they explore, making the experience feel like a traditional tour. Additionally, Wrinkles fosters a social aspect by enabling users to follow friends, family, creators, and organizations, saving and sharing stories, and organizing them into custom maps. Users can personalize their experience by attaching memories, photos, videos, and recordings to specific locations. Hansan and Stemler see Wrinkles as more than just a travel app; it is designed for anyone seeking to learn more about their surroundings, whether it's the buildings they pass daily or a place they visit frequently. The app can help spontaneous travelers discover new stories or assist those wanting to rediscover their hometown. Currently, Wrinkles operates on a free model, with revenue primarily generated from partners such as museums, tourism boards, universities, hotels, creators, and media partners who utilize the app to create location-based experiences. The founders envision Wrinkles becoming an integral part of how people navigate their surroundings, whether it's learning about a college campus, exploring a new city, or understanding the history behind a familiar location.",
  "summary": "Wrinkles, available on both iOS and Android, essentially acts as an AI-powered audio tour guide that reveals hidden history and local stories.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}