Former Spotify innovation chief raises $5.5m for hands-on music apps
A New York startup making pocket-sized music apps has raised USD $5.5 million in pre-seed funding, the earliest stage of outside investment.
A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya closed the round after its launch in 2024, according to Music Business Worldwide. The company was founded by Mauhan M. Zonoozy. It is headquartered in New York.
The backers include Mantis VC. They also include Dawn Ostroff, Spotify’s former Chief Content & Advertising Business Officer, who has joined the startup as an adviser.
The company releases small apps that let users play around with sounds and vocals. The apps do not use AI prompting, which means users shape music by tapping and playing rather than by typing instructions, according to TechCrunch.
Its products include Stacks, a stem player organised around a three-by-three grid. A stem player splits a track into separate parts, such as vocals, bass and drums, so listeners can mix them live.
The startup launched another music-making app called Bop in April, as reported by Musically. That app continued its focus on short, hands-on tools for casual creators.
Zonoozy joined Spotify in 2021 as its first Head of Innovation. He reported directly to Ostroff and left Spotify in 2024.
Ostroff left Spotify earlier. Spotify announced her departure in January 2023 alongside a decision to cut more than 500 jobs.
TechCrunch first reported the funding round on 14 September. Music Business Worldwide then detailed the raise and the company’s background on 15 September.
