Shibuya-Based Music Startup Raises Funds Without AI Prompts
Founded by a former Spotify innovation lead, the company has secured funding to develop interactive audio tools that do not rely on AI prompts.
A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya, a startup founded by former Spotify head of innovation Máuhan M Zonoozy and named after an independent band, has secured $5.5 million in a pre-seed funding round aimed at developing music applications without resorting to artificial intelligence prompts.
Pre-seed Funding Round
The startup A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya raised $5.5 million in its pre-seed round, with participation from notable funds such as Mantis VC, SV Angel, Boxgroup, Quiet Capital, ERA, Common Metal, Gold House, Liquid 2 Ventures, Breakers VC, and Systemic Ventures.
Additionally, former Spotify Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer Dawn Ostroff joined the project as an advisor and supported the company's funding process.
Foundation and Goals
Startup founder Máuhan M Zonoozy previously served as head of innovation at Spotify and founded Bubbl, a video startup acquired by Cricket Media.
Having left Spotify in 2024, Zonoozy brought his project to life by stating that music streaming services have solved the issue of music access, but consumer engagement remains limited.
Music Experiences and Applications
The startup releases its projects like individual singles that are part of an album, allowing users to interact with audio elements to produce music.
Various applications and browser extensions such as Speed Surfer, Usersound, Stacks, Drops, Sampler, and bop provide users with the opportunity to experiment with different sounds and tempos.
Artificial Intelligence Approach
Although Zonoozy is open to utilizing artificial intelligence during infrastructure and product development stages, he stated that they made a conscious choice not to include AI prompts in the core functionality of the applications.