Music Tectonics Announces Finalists in its Swimming with Narwhals Startup Competition

19 September 2024 - Press release

Four music tech movers and shakers have been selected as finalists to pitch at the Music Tectonics Conference in Santa Monica, CA, October 22-24, 2024. 

Every year, early-stage startups apply to Music Tectonics’ Swimming With Narwhals Pitch Competition for a chance to present their business breakthroughs to a panel of music tech investors. Now in its sixth year, the conference received a record number of applications from companies using innovative tech solutions to do everything from making rehearsal and studio booking easier, to automating music marketing, to supercharging online collaboration.

These companies join the lively community of music innovators that is Music Tectonics, which unites investors, labels, advisors, distributors, tech-savvy artists, and other music pros. Like the conference community itself, Swimming with Narwhals is high-powered but approachable, inspired by the friendly but mighty unicorn of the sea. Rather than pitting founders against each other and antagonistic judges, the Music Tectonics competition is designed to be welcoming and mutually supportive—focused on spotlighting real-world solutions and creating a rising music tech tide that lifts all boats. 

To select this year’s finalists, judges have focused on key measures like product-market fit and originality, looking for startups solving vital problems in music based on presentations given at the Music Tectonics Virtual Pre-Conference. For the last big splash of the competition, startups will pitch the conference crowd, as well as a fresh panel of judges including investors Andrew Kahn (Crush Ventures) and Rishi Patel (Plus Eight Equity Partners). 

Meet the 2024 Narwhal Finalists

• DAWn Audio: While other DAWs force creators to follow their lead and sacrifice their workflow, DAWn offers live, multiplayer collaboration that meets creators where they are and opens up a new world of online musical co-creation.

• Soloist makes practicing, especially practicing alone, a whole lot more fun and accessible to any instrument or style.

• Soundspace has developed a proprietary method of space sharing that’s focused on audio creators and uses Reusable Credits to take studio booking to the next level.

• un:hurd music is a music marketing tool that empowers artists and record labels to make more effective marketing decisions via tailored recommendations and platform agnostic, data-driven campaigns. 

The four finalists will demo their products at a “Startup Carousel” at the Santa Monica Pier Carousel on October 22 and will present final pitches in person on October 23. Finalists have two opportunities to take home a win, by audience vote and by jury choice. The winners will receive a feature in a press release about the competition, founder interviews on the Music Tectonics Podcast after the event, and a free badge for the 2025 conference. Participating startups will also have an opportunity to hear presentations and network with Joe Tou of Sony Ventures, Amy LaMeyer of The WXR Fund, Bruce Hamilton of Everybody Ventures, Bob Moczydlowsky formerly of Techstars Music, Tracy Maddux of Artes Management, and more. 

“We are always deeply impressed by the pool of startups who apply to Swimming with Narwhals. There is so much energy and passion in music tech right now, in all parts of the tech ecosystem that involve music, and our finalists reflect that,” explains Shayli Ankenbruck, Head of Events at Music Tectonics. “Any of the finalists would make amazing narwhals and we can’t wait to see who swims to the top in Santa Monica this October.”