Call for applications: BandLab music tech pitch competition

The contest is open to startups valued under $2m with additional emphasis on startups with music creation and fan-facing companies. The final round of the competition will take place at this year’s Music Tectonics Conference, which will be held online on two event platforms from 25 to 27 October, and in-person in Los Angeles on 2 November.

Swimming With Narwhals aims to provide support and forward-thinking insight to the future BandLabs of the world. BandLab founder Meng Kuok has committed up to $50 000 in investment to the winner of the competition.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be startups with a valuation under $2m to participate.
• Companies can be from any part of the music tech ecosystem with a new additional emphasis on music creation and fan-facing companies.
• Applicants must purchase a conference ticket before 6 August to be eligible for the startup competition.

How to apply

• Interested startups can apply via the online application form here.
• The application deadline is 17 August at 2am CAT.

Note:

• Semi-finalists will be announced on 1 October.
• 10 semi-finalists will pitch at an online pre-conference event on 18 October.
• Four finalists will pitch at the online conference on 25 October.
• Jury Choice and Audience Choice winners will be announced on 26 October.

BandLab, a free online cloud digital work station, enables musicians and music fans from all over the world to come together to make, collaborate on and share music. “One of our biggest company values at BandLab is innovation,” Kuok said. “On a personal basis, I’m excited by the possibilities out there beyond what we already do within our wider group.

Switzerland-based Fave’s founder and CEO Jacquelle Amankonah Horton won last year’s edition. Since pitching her startup, which focuses on fans uniting and supporting their favourite artists with passion and creativity, she has participated in the TechStars accelerator programme – completing a first funding round of $2.2m seed funding with investments from music industry players including HYBE, Sony Music, Warner Music Group and Concord Music.

Now in its third year, the Music Tectonics Conference focuses on fresh ideas and themes in the music tech space. The conference brings in some of the top movers and shakers in the music industry including YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, Bose, Sonos, Instagram, and many more.