Chroma, a startup that is developing a novel form of audiovisual entertainment for mobile devices, has been acquired by Bronze
The company, which received financial support from Biz Stone, the co-founder of Medium and Twitter, and Evan Sharp, the co-founder of Pinterest, is being transferred to Bronze, an AI music startup based in London, which specializes in audio technology.
Bronze is a company that record producer Lex Dromgoole and composer Gwilym Gold established. Dromgoole has expressed his optimism regarding the potential of AI in the music industry, while Gold is a composer. Bronze provides artists with the necessary tools to bundle music in a “generative, interactive, or personalized experience.”
Bronze has conducted engine testing with Beatport, XL Recordings, A24 Film, musicians Disclosure, Arca, and Jai Paul, as well as Oscar-winning sound designer Nicolas Becker.
Before the acquisition, Bronze collaborated with Chroma on an application called “Lux Aeterna,” a virtual world that provided an audiovisual experience for the exploration of the music of Venezuelan producer, DJ, vocalist, and songwriter Arca in a “meditative digital space.”
Users are able to navigate the virtual world by engaging with sounds as part of their voyage, as the music responds to changes in player movement, position, and activity.
The terms of the agreement were not disclosed; however, all Chroma stock will be converted to Bronze stock. Andreas Pihlström, the co-founder of Chroma, will be appointed to Bronze’s advisory board; however, the acquisition was primarily driven by intellectual property rather than talent.
Bronze has announced that an API will be developed for the engine that was developed for the Lux Aeterna. This API will enable the integration of similar functionality into any game-building platform.
The acquisition will also assist in the expansion of Bronze’s engine’s visual capabilities, which the company anticipates will enable it to acquire a greater foothold in the interactive entertainment sector in the future.
According to a statement from Sharp, the acquisition of Chroma will allow Bronze to provide a new generation of dynamically responsive creative tools that will enable artists, musicians, and anyone with a creative spirit to express themselves as we transition into an era of generative visual and auditory environments.
Chroma had raised $7.19 million in two seed rounds, which were finalized in May 2022, according to PitchBook. Evan Sharp and Ben Silbermann, co-founders of Pinterest and Biz Stone, are among the investors, in addition to 14W, Adjacent, Hidden Ventures, Singular, and SpotiAngels. In August 2024, Sharp also made an investment in Bronze.