Smule is an American mobile app developer headquartered in San Francisco.[2] The company specializes in developing social music-making and collaboration applications for iOS, Android, and Web.[1]
Smule, Inc.
- Mobile music apps
- Computer software
FoundedPalo Alto, California, U.S. (2008)[1]FoundersJeff Smith and Ge WangHeadquartersSan Francisco, California, U.S.[1]Area servedWorldwideKey people
- Jeff Smith (CEO and co-founder)
The company was founded in 2008 by Jeff Smith and Stanford assistant professor Ge Wang. "Music was the original social network before Instagram and Facebook," said Smith, the co-founder and CEO of Smule. Wang commented that the goal of the apps was to draw users in and "by the time they realize they're making music, 'it's too late — they're already having fun.'"[3] In December 2011, Smule acquired fellow music app developer Khush.[4] On July 31, 2013, Wang stepped down from his role at Smule to return to Stanford full-time.[5] Smule currently has 52 million monthly active users. It has raised $156.5 million to date, with Tencent leading their latest fundraising round. "We wanted to bring music back to its social roots," Smith said. "With mobile phones we make people more expressive and can we connect them to make them social together." The company raised $74 million in funding in 2018 from Tencent and Times Bridge, the VC wing of India media conglomerate The Times Group.[6].
Apps developedEdit
NameRelease DateGuitar! by SmuleMay 23, 2013Smule
(formerly Sing! Karaoke or Sing!)[7]
August 8, 2012AutoRapJuly 17, 2012Magic Piano by SmuleMay 4, 2011Magic Piano HD[8]April 1, 2010LaDiDaSeptember 26, 2009Magic GuitarDecember 15, 2011CineBeatDecember 13, 2012Ocarina 2June 19, 2012SongifyJuly 7, 2011MadPadSeptember 8, 2011Glee KaraokeApril 15, 2010I Am T-Pain (Auto-Tune)[9]September 2, 2009BeatstreamMarch 21, 2012Leaf Trombone: World StageApril 15, 2009Magic FiddleNovember 10, 2010Ocarina[10]November 6, 2008ZephyrDecember 29, 2008Sonic Vox October 24, 2008Sonic Lighter September 15, 2008Sonic BoomOctober 18, 2008
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c "Innovative iPhone Developer Smule Raises $3.9 Million". TechCrunch. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ^ Dredge, Stuart (8 August 2012). "Smule's new iPhone app would like to teach the world to Sing". London: Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ^ "Music Startup Smule Promises To Get More Social, Starting With Its New Karaoke App Sing". TechCrunch. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ^ Moore, Matthew (4 September 2009). "Auto-Tune iPhone app 'I Am T-Pain' on sale". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ^ Pogue, David (5 February 2009). "So Many iPhone Apps, So Little Time". New York Times. Retrieved 3 April 2013.