Smule raised $3.9 million two months ago. Dr. Ge Wang, Assistant Professor of Computer Research in Music and Acoustics at Stanford is the co-founder of the company and their first application was a hit. The first app is called Ocarina and now they have released their next application Leaf Trombone World Stage [iTunes link].
The Leaf Trombone is a traditional Chinese leaf instrument. To use the application, players run their fingers across the touchscreen and blow into the iPhone microphone. Leaf Trombone has a music box that also accompanies the music you play. You can also download music for Leaf Trombone. The application tells you if you hit the notes correctly with the music when blowing into the microphone.
Sonic Mule Inc. (Smule) has created several interesting applications for the iPhone including Ocarina, Zephy, Sonic Vox, Sonic Boom, and Sonic Lighter. The Ocarina application did pretty well because Smule held a competition to determine who could create the 10 best videos using their app. Smule announced today that they have raised $3.9 million in funding led by Granite Ventures. Other investors participating include Bessemer Venture Partners, Maples Investments, and Jeff Smith (the founder of the company).
Dr. Ge Wang, Assistant Professor of Computer Research in Music and Acoustics at Stanford is the company’s other co-founder. Wang helped develop ChucK, the audio programming language that is used for some of the apps. ChucK is used to transmit voice and convert it into music over the iPhone.
According to a press release, “Smule will use the new funds to enhance its position as a leading developer of innovative applications and services for mobile users.” This does not seem very specific, but Bessemer is confident enough in Jeff to see a return on their investment. Jeff gave Bessemer a 30x return from an investment in his previous company.
