Chroma, a startup building a new type of audiovisual entertainment for mobile devices, has been sold.
The company, which had financial backing from Twitter and Medium co-founder Biz Stone as well as Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp, is headed to London-based audio technology company Bronze, an AI music startup.
Founded by record producer Lex Dromgoole, who’s shared his optimism about AI in music, and composer Gwilym Gold, Bronze makes tools that artists use to package music in a “generative, interactive, or personalized experience.” Bronze has tested its engine with Beatport, XL Recordings, A24 Film, musicians Disclosure, Arca, and Jai Paul, as well as Oscar-winning sound designer Nicolas Becker.
Bronze says it worked with Chroma ahead of the acquisition on an app called “Lux Aeterna,” a virtual world that offered an audiovisual experience designed for exploring the music from Venezuelan producer, DJ, singer, and songwriter Arca in a “meditative digital space.” The music reacts to changes in player movement, position, and activity, meaning users could fly through the virtual world, engaging with sounds as part of their journey.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but all Chroma stock will be converted to Bronze stock. Chroma co-founder Andreas Pihlström will join Bronze’s advisory board but the acquisition was focused more on IP than talent.
On that front, Bronze says an API will be created for the engine that was built for the Lux Aeterna so that similar functionality can plug into any game-building platform. The acquisition will also help to scale the visual capabilities of Bronze’s engine, which the company hopes will allow it to gain more traction in interactive entertainment in the future.
“As we shift into an era of generative visual and auditory environments, the acquisition of Chroma will enable Bronze to offer artists, musicians, and anyone with a creative spirit to express themselves with a new generation of dynamically responsive creative tools,” Sharp shared in a statement.
According to PitchBook, Chroma had raised $7.19 million over two seed rounds, completed in May 2022. Investors include 14W, Adjacent, Hidden Ventures, Singular, and SpotiAngels, plus Biz Stone and Pinterest co-founders Evan Sharp and Ben Silbermann. Sharp also invested in Bronze in August 2024.
