Turntable Labs, the company behind the new social music platform Hangout, today announced they have secured an extended seed round of $8.2 million ahead of Hangout’s public launch. Hangout, which allows music fans to gather and DJ together in a playful virtual setting, plans to go live later this year.
The round was led by Founders Fund, Elizabeth Street Ventures, 468 Capital, and f7 Ventures. In addition to enabling Hangout’s official public launch slated for later this year, the funds will enable the company to further expand its engineering infrastructure team.
Created by Joseph Perla, founder of Turntable.fm, Hangout is the manifestation of the original concept that he envisioned for the social listening platform over a decade ago.
“We’ve created Hangout with a positive-sum approach in mind,” said Perla, in the funding announcement. “People need joyful, meaningful social experiences online: music can facilitate that. And music needs more and more compelling ways to reach people and bring them together. Hangout accomplishes both, as one of the first truly participatory places online for music enjoyment and real-time social interaction.”
Hangout’s gamified features aim to address the missing layer of excitement and connection most virtual social experiences lack, Perla said. For example, virtual DJ booths allow users to spin their selected tracks exclusively for themselves and their friends in themed rooms based on their tastes and interests. Custom avatars can bop on the dance floor, upvoting their favorite tunes, while chat options encourage connections.
Hangout will incorporate new features for launch including voice chat and mobile apps for iOS and Android, improving on social listening.
“In an era where digital connections are increasingly central to our lives, Hangout is at the forefront of revolutionizing how we experience music online. By combining music with social interaction, it offers a new way to build shared experiences and strengthen community bonds online,” said Florian Leibert of 468 Capital.
In advance of the launch later this year, fans can sign up for Hangout’s waitlist.
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