Imagine someone who wants to record a song but doesn’t have studio access. Then there are people with home equipment, but it’s not getting much use.
That’s where Dante Richardson and Deleon Alford see a gap in the media and entertainment industry.
They plan on filling that gap with Stooty Technologies Inc., an Airbnb-type platform that connects creators and studios.
“It’s convenient, the ability to create right there in your hand,” said Richardson.
“We decided to create a model where you could take your home studio, build it and rent it out to creators who actually need space,” Alford added.
The startup began this past spring Launch NY’s Founders Go Big Program, which aims to boost engagement of underrepresented, disadvantaged founders in creating their businesses.
The co-founders will complete the program next month and plan to launch their platform late this year or early next year. The business, founded in 2021, previously had a Beta platform built out.
Stooty Technologies, a team of two, has raised $20,000 from angel investors and is looking to raise a $3 million seed round next.
Both founders spent parts of their childhoods living on the East Side of Buffalo.
“We want to basically inspire the kids that come from the same background as us to get into tech,” Richardson said. “We feel like if we made it, these kids can make it, too, if they focus in school and try to build something for the community.”
They’re going to start out focusing on music artists and studios and plan to add on photography, podcast and videography creators and spaces.
Stooty Technologies is partnering with SmartLabel, a platform to distribute music, create non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and music contracts, allowing its users to take advantage of SmartLabel’s offerings, according to Richardson.
“Now are users can run all full-service record label using Stooty for production and distribution,” he said via email. “That’s a big deal.”
Richardson, whose professional experience is in technology, and Alford, whose background is in artist management, previously started a talent management and promotions company in 2010. The business closed in 2019 for personal reasons, as Alford and his wife, Amanda, started Alford’s Angels, a one-on-one dog-grooming business.
Richardson worked for a blockchain development company until Stooty Technologies got into the Launch NY program and he focused on the startup full time. He’s based in New York City, and Alford is in Buffalo.
“Our initial goal is to bring more tech jobs and creative industries to the Buffalo Niagara region,” Alford said. “It will also create a bunch of new businesses because those with creative skills can open digital studios on Stooty.”
