A Colorado startup took home a South by Southwest Innovation award this week.
Littleton music startup Lune was one of approximately 50 finalists for the 2024 SXSW Innovation Awards and won the interface design category on Monday, March 11. SXSW is an annual event held in Austin, Texas. The nine-day festival highlights film, interactive media, music, innovative companies and more.
This category is one of 11 SXSW Innovation awards, including Best in Show. The Interface Design category recognizes “the best new ideas for human interaction with software and machines,” according to the event’s website. Lune was one of five finalists to participate in the interface design category.
Founded in 2022, Lune developed a “music companion” to help artists create, play and advance their guitar-playing.
CEO and co-founder of Lune Shrey Malhotra told Colorado Inno this SXSW award is confirmation that the startup is on the right track.
“The accolade at SXSW 2024 is not just a win for our product; it’s a validation of the relentless dedication and hard work our team has invested,” Malhotra said in an email. “It signifies progress towards our mission — making playing music accessible and easy for everyone.”
Lune’s product is a smart amplifier with a 12-megapixel camera and a tablet on top that’s pre-installed with Lune software. The software uses AI to provide artists with guidance and information about their actions, give them a generative AI band to play along with and provide AI-powered sound adjustments.
Lune also launched its newest product, the Lune Explorer Edition.
The Lune Explorer unit offers high-performance audio processing designed for a guitar. It also comes with a tablet integrated into the product and pre-installed with Lune’s software. According to the startup’s website, this new model “lays the groundwork for the advanced features that future updates will bring.”
This product can be ordered on Lune’s website for $2,199.
“Winning this award marks the beginning of a mission beyond just building a successful product,” Malhotra said. “We aim to foster a community bound by a shared love for music creation and expression.”
