PonoMusic develops a music download service and a physical Pono Player aimed at delivering ultra high-quality sound. The project combines a digital music storefront and a dedicated hardware player; TechCrunch reviewed a prototype. The company ran a Kickstarter that targeted $800,000 but ultimately raised $6.2M, giving it a significant initial war chest. First production-level players were slated to ship in October, and the team is focused on hiring staff for its San Francisco headquarters. CEO John Hamm said the company is preparing for production and product launch work, and that proper VC funding is likely on the way. Despite critics of some of its claims, the campaign showed strong consumer demand and high-profile endorsements from music industry figures.

Total raised

$6M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Apr 2014