Reactional Music raises €1.85m to make gaming ‘better’ through music

Stockholm-based audio tech startup Reactional Music has raised $2.05 million (€1.85 million) in a pre-Series A funding round to make gaming “better” with personalised music.

The company said that music has a largely untapped gaming industry potential. Although the gaming market is expected to be worth over $200 billion in 2023, industry players have estimated that in-game music revenues only account for 0.001 percent of that amount.

Founded in 2012, Reactional aims to change how game developers, artists, game players and rights holders use, create, enjoy and share music. Thanks to its patented technology, Reactional Music Engine, players can now bring any music into a game for other in-game elements, such as visuals and sound effects, to generate live reactions to that music.

The Swedish startup claims its technology opens new opportunities for music personalisation and in-game purchases for gamers. It also helps game developers to create and prototype music more efficiently, allowing a wider range of music options in their games.

“Taking music gaming to the next level”

Music tech company Amanotes and venture capital firm Butterfly Ventures led the fundraising, with participation from several angel investors, including Take 2 Interactive CEO Kelly Sumner.

Amanotes CEO and co-founder Bill Vo said the strategic investment in Reactional would take his firm’s music gaming apps to the “next level.” Meanwhile, Butterfly partner Tanya Horowitz said Reactional could revolutionize the music and gaming industries.

Reactional managing director Pär Gunnars Risberg described the recent funding as a “key moment” in the startup’s progress. He said Reactional was “fortunate” to work with Amanotes and Butterfly.

“Each of these organisations brings incredible value to Reactional as we drive the commercial and creative partnership between games, music and creators,” Risberg said.

Reactional will use the fund to hire new team members, scale its music licensing operations and deliver the beta platform and software development kit for developers.