CHROMATIK: $1 million to Chromatik from pop artist Bruno Mars, Virgin Records co-chairman Jeff Ayeroff, and other music industry angels, reports Pando Daily. The Santa Monica, CA-based company has raised $2 million so far, with previous investors including Learn Capital, Launchpad LA, and Kapor Capital. Chromatik offers an iPad and web-based program that allows users to upload PDFs of sheet music that they can share with others, and record, collaborate, and give feedback to one another. The free tool has been used in over 300 K-12 and higher-ed institutions like UCLA and LA Unified School District. Founder Matt Sandler, a former musician and music teacher, is an ardent supporter of arts program in schools. "Education is often the first way that people get involved and exposed to music," he told us, "and we are advocating and pushing for this important movement to go from STEM to STEAM." (The "A" being the acronym for arts.) He's putting money where his mouth is, offering free iPads directly to music teachers who choose to use Chromatik with more than 100 students.
