Alexander Talashov founded GPU AUDIO as an innovative, disruptive technology that utilizes the power of generic video cards to perform sound processing. The startup is currently participating in the MME programme, and told us about who they are, where they are going, and how MME is helping them get there.
Tell us about your deeptech solution. Which media challenge does it tackle, and why is this important?
GPU AUDIO unlocks the Pro Audio user’s graphics card and makes it useful for sound processing, which saves a lot of money, grants incredible levels of performance, mobility, and other unique features.
What is unique about your solution? What sets it apart from the competition?
1. We enable usage of the hardware that almost every PC has but that hadn’t been used in Pro Audio before our tech was created;
2. Our solution is as affordable as $12/M;
3. We use the fastest evolving hardware globally that doubles the power every two years;
4. Modern laptops are production-ready mobile solutions;
5. Our solution is easily upgradable and scalable;
6. We provide a web marketplace with real plugins and their sound effects.
Can you shed some light on GPU AUDIO’s journey so far? What have been its biggest milestones? What challenges are you trying to overcome?
Milestones:
1. Since it’s a real innovation, we just made graphics cards work for Pro Audio purposes (processing sound effects at low latencies and more). We spent years on making this tech come true;
2. Built several products (delay, flanger, chorus, phaser, distortion, equalizer) on top of the GPU AUDIO platform code;
3. Built the Web marketplace as a future aggregation platform for all GPU AUDIO – powered products we plan to create, both as a single company and while partnering with famous Pro Audio brands.
Challenges:
1. To obtain the first partner contract on making the new product in collaboration with a brand. This product shall provide benefits to both end-users, brand company, and GPU AUDIO;
2. To launch Open Beta Call (which is the next February), acquire first external beta-testers and make them work within a testing environment and framework;
3. To make the GPU AUDIO viral. To increase awareness about GPU AUDIO tech, platform and SDK across the industry journals, social media networks and forums, and other crowdsource.
You have been part of MME for a few months now. Can you please elaborate on your progress, and how have you evolved during the programme?
– Rebuilt unit economics and financial forecasts accordingly to the knowledge we got from the MME mentor sessions;
– Reached out to the first potential partner brand, which is a key success factor accordingly to our business strategy;
– Building an SMM and PR strategy and its execution plans.
What is next for GPU AUDIO?
– Finish the first partners deal;
– Make deals with most major industry vendors;
– Get next investment rounds;
– Go to related industries.
What advice would you give to a founder trying to venture into the Media sector?
– Make several customer development sessions on big audiences (100+ potential customers each). During these sessions, do not sell your product, check that the problems you found exist, and get knowledge about the real pains of customer audiences;
– Always raise money. The Media is a high-tech industry, and a media startup always requires money to make another spin;
– Accept money as much as it is needed exactly, in order to achieve the target re-evaluation (don’t be greedy or too risky);
– It’s better to go slowly but forward.
What would you say to a startup considering applying to MediaMotorEurope?
If you’re a truly deeptech startup, if you created an innovative product that nobody did before – the MME is the right place to re-evaluate your tech potential and find the best way to deliver it to the market and/or scale it up through the MME network opportunities.
Find out more about GPU AUDIO on our portfolio.