Hook
Category: AI in Media / Gaming / Entertainment
AI-powered social app that lets fans legally remix and mash up songs from their favorite artists and share them on social media. Hook was founded in 2021. The company is led by Gaurav Sharma. Based in New York, NY, USA. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $16M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Khosla Ventures (lead, Series A), Point72 Ventures, Imaginary Ventures, Waverley Capital, Kygo's Palm Tree Crew, The Raine Group, Three Six Zero, Avex, DJ KSHMR.
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- New York, NY, USA
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $16M
Value proposition
Enables fans to co-create legal, artist-approved remixes and mashups of licensed music with integrated video/remix effects, turning passive listeners into active creators while preserving rights management for artists and labels.
Products and solutions
Hook mobile app (iOS) and web app: track remix/mashup creation tools, video layering and remix effects, 'Jams' (community spaces around genres/artists/moods), social sharing and discovery feed of user-generated 'Hooks'.
Unique value
Legal, licensed AI remixing framework that gives artists and rights-holders agency and monetization over fan-made derivative content, unlike unlicensed remix content proliferating on generic social platforms.
Target customer
Music fans and content creators on social platforms (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube); secondarily artists, labels and rights-holders seeking fan engagement and monetization tools.
Industries served
Music technology, social media/creator economy, entertainment
Technology advantage
AI-driven remix/mashup engine paired with direct licensing agreements (20M+ licensed songs) across major distributors and labels, giving legal cover and catalog breadth competitors lack.
How they differentiate
Focus on legal, licensed fan remixing with direct label/distributor partnerships and rights management built-in, versus unlicensed AI remix tools or pure sample-library platforms like Splice.
Main competitors
Splice, BandLab, Klay (AI music licensing/streaming)
Key partnerships
Universal Music Group (MusicForAI initiative — approved ethical AI platform), Downtown Music/FUGA, Too Lost, Primary Wave, Avex, Glassnote Records, catalog access via major indie distributors, artists featured on platform include Jennifer Lopez, The Weeknd, J Balvin, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar
Major milestones
Launched on iOS (2024) after initial seed funding, expanded seed to $3.5M (Mar 2024), signed content deals with Downtown Music (Aug 2023), Glassnote Records (Oct 2023), Too Lost (Feb 2024), raised $10M Series A led by Khosla Ventures (Feb 2026), catalog partnerships now span 20M+ licensed songs via Downtown Music/FUGA, Too Lost, Primary Wave, Avex
Growth metrics
18K+ artists on platform; 1M+ licensed songs; 300M+ views; 100K+ Hooks created; 300+ active community 'Jams'
Market positioning
Positions as the artist-friendly, legally compliant social remix platform bridging fan creativity and rights-holder monetization, backed by top-tier VCs and music industry investors.
Geographic focus
Primarily US market with global licensed catalog reach; competes in the global social/creator music app space.
About Gaurav Sharma
Ex-Chief Operating Officer at JioSaavn (India's largest music streaming platform, 5+ years); Johns Hopkins University education. Secured global streaming licenses with major record labels during JioSaavn tenure.
Latest news about Hook
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Official website: https://www.hookmusic.com/