Delaware-incorporated, South African-founded startup Moodswing has announced a global partnership with Sony Music Entertainment (SME), granting access to tracks from Sony’s world-class artist catalog.
The deal allows Moodswing to integrate Sony’s music into its AI-powered communication app that turns voice messages into emotionally expressive, music-enhanced moments.
How it works
Moodswing’s app analyzes users’ voices and identifies emotions such as happy, romantic, dramatic, or funny. It then layers matching instrumentals or clips from licensed tracks over the audio — transforming ordinary conversations into expressive, shareable sound experiences.
“With over 3.5 billion people using messaging apps globally, the next evolution of communication is emotional,” said Jimmy Muteba, Co-founder & CEO of Moodswing.
“Partnering with Sony Music marks a major step forward, giving us access to a world-class artist catalog and reinforcing the scale of what we’re building.”
The founder
Muteba — also known by his artist name CAPSO — is a South African-French entrepreneur with deep roots in music and media. His previous ventures include:
- Creating TRACE Music Star, Africa’s largest music talent search with over 9 million users and celebrity judges like Akon and Keri Hilson.
- Producing The Coolest OG’s, a Netflix-licensed reality format nominated for Competition Show of the Year at the TBI Content Innovation Awards.
Strategic backers
Moodswing also secured a strategic partnership with TRACE, the global Afro-urban media network. TRACE founder Olivier Laouchez said their investment was driven by Muteba’s long-term vision and the app’s potential to empower artists and enhance digital communication:
“When you add music, differentiation, and joy to messaging, it’s a major plus,” Laouchez said. “Supporting Moodswing just makes sense — it brings value to artists and users alike.”
Funding round
The startup is raising a pre-seed round, with early angel investors including:
- Zachariah George, Managing Partner, Launch Africa Ventures
- Raj Kulasingam, Senior Counsel, Dentons; Angel Investor of the Year, 500 Startups
- Audrey Verhaeghe, CEO, Anza Capital
- Nadia Seemuth, Managing Partner, Jambaar Capital
- Rajiv Daya, Head of Investments, NEXT176
- Gérald Croonenberghs, Managing Director, Silikin Village
- Yosuke Yoshida, CEO, Emurgo Kepple Ventures
George called Moodswing “one of the most innovative products I’ve seen at the intersection of music and messaging,” highlighting its clear monetization model through freemium tools, brand partnerships, and licensing.
What’s next
Moodswing was recently selected among the top 12 startups (from over 750 applicants) in the Création Africa 2024 accelerator, supported by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The app is currently live in beta on iOS and Android, as the company prepares for a wider rollout backed by Sony’s global catalog and its growing investor network.
