Music Tech Startup Showcase

Neil Sheehan

Specializing in independent music, Neil has a proven track record of entrepreneurship and innovation. He founded and successfully sold two companies: HM, a band management and concert promotion firm, and Standby Records, a renowned record label.

A sought-after speaker, he has shared his expertise at major events including SXSW, MusicBiz, and A2IM.

Neil is now President of Vocana, a social music streaming platform built for indie artists and their fans. Vocana’s user-centric payout model, social engagement features, merch integration, and robust listener analytics empower artists and bring them closer to their audience.

Thomas Athey

Thomas Athey is the co-founder of Mesa, a software platform that helps music creators and their teams create contracts quickly and affordably. He graduated from Davidson College in May 2024 and has been building Mesa full-time since then. While at Davidson, Thomas was involved in ventures across both technology and music, and his passion for these fields ultimately led him to co-found Mesa.

Joel Puthoff

Joel is a 3-time founder, author, and innovator with an obsession for unlocking human potential. From building Linxy Live, a platform designed to spark meaningful in-person connection, to launching The Human Jelly, his latest exploration of the body’s hidden light system, Joel’s work is about one thing: helping people flourish. His mission is to bridge the divides of our time by awakening minds and reminding us of our greatest power – CONNECTION.

Campbell Bloomfield

Campbell Bloomfield is a former McKinsey consultant and startup co-founder with expertise in data-driven strategy and scaling new solutions. With a passion for live music, he leads the vision to bring confident decision making to independent venues through AI and machine learning.

Jason Wall

Jason Wall is a North Carolina native and 25 year veteran of the music industry. His first gig was at Ziggy’s, where he ran merch so no one would ask his age. He later opened a recording studio before launching a software company that built properties for artists like Kelly Clarkson, T-Pain, and Pitbull. After a successful exit, he returned to the live side and has promoted 1,000+ events. Jason is now the Founder/CEO at TourCntrl, a free-to-use live event management software for artists, agencies, and venues. He is married with six kids and now calls Jacksonville, FL home.

Chantelle Armstead

Chantelle Armstead is a music industry professional and founder of OYA Entertainment, dedicated to building up artists and creatives in marginalized communities. With experience in A&R, artist management, and marketing, she is passionate about R&B and Hip Hop and committed to creating inclusive spaces for women and underrepresented voices. Growing up in a rural community with limited music education shaped her drive to make music more accessible. Chantelle also serves as Marketing Coordinator for African American Women in Ministry, works as a Sales Advisor at Verizon, and advocates for Type 1 Diabetes awareness and youth empowerment. 

Callan B.

Callon B. is a co-founder of WholeNote, a platform simplifying rights registration and royalty collection for independent musicians. A working artist himself, Callon has lived the frustration of navigating endless registrations, splits, and paperwork — experiences that inspired him to help design a solution built by artists, for artists. Drawing on his journey as a songwriter and performer, he brings the authentic perspective of the creator to WholeNote’s founding team, which blends lived artistry with deep technical expertise to remove barriers and unlock opportunities for musicians everywhere.

Nikki Sanz

Nikki Sanz is the founder and CEO of Giggs, the professional career platform revolutionizing hiring in the live event industry. Recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 North America 2024, Nikki created Giggs to address the inefficiencies she experienced firsthand as a gigging professional working with Live Nation, CMA Fest, and on tour with artists like Eric Church and George Strait.

Since its launch less than a year ago, Giggs has grown to over 30,000 professionals and 1,500 companies, filling over 1000 jobs across the live events space. Under Nikki’s leadership, the company has raised $1.4M from 35 investors, secured a deal with Marc Randolph (Netflix co-founder) on Entrepreneur’s Elevator Pitch TV Show, and is already expanding into other entertainment sectors like sports, TV/film, corporate events, and theater.

Through Giggs, Nikki is committed to professionalizing and streamlining the gigging world while fostering a diverse and inclusive community for live event professionals worldwide.