THE ROAD TO iTO
Nikolai and Gisle founded iTO in 2020 to build a next-generation music platform that removes creative barriers and unlocks new user experiences. We're aming to create a new standard for interactive music creation.
Since then, we’ve developed and patented a unique audio and video engine and app architecture (US Patent), now approved for launch on Apple App Store and Google Play.
We’ve developed iTO alongside world-class artists like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Quincy Jones and his QWEST TV, Marcus Miller, Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Richard Bona. They are all partners and shareholders in the iTO company.
Both product and technology have been tested at several prestigious universities in the USA during the four years we have spent on development.
"iTO is THE ideal music education tool that I wish I had all these years teaching music!"
Pofessor Gena Greher
Chair of Dept. of Music,
University of Massachusetts,
USA
THE HISTORY OF iTO
A Journey of Music, Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation.
Gisle presenting the precursor to iTO in Mexico City, together with the former Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg.
"The journey toward iTO has been long, but incredibly inspiring. It all began in the late 1990s. With a background as both a musician and music teacher, I co-founded my first company in 1995—a music festival in Bergen that grew into Norway’s largest concert promotor company. Twenty-five years later, it was acquired by Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company.
Based on my passion for science - and five years of science studies at the University of Bergen - I went on to establish several music technology companies. Our first tech company was the first international company to be allowed to export music technology to China, and the Japanese company Roland distributed our product globally.
After this we developed and sold music programs to US Army Bands, collaborated with major international music festivals, worked alongside renowned artists, and partnered with trailblazers in technological innovation.
From 2010 to 2014, I collaborated with Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg—the inventor of the MP3 format—and the German Fraunhofer Institute. Together, we attempted to deconstruct multimedia files into individual elements that could be manipulated separately. Although we didn’t succeed at the time, the vision stayed with me.
In 2020, I learned that someone had finally cracked this code. While impressed, I immediately saw the opportunity for something even greater:
-a tool that not only processed each element of a multimedia file but also allowed users to add new elements to an already existing file, such as multitrack audio and video. What if all this could be done on a mobile phone, with seamless audio- and video communication embedded directly within the same file?
And that’s how the idea of iTO was born.
It took four years to develop and build, but today, the technology, product, and patent are ready.
iTO is more than just a platform; it’s the fulfillment of a vision to transform how we consume, create, share, collaborate, and connect through multimedia."
- Gisle Johnsen -
MEET THE TEAM
Led by innovators with deep experience in the music business, music tech, multimedia production, and app development. We’re not just building an app—we’re creating a new music ecosystem for a generation raised on interactivity and instant creativity.
Astrid Angvik
CEO
Astrid has held multiple leadership and board positions in the international music business and in consumer electronics across global and also regional contexts.
Her key expertise encompasses corporate strategy, new business development, and strategic marketing with roles ranges from start-ups to large scale corporate projects.
Most recently, she spent 12 years at Naxos Music Group, the premier independent classical music group, where she served as Deputy Chairman and COO. She is also an accomplished classical singer. We are delighted that Astrid joins us as CEO from April 1st.
Sindre Sorensen
CTO
Through his consultancy company, Sørensen EDB, Sindre has delivered systems and software services to a variety of clients and startups for over a decade.
Sindre has brought his expertise in programming languages, hardware, and open source systems to deliver top-level information technology services to public education institutions, the Norwegian state, publicly funded art institutions, independent artists, and more.
His last major project outside of iTO was the large live recording project for the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, where one of Norway's biggest artists recorded his new album in a glass cage inside the museum. Using Sindre's technology, the audience at the museum could follow and comment directly to the artist in real time.
Gisle Johnsen
Founder and president
A veteran of both the music and tech industries, Gisle has been a trailblazer for decades, innovating new technologies and businesses with successful exits.
Gisle co-founded Bergen Live, the biggest Norwegian concert promoter, launching it with a Rolling Stones concert in Norway, creating sold-out shows with Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Rihanna and others, and exiting with a Live Nation buyout in 2020.
From 1995-2019 he was Head of the Board for Bergenfest, one of the biggest music festivals in Norway. In addition to his businesses with live music, Gisle invented several music software programs since the 90’s.
Gisle co-founded MusIT in 2000, introducing Musicator to the global market, -the first CD-rom music program to be exported to the Chinese education system.
Gisle founded Grieg Music Education in 2005, developing Music Delta, an interactive learning platform and celebrated on “The World Finance 100 List” in 2013, presenting the 100 new global Business elite of the year.
In 2015 he founded oiid, the first stem-based music player for phones / tablets, and together with Nikolai Johnsen he founded iTO in 2020.
Gisle has authore several music books, musicals and multiple record albums.
Nikolai Johnsen
CO-Fonder & Head of Product
Nikolai has over a decade of experience working in various international digital music educational initiatives.
He helped to develop the trailblazing software, Music Delta, one of the first cloud-based music education platforms, and he participated in the development of the first digital initiative for Bergenfest UNG which provided 10,000 local children and middle school students yearly with an immersive and educational concert experience.
Nikolai was a coordinator for Esperanza Spalding’s live-streamed ‘Exposure’ project, which won the Jazz FM Award for “Best Digital Initiative Of The Year” in 2018. Nikolai is also a musician, producer, and songwriter.
Sven Persson
Music Director
Sven has always worked with sound and music. In 1980, together with his colleague, he started the company Cruising Audio Concept, the first company in Norway to supply sound, lights, and stages for live concerts. The company grew and soon became one of the largest in Northern Europe.
At the same time, Sven traveled the world as the sound producer for major artists. He has, among other things, produced all the AHA concerts since they started in the mid-80s and has worked with several major international artists, in addition to most major Norwegian artists.
Sven sold his company 10 years ago. Now he is a shareholder in iTO and is responsible for the company's music productions, especially within our exciting promo and marketing projects.
Martin Guigui
Director of the Board
Martin is an American and President of the company Sunset Pictures in Los Angeles.
Martin is an award-winning filmmaker, music director, composer, and Grammy-nominated music producer. Martin has directed feature films, and music videos, composed music for films and television, worked on over 100 productions, produced over 50 music albums, toured extensively, and is the music director for several high-profile broadcast concerts in the US.
Martin won two Cannes Film Awards earlier this year; Best Film and Best Producer.
Martin has worked with "Stars and Icons of the Entertainment industry" and has shared the stage, recorded, and performed with artists such as Billy Gibbons, Daryl Hall, Christina Aguilera, Stephen Stills, Sammy Hagar, Slash, Lady Gaga, Peter Frampton, Jose Feliciano, Smokey Robinson, Sam Moore, David Byrne and many others.
Last year he produced both the Henry Mancini 100th Anniversary Tribute Album and the US TV show presenting this album live from the Hollywood Bowl. Featuring Michael Bublé, Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, Pat Metheny, Quincy Jones, John Williams, Herbie Hancock, Arturo Sandoval, Sir James Galway, Mónica Mancini, Snark Puppy, Take 6, Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Stein Erik Bjørnsen
Director of the Board
Jetshop: Director of Board (May 2021 - )
Bergans: Chair of Board (2017-2021)
Vulkan Travel Group: CEO (2012-2018)
Europris: CEO (2009-2012)
Smart Club: CEO (1999-2007)
G-Sport: Director of Retail (1997-1999)
Telenor Telehuset AS: CEO (1995-1997)
Elkjøp, Norway: CEO (1994-1995)
Ikea: Warehouse Manager ( 1989-1994)