ABOUT US
Welcome to Staccato. Made by Musicians, For Musicians
FOUNDING STORY
The idea for Staccato began in 2019 when I was tasked with writing a 25-minute string quartet during my PhD, and I hit a creative wall.
I couldn’t afford to hire collaborators, but honestly, I still wanted to be the one shaping the music anyway. What I needed was a creative partner who worked in my style, didn’t judge me, and helped me explore musical directions without getting in the way.
So, I built one.
That’s how Staccato started: not as a business, but as a solution to a real creative block. I wanted an AI that listens to what I’m creating and offers musical ideas that feel human: something that supports the creative process, not something that takes over.
I know what it’s like to chase inspiration under pressure. Staccato is for music producers and composers who want to stay in a flow state, pushing their creative potential forward while still feeling connected to their work.
If you’re looking for something that understands you creatively and practically, then I know Staccato will feel just right for you.
Looking forward to hearing what you create,
JEFF LUPKER
Co-founder & CEO
Meet the team
Jeff Lupker
Co-founder & CEO
Jeff is a music producer, researcher, and creative technologist who started using AI to write music before it was cool. While completing his PhD in music and artificial intelligence, he taught large language models how to co-write string quartets. He also plays guitar in the band for America's Got Talent finalist Stacey Kay. Jeff's background as a professional musician shapes everything we build. He knows what it means to be stuck in a creative rut, and he's spent years designing tools that help producers break through it.
Jeff's the reason our AI sounds musical, not mechanical.
Jason Kowalczyk
Co-founder & CFO/COO
Jason's background is in forensic accounting, where he used to fly around the world investigating financial crimes. Now he puts those skills to work building the business side of Staccato. He finds funding, forms partnerships, and keeps our operations moving forward. He also goes to over 50 concerts a year and never misses a Pearl Jam, Roosevelt, or LCD Soundsystem show.
Jason helps drive the company forward from behind the scenes, focusing on strategy and growth.
Eric Hynes
Community Manager
Eric is a recent McMaster University graduate and valedictorian who studied Anthropology and researched how tech and data impact public health. He's also been producing chiptune, lo-fi and EDM-style music for the past eight years. His knowledge of sound design, science and niche online cultures gives him a unique perspective on the producers we serve. Outside of work, you'll find him collecting minerals, cooking with friends or composing video game music.
Eric helps us stay curious and deeply connected to the producer community.
Johann Caancan
Full-Stack Developer
Johann is a third-year Computer Science student at McMaster University with experience in full-stack development and artificial intelligence. He's been playing acoustic guitar since he was 13 and spent his high school years performing in a rock band, building a strong foundation in musicianship and collaboration.
At McMaster, Johann has been involved in the Engineering Musical for all three years of his undergrad, combining his technical background with a passion for live performance and creative production. His interest in AI and music drives him to explore how intelligent tools can better support artists and producers in their workflows. As a Full-Stack Developer at Staccato, Johann brings a fresh perspective and a builder's mindset, helping bridge the gap between technical systems and real creative needs.
Johann helps turn ideas into practical tools that empower music creators.
Ian Yeh
Full-Stack Developer
Ian is both a developer and a multi-instrumentalist. He's been playing piano since age 4 and is now an avid fingerstyle guitar player. Outside of music, in his spare time you'll find him on a hike, on the volleyball or basketball court, at the movies, or cubing (he was once the #2 ranked Square-1 speedcuber in Canada).
As a software engineering student at McMaster, he's built several tools to serve the communities he's passionate about and part of, including a tool to help artists discover new shows and tools for the speedcubing community. He's also a firm believer in a "human-first" approach to AI and understands the intersection of creativity and engineering better than most.
Ian brings that same speed and creativity to Staccato, building tools made for people who create fast and think on their feet.
Vijay Nandlal
AI/ML Engineer
Vijay studied Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Toronto, always gravitating toward the more theoretical side of both. He's now completing a Master of Engineering in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at McMaster University, and it was through a course placement in that program that he first got involved with Staccato, before getting hooked and moving into a full-time development role. Outside of work, you'll usually find Vijay either watching WWE or fixing and building things himself, from cars to stoves to the home gym in his basement. What draws him to AI and music is more of a puzzle: how do you get a system built from deterministic math to do something as human as being creative?
Vijay's the one turning theory into things that actually run fast in production.
Oliver & Phineas
Co-Chief Cat Officers
Oliver and Phineas put the cat in Stac-cat-o. They split the role (sleeping 16 hours a day doesn't leave a lot of time for work) and always put their best paws forward. Their responsibilities include supervising the support inbox from the couch, testing every open laptop for warmth, and the occasional purr-cussion solo when someone's trying to focus.
They keep morale high and productivity questionable.
Scottie
Chief Dog Officer (In Loving Memory)
Scottie was one of our original team members. Her hobbies included stretching out in the snow, requiring midday pets and providing office "protection". She left us too soon, but her spirit still greets us at the door.
We miss her every day.
Our Core Values
We listened to hundreds of producers and composers in one-on-one conversations to develop our EARS framework, which guides every decision we make around AI
Ethical Training: Unlike many other AI music platforms, we train our models responsibly using only data that respects artists and their copyrights.
Artistic References: Producers often rely on reference tracks to shape their sound. Staccato mirrors this creative process by learning underlying principles of artists' styles without directly copying. This allows it to collaborate like a real co-writer, adapting to your vision while staying original.
Responsible Guardrails: The system includes built-in safeguards to prevent the direct replication of copyrighted works. We support creative freedom while protecting the rights of all artists
Sustainable by Design: We avoid the energy-intensive demands of audio-based AI by using MIDI, enabling powerful creativity with a fraction of the compute. This approach drastically reduces environmental impact while keeping Staccato fast and accessible
Community Involvement
The Staccato team planting trees to give back and keep our footprint light