It's no secret that Helsinki has become a hub for big music tech start-ups and companies. From the exciting bars of downtown to the private karaoke rooms, music is everywhere you go in Helsinki, Finland.
Helsinki combines the two worlds of tech and music. Music is deeply ingrained in society. You'll find countless nightclubs, karaoke joints, and live music spots throughout the city. The tech scene is also always rapidly growing and thriving.
When you combine technology entrepreneurship with someone's love for music, you get a thriving ecosystem filled with the hottest music start-ups in the industry. Here's what you need to know about music tech in Finland:
Why is Helsinki such a hub for music start-ups?
Helsinki, Finland, has always been a hub for music and tech. Some of the biggest tech companies to emerge from Helsinki include Nokia, Supercell, Wolt, and Speechly.
Over the years, the tech and music industry has continued to boom due to the influx of educated students who studied tech and music at The Sibelius Academy, the University of Helsinki, and the Helsinki University of Technology. These universities have brought like-minded individuals together, inspiring future entrepreneurs to explore new challenges.
Finland also provides start-up grants and business funding to music tech companies. This funding helps individuals cover initial expenses, helping them kickstart their brand for future success.
What does the future of the Helsinki music tech scene look like?
Not only is Helsinki, Finland, filled with highly educated and motivated individuals, but there's also a growing music scene filled with swanky bars, nightclubs, and private karaoke rooms. This carefree and lively atmosphere is perfect for music lovers to kick-start their entrepreneurship careers. Soon, we'll see more start-ups and businesses continue to grow from the music and tech culture Helsinki offers.
Six music tech companies and start-ups in Helsinki
There are many great music start-ups to come from Helsinki, Finland. Six of the best Nordic start-ups include:
1. Singa
Singa is a karaoke software for businesses and individuals. The brand was founded in 2015 in Helsinki by co-founders Atte Hujanen and Tomi Pajunen. They set out on a mission to make karaoke and karaoke venues better than ever before.
In 2015, they quickly raised €525,000 through angel investors, and by 2023, they had a new convertible debt bond with €1.64 million anchor investment to fuel growth.
Since the launch of the company, Singa has expanded to over 34 different countries and has seen steady growth among the B2C and B2B audiences. Now, they have a wide range of B2C and B2B software available online.
2. Yousician
Yousician is an e-learning platform that offers affordable online music and singing tutoring classes. Through their platform, individuals can get access to high-quality educational opportunities.
The platform was founded in Helsinki, Finland in 2010. They have over 101-250 employees and are considered a series B start-up. In 2021, the platform raised over $28 million in series B funding, with the aim to make music more accessible for enthusiastic music lovers.
3. Musopia
Musopia is an app designed to make creating music software easier and more efficient. With this music technology, passionate individuals can harness the power of music. The platform currently offers three different apps you can try for free on its website and continues to add to its offering.
Musopia is still in the beginning rounds of funding. However, they have raised over $1.28 million in funding. If you want to join a growing team of music-obsessed individuals, explore their career page for job opportunities.
4. Neural DSP
Neural DSP is a music tech start-up in Finland currently in the series A funding stages. This start-up develops high-quality digital audio plugins that use advanced algorithms.
Neural DSP is a privately held company. The company started its seed round of investments in 2019 when Trind.vc invested. In 2020, big investors such as CapMan Growth and Rubylight also invested in this music tech start-up.
Neural DSP continues to grow and expand its offerings. You can visit their career page to explore professional opportunities.
5. Audiodraft
Audiodraft is an innovative app for music lovers, software engineers, and businesses who want to optimize their audio strategy. Whether you're looking for custom music or a voice-over, Audiodraft will provide expert recommendations for all your audio-centric needs. Their solutions help business professionals and marketers get quality music, jingles, and voice-overs without breaking the bank.
This music tech start-up in Finland was founded in 2014 and received $400K in seed funding in 2013. Since 2013, the brand has built a community with over 20,000 sound designers and music composers.
The brand continues to grow and now has offices in Helsinki, New York, and San Francisco. They've also worked with big-name brands such as Red Bull, Viking Line, and Finnair.
6. Big Ear Games
Big Ear Games has found a way to combine puzzles and music. Through their app, users can play virtual instruments to better understand the beauty and power of music. This music tech start-up in Finland is designed to help teachers get access to a fun and innovative way to teach students about music.
Big Ear Games has gone through two rounds of investing in 2017 and 2018. In 2020, they landed a relatively large partnership with Lang Lang International Music Foundation to give over 24,000 elementary school students access to the app.
Join us at the Music Tech session at Slush
Want to learn more about music tech and start-up success? Join us at music tech at Slush 2024. This event brings together leaders in music, tech, and business. You'll hear from some of the biggest names in tech and music and from innovative speakers like Tom Höglund, Nils Paajanen, and Jacquelle Horton. After the event, you can join us at Singa Karaoke Chaos for the ultimate karaoke party.
Click here to learn more about our music tech session at Slush 2024.
