Yamaha unveils $50M fund to back music and media innovators
Yamaha just launched a fund to back the next wave of music and media startups, find out how they’re shaping the future of sound and creativity.
Yamaha Corporation, has announced the launch of a $50 million venture capital fund to support early-stage startups in the music and media space. The fund, titled Yamaha Music Innovations Fund I, LP (YMIF), is a step that cements Yamaha’s growing role as not just a manufacturer and technology developer, but also as an investor in the future of creative industries.
The move reflects Yamaha’s mission to promote well-being and enrich lives through sound and music, while adapting to a rapidly evolving technological landscape where creators, platforms, and audiences are increasingly interconnected.
Yamaha’s new fund will prioritize investment in startups operating at the convergence of music, media, and emerging technologies. Specifically, YMIF will focus on four core areas:
- Creative tools and infrastructure:
Startups that develop next-generation hardware, software, or AI-driven tools aimed at empowering creators and streamlining music production. This includes innovations in virtual instruments, AI composition, and real-time collaboration platforms. - Innovative and interactive media:
Companies reimagining how music and content are experienced, shared, and monetized across digital platforms, whether through gamification, extended reality (XR), or direct-to-fan ecosystems. - Community and collaboration:
Platforms that help artists connect with fans, collaborate with other creatives, or build sustainable careers through new monetization models such as NFTs, patronage, and decentralized distribution. - Empowerment and accessibility:
Technologies that broaden access to music education, therapy, and well-being, especially through immersive or assistive solutions that lower the barrier to entry for aspiring musicians and underserved communities.
The fund will also look at startups that promote social impact, equity in music access, and educational innovation through technology.
The $50 million fund will be managed by Yamaha Music Innovations, LLC, a venture group based in Silicon Valley. Formed in April 2024, the company serves as the epicenter of Yamaha’s innovation strategy in North America and beyond. Yamaha has already made six investments through this entity since its establishment, and the new fund will deepen its commitment to strategic partnership and incubation.
Leading the fund is Yusuke “Scott” Sugino, President and CEO of Yamaha Music Innovations. Sugino, who has spent more than two decades at Yamaha in global roles, emphasized that this fund is about more than just returns, it’s about shaping the future of how music is created, experienced, and shared.
“At Yamaha, we believe deeply in the power of sound and creativity to elevate the human experience,” Sugino said. “This fund allows us to support the most visionary entrepreneurs who are developing technologies that will shape the future of music and media.”
To lead investment strategy and execution, Yamaha has brought on Andrew Kahn as Managing Partner of YMIF. Kahn is a well-known figure in the music-tech investment world, having served as a partner at Crush Ventures and worked with Live Nation Entertainment. His track record includes investments in several high-profile startups that have helped redefine artist services, fan engagement, and media distribution.
Kahn shared that Yamaha’s brand legacy and global network create a unique opportunity for startups:
“There are very few companies that carry the credibility, trust, and global reach of Yamaha. Startups that partner with us aren’t just getting capital—they’re gaining a collaborative partner who understands music deeply, from the creator’s fingertips to the audience’s ears.”
Yamaha’s decision to launch a formal VC fund comes as the music industry undergoes a profound transformation. From the rise of AI-generated music to Web3, immersive media, and creator-first business models, startups are driving much of the change. Major music companies have increasingly begun to invest in or acquire innovative platforms as a way to stay relevant and future-proof their operations.
The company’s long-term vision is to empower the next generation of creators, engineers, and entrepreneurs with the tools and resources needed to push boundaries and explore new frontiers of expression and experience.
While the focus is on music and media, Yamaha notes that it is also open to investments in adjacent categories, such as wellness tech, education, and immersive performance tools, where sound and human experience intersect. This aligns with the broader Yamaha philosophy of using technology and creativity to enhance quality of life worldwide.
For startups, the fund presents not just a chance to secure investment but also to tap into Yamaha’s extensive expertise in product development, global distribution, artist relations, and sonic innovation. Startups interested in partnering with Yamaha Music Innovations Fund I can learn more and apply through the official site: yamahamusicinnovations.com.