Yamaha Corporation is launching a $50 million venture capital fund focused on music technology startups, with investments beginning this month. The Yamaha Music Innovations Fund I will target early-stage companies over a 10-year period, typically investing $1-2 million per startup.
The fund will operate through Yamaha’s U.S. subsidiary, Yamaha Music Innovations, which opened a Silicon Valley business development center in April 2024. To lead the investment initiative, the company has appointed Andrew Kahn, former head of Crush Ventures and recognized by Billboard as one of “Music’s Top Investors in Tech of The Future.”
“We have collaborated with six startups by leveraging our group’s assets as the leading comprehensive musical instrument manufacturer,” said Yusuke Sugino, president and CEO of Yamaha Music Innovations. The company has already partnered with music-streaming service Audiomack, which is expanding in Africa, and TuneForte, a California-based developer of AI tools for musicians.
Through this dual approach of investment and collaboration, Yamaha aims to strengthen its industry position while developing both new and existing businesses in the music technology ecosystem.
