The Yamaha Music Innovations Fund will invest in new technologies in the music business.

Yamaha keyboard.

The Japanese maker of musical instruments and audio equipment plans to form a corporate venturing unit in Silicon Valley in April 2025 to invest in sound and music tech startups.

The Yamaha Music Innovations Fund will invest $50m in startups focused on innovations in musical instruments and audio equipment. These include AI for video and music production, and streaming and monetisation support for creators.

The investment unit will be headed by Yusuke Sugino, who has worked at Yamaha Corporation since 2008 in various roles including business development and corporate strategy.

 

Kim Moore

Kim Moore is the editor of Global University Venturing and deputy editor of Global Corporate Venturing and produces video for the website.