About Music Tech sector in South Korea
The Music Tech sector in South Korea comprises 173 companies, including 60 funded companies having collectively raised $161M in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 13 are Series A+ funded.
Music Tech sector in South Korea has seen 2 acquisitions and 2 IPOs.
This sector includes online platforms which help in creation, distribution, and consumption of music.
Music Tech sector is also known as Music Tech Providers, Vertical SaaS for Musicians, Music Streaming Platforms or MusicTech.
Online companies which help in music consumption like music streaming platforms, music buying platforms, live music platforms, and sing & share applications. Online first companies which enable artists in managing distribution, royalties, rights and related services. Companies which help in music creation: DJing, mixing, collaboration, karaoke, and sharing platforms are included in this sector. Media houses, publishers, labels, broadcasters are not included. Does not cover offline first speaker, earphone, and music instrument manufacturers are excluded.
Top Music Tech Companies in South Korea
There are 173 Music Tech startups in South Korea which include G'Audio Lab, Modhaus, Weverse, MAKESTAR, blip. Out of these, 60 startups are funded, with 13 having secured Series A+ funding.
2026 has seen the creation of 2 Music Tech startups in South Korea. Over the past 10 years, an average of 10 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Columbia University, Cornell University and Stanford University.
Here is the list of top Music Tech startups in South Korea
1. G'Audio Lab
G'Audio Lab provides audio solutions for virtual reality projects. It offers an audio production plug-in and playback solution which provides tools to handle the placement and integration of sound in virtual reality projects. Claims to enable audio effects such as room reverberation, obstacle occlusion, sounds coming from above and below. G'Audio Works provides the audio solution for cinematic VR, while G'Audio Craft provides the audio solution for VR gaming. Claims to have devised an advanced binaural rendering technology for the VR headsets enabling interactivity between the movement, head orientation, and the audio being transmitted to the listener taking into consideration the user’s six degrees of freedom. Solutions are compatible with MAC OS, Windows, Android etc. Have won VR Company of the Year Award 2017.
Key facts about G'Audio Lab
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: Los Angeles (United States)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $920K
- Investors: SBVA, LB Investment and 3 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, 2021, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 56/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 3 of 73 Competitors
2. Modhaus
Platform developing and managing K-pop artists with fan participation focus. It aims to integrate fans into key production stages through communication. The agency focuses on creating a fan-centered entertainment system. It collaborates with creators in IT areas for group projects.
Key facts about Modhaus
- Founded Year: 2021
- Location: Seoul (South Korea)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $23M
- Investors: IMM Investment, CJ Investment and 15 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Aug 08, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 55/100 What is this?
3. Weverse
Online fan engagement platform for music artists. Fans can create photos and videos of their favorite artists. The platform also provides a moment of the day and exclusive content by the artist for the fans. The app is available for Android and iOS users. It monetizes through in-app purchases.
Key facts about Weverse
- Founded Year: 2019
- Location: Seoul (South Korea)
- Stage: Funding Raised
- Investors: Blockchain Coinvestors
- Tracxn Score: 55/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 222 Competitors
4. MAKESTAR
Retailer of entertainment merchandise and digital content for music fans. This business facilitates the sale of albums, photo cards, and media products related to musical artists and television dramas. It manages pre-order events, fan signing sessions, and promotional campaigns for physical and digital media releases. Customers access these items through an online interface that coordinates distribution and event participation.
Key facts about MAKESTAR
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: Seoul (South Korea)
- Stage: Series D
- Total Funding till date: $27.6M
- Investors: RPS Ventures, Altos Ventures Management and 5 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series D, Oct 08, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 51/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 3 Competitors
5. blip
App-based platform offering fan engagement solutions. It provides fans with news, trending content, wallpaper images, video clips, and more of k-pop artists. Available on both Android and iOS platforms.
Key facts about blip
- Founded Year: 2019
- Location: South Korea
- Stage: Unfunded
- Tracxn Score: 46/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 3 of 168 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Music Tech sector in South Korea
2 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Music Tech sector in South Korea. 26 Music Tech startups in South Korea were founded in 2020 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 2 |
2025 | 1 |
2024 | 1 |
2023 | 5 |
2022 | 8 |
2021 | 18 |
2020 | 26 |
2019 | 15 |
2018 | 18 |
2017 | 9 |
Stage-wise distribution of Music Tech sector companies in South Korea
Out of the total 173 Music Tech companies in South Korea, 60 have secured funding. Among them, 13 have reached Series A or higher, and 9 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 173
Funded - 60
Series A+ - 13
Series B+ - 9
Series C+ - 7
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 173 |
Funded | 60 |
Series A+ | 13 |
Series B+ | 9 |
Series C+ | 7 |
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Funding Trends in the Music Tech sector in South Korea
Total funding year-on-year in the Music Tech sector in South Korea
The Music Tech sector in South Korea saw a total funding of more than $149M in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2023 at more than $55.6M.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | - |
2025 | $15M |
2024 | $28.2M |
2023 | $55.6M |
2022 | $3.25M |
2021 | $10.3M |
2020 | $5.75M |
2018 | - |
2017 | $15.2M |
Recent Funding Rounds in Music Tech in South Korea
In the year 2026, till April 2026, Music Tech companies in South Korea have raised equity funding across 3 rounds.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Music Tech companies in South Korea:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seed | 4058 | Apr 21, 2026 | ||
Seed | 9012 | Mar 09, 2026 | ||
Seed | 3319 | Feb 26, 2026 | ||
Series B | 9600 | Aug 08, 2025 | and 5 more | |
Series D | 7836 | Oct 08, 2024 |
Top Investors in Music Tech in South Korea
CJ Investment is the top investor in Music Tech companies in South Korea based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Music Tech companies in South Korea:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Seoul (South Korea) | Modhaus and MyMusicTaste | |
Sunnyvale (United States) | - | |
Tokyo (Japan) | - | |
Seoul (South Korea) | ||
Seoul (South Korea) |
M&A activity in Music Tech sector in South Korea
In the year 2023, till January 2023, 1 acquisition happened in Music Tech sector in South Korea. Last year, in 2022, a total of 1 acquisition happened in Music Tech sector in South Korea.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Music Tech sector in South Korea:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Acqui-Hired | Jan 11, 2023 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 26, 2022 |
Acquisition trends in Music Tech sector in South Korea
Here are the acquisition trends in Music Tech sector in South Korea:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | - |
2025 | - |
2024 | - |
2023 | 1 |
2022 | 1 |
2021 | - |
2020 | - |
2019 | - |
2018 | - |
2017 | - |
IPOs in Music Tech in South Korea
In the year 2010, till October 2010, 1 IPO happened in Music Tech sector in South Korea.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Music Tech sector in South Korea:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Oct 15, 2010 | Korea Exchange (KRX) | |
Jul 20, 2000 | Korea Exchange (KRX) |
Colleges which produce the most Music Tech companies in South Korea
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Music Tech in South Korea
Most number of Music Tech startups in South Korea have been founded by alumni from Columbia University, Cornell University and Stanford University.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Columbia University | 1 |
Cornell University | 1 |
Stanford University | 1 |
Yonsei University | 1 |
Total funding in Music Tech companies founded by alumni from top colleges in South Korea
In the last 10 years, Columbia University graduates' Music Tech companies in South Korea have raised the most funding among top colleges. Yonsei University alumni are second.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Columbia University | $10.1M |
Yonsei University | $920K |
Cornell University | - |
Stanford University | - |
Top News in Music Tech in South Korea
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Music Cow won the grand prize at the ‘1st Digital Transcendence Awards’Venture Square•Nov 30, 2023•MUSICOW
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LG Taps Label Foundation to Integrate Web3 Music Service to Its Smart TVsNftgators•Sep 26, 2023•LG, LABEL
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Fiber Operator signs up for access to ODF networkTelecompaper•Jul 11, 2023•Fiber Operator, Fibergroupinc, Weverse
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Genie Music unveils Korea's 1st AI-based music arrangement serviceThe Korea Times•Jun 28, 2023•Genie Music
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Music copyright trading platform Musicow attracts $46 mn from STICKedglobal•May 23, 2023•MUSICOW, STIC Investments, Korean Development Bank, LB Investment and 2 others
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KT’s Genie Music acquires Millie’s Library, planning expansion of audio content businessKorea Herald•Sep 10, 2021•Genie Music
