The Venture Codex

Participated · Equity · Oct 2019

Acqustic operates a platform for independent music that connects artists with new fans and companies in the industry and provides distribution to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. The platform offers tools for musicians, hosts a catalogue of more than 1,000 songs and reported 2.6 million plays during the quarter. The company has formed partnerships with media outlets including Mondo Sonoro, Binaural, Muzikalia, The Medizine and Dod Magazine, and has launched an artist-focused podcast, From Zero to Hero. Acqustic has received recognitions including one of three prizes in the #TechforEntertainment section of the SXSW Online 2021 Funding Summit, winner at BIME PRO 2018, FIB PRO 2019 finalist and BARLAB by Mahou San Miguel. Following a €425,000 financing, the company is developing a new website intended to be a reference for independent music and a renewed app for musicians. It is also working to accelerate growth and consolidate entry into Latin America and the United States with international artists, collaborators and fans. Acqustic is an all-in-one mobile app that helps emerging musicians find gigs, upload music to streaming platforms like Spotify, and legally invoice their performances. Since launching the mobile app in February the company grew from about 20 concerts per month to more than 150, and now reports over 3,500 musicians with more than 200 new groups registering each week. The team expects to finish the year invoicing €500,000, roughly quadrupling the prior year. To support growth Acqustic has formed an advisory board covering startups, technology and music to guide product and business strategy. The company says it has consolidated its technology and virtual management service and plans to expand outside Spain in 2020, targeting Latin America (notably Mexico and Colombia). Acqustic is a platform for emerging musicians that offers tools to act as their own managers and advance their careers. The platform gives artists access to more than 150 concerts per month in bars, restaurants, hotels and brand events. It enables musicians to upload their music to Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and over 100 streaming platforms while retaining 100% of their rights. Acqustic also provides online gestoría services to handle legal and administrative tasks for professional musicians. In July 2019 the company received a €150,000 convertible loan investment from Bbooster Ventures announced during the 11th Bbooster Week. Acqustic is a platform born in 2017 that provides tools for musicians to manage their careers and book a variety of offers. The startup has expanded from bringing music to many venues into a full platform that lets musicians act as their own managers. In February the company launched a mobile app where musicians can sign up, create their musical project, and apply to offers; the platform currently publishes more than 100 musical opportunities. Offers range from brand and festival performances to gigs at bars or hotels, radio interviews, and charity events with NGOs. The company is based in Sabadell (Barcelona) and has set up an advisory board with figures from startups, technology, and music, including Josep Lluís Sanfeliu, Jaume Sanmartí and the International Music Business School (IMB). Acqustic (founded February 2017) operates a marketplace that connects users with nearby musicians and facilitates booking, promotion and production of micro-concerts. The platform displays artists on a map by style and venue suitability, and each artist sets a single, transparent price for performances. Acqustic supports three business lines: Home Concert, Secret Concert (tickets with venue revealed 24h prior) and Acqustic Partner, a B2B program for event agencies. The company complements listings with black-and-white presentation videos produced with La Capsa de Trons. As of the article, the platform hosts a roster of more than 300 musicians and has completed around 75 performances since April. The founding team includes Esteve Lombarte and Ferran Sáez, with Alejandro Ponce recently joining as Head of Marketing; the company plans to expand into Madrid in the near term and has closed initial external funding to support that growth.