Photo Credit: Jukebox
Jukebox expands its global footprint with the launch of Jukebox Ventures, raising up to $15 million dedicated to backing music and tech start-ups.
Jukebox Ventures has announced the launch of their Fund I, which is raising up to $15 million dedicated to backing the next generation of start-ups at the convergence of music, technology, and culture. Focused on pre-seed through Series A, Jukebox Ventures is designed to fill a growing early-stage funding gap in music tech, while offering hands-on operational, brand, and growth support.
Jukebox Ventures is led by a multidisciplinary team of investors and operators with experience across music, media, finance, and Web3. The team’s global reach spans New York, London, Berlin, Ibiza, and Dubai.
“As the music and creative industries undergo rapid transformation, Jukebox Ventures sees a unique opportunity to support founders in a fast-evolving, tech-native landscape,” said Jukebox in a statement. “The fund will invest globally in start-ups across rights and licensing, creator tools, streaming and distribution, music EdTech, fan engagement, content monetization, immersive media, and live experiences.”
Alex Jukes, co-founder and general partner, is the founder of Jukebox PR and The Tribes, which specializes in electronic music. He has worked on more than 350 festivals across 40-plus countries and built a media network reaching over 40 million followers. He is also the host of the ‘Loud & Unfiltered’ podcast.
“For over a decade, Jukebox has helped shape music and culture from behind the scenes,” said Jukes. “With Jukebox Ventures, we’re stepping in earlier—investing in the next wave of founders building the tools, platforms, and experiences that will define the future. This fund is about more than capital. It’s about giving start-ups a cultural edge and LPs a front-row seat to innovation across music and entertainment.”
Christian Lawrence, general partner and head of investor relations, is a capital markets veteran and current senior markets strategist at Rabobank. Kevin Caballes, operating partner, has a decade of operational leadership from companies like Foursquare, Activision Blizzard, and Genesis. He currently heads operations at Sorella Labs and advises a range of emerging start-ups.
Anthony Trotta, partner and head of trading, is the founder of Vernon Capital, a family office focused on pre-IPO and IPO-stage investing in companies like Zoom, Figma, Circle, Sweetgreen, and DoorDash. Formerly head of trading at Metaversal and Builder of the ECM desk at Yorkville Ventures, he has access to secondary markets and over-the-counter deal flow, enabling early liquidity options for the fund and its providers.
Despite the music industry surpassing $32 billion in global revenue in 2023, early-stage funding remains scant, with less than 10% of music tech VC deals occurring before Series A.
“Jukebox Ventures was created to close this gap with capital, strategic guidance, and access to a global marketing engine,” the company’s statement added.
Liquidity providers will also receive access to a curated set of perks and opportunities, including access to global music festivals, sporting events, venue openings, private gatherings, and early access to products and platforms from the Jukebox Ventures portfolio.
