Berlin-based startup SIRIUS has successfully raised $4 million in Seed funding to enhance the online music education experience for students and teachers alike. Founded in 2020 by data scientist and piano enthusiast Sebastian Riegelbauer, SIRIUS addresses the pressing challenges faced by music teachers and learners, particularly in urban areas where long waiting times for lessons are common.
The current landscape reveals that 91% of music teachers are self-employed, often struggling with job insecurity. Additionally, traditional online music lessons suffer from poor sound quality due to conventional video conferencing tools, which typically misclassify musical tones as background noise. SIRIUS aims to overcome these hurdles by providing a state-of-the-art platform that ensures excellent sound quality and flexible learning options.
SIRIUS allows students of all ages and skill levels to connect with qualified music teachers for one-on-one lessons in piano, guitar, and singing. The platform intelligently matches students with suitable instructors, schedules lessons, and offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including virtual pianos, sheet music, metronomes, and recording capabilities.
Co-founder Charlotte von Dryander joined Riegelbauer in early 2022 to oversee the company’s commercial strategy. With experience collaborating with renowned partners like Yamaha and Thomann, she has played a pivotal role in transforming SIRIUS into a leading digital music education platform.
Market One Capital led the funding round, which also included investments from notable figures such as Severin Zugmayer of New Renaissance Ventures and Lopo Champalimaud, founder of Treatwell. Marcin Zabielski, Partner at Market One Capital, expressed confidence in SIRIUS’s vision to integrate technology with music education while preserving the essential human connection.
With the newly acquired funds, SIRIUS plans to enhance its product development and expand its engineering and marketing teams. The startup aims to leverage AI technology to streamline administrative tasks, enabling music teachers to focus on enriching their students’ learning experiences. Future plans include summarizing and analyzing lessons, creating personalized lesson plans, and providing real-time feedback to students.
SIRIUS is poised to become a leading player in the European online music education market, combining cutting-edge technology with a passion for music.
