The ONE Music Group, a San Francisco, CA-based creator of musical instruments incorporating digital technology, closed a $10m Series B funding round.
Backers included world-renowned concert pianist Lang Lang (recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the Year) Sequoia Capital, ZhenFund, and Ideabulb Ventures.
The investment of Lang Lang in the company is part of a broader partnership under which The ONE Smart Piano will be one of only two piano brands the pianisty will use. Through his nonprofit, called 101 Pianists, Lang aims to make piano and music education more enjoyable and accessible for children.
The company will use the funds to advance The Piano Classroom Project, a program dedicated to helping teachers cater to more students in each class at a more affordable rate.
Founded in 2013 by Ben Ye, The ONE Music Group is a manufacturer of musical instruments incorporating digital technology that aims to make learning to play faster and more enjoyable.
The ONE Smart Piano is an Apple MFi-certified smart piano that combines a full-sized piano with a dedicated iOS app. Available for $1,499 at select retailers, The ONE Smart Piano can teach anyone to start playing their first piece within their first lesson. The ONE Light is a portable keyboard that offers the same features as the smart piano, but with 61 backlit keys and the option to be battery-powered. It is available for $299.
To date, the company has sold more than 50,000 pianos worldwide.
FinSMEs
19/01/2016