Live streamer Mandolin adds $12M in funding

Music live streaming service Mandolin has closed a $12M Series A funding round, co-led by 645 Ventures and Foundry Group, with returning investments from High Alpha and TIME Ventures.

Given the rapid return of live music, the investment is as a major VC endorsement of music livestreaming and of Mandolin as the player to watch.

“At 645 Ventures, we believe that exceptional companies are being built that enable consumers to experience new behaviors that were accelerated during COVID-19,” said Nnamdi Okike, Managing Partner and Co-founder at 645 Ventures, who will also be joining Mandolin’s board. “One of these categories is content livestreaming, and one of these companies is Mandolin. Mandolin provides the best technology platform to enable livestreaming for artists, venues, and fans, and they’re building a business to serve the needs of this fast-growing category.”

“I’m thrilled to have Nnamdi join the Mandolin board,” said Mary Kay Huse, CEO of Mandolin, “His extensive experience in helping early-stage SaaS and consumer tech companies reach the next level will be invaluable as we look to supercharge our growth and make Mandolin Live+ a household name.”

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Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is also the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor at the Berklee College Of Music online.