Press

HTGF invests in Skoove, Offering One Of the World’s First Interactive Online Piano Lessons

September 15, 2015

Fun Music Learning Web App Runs In Any Browser; Listens, Gives Live Feedback, And Adapts In Real Time

Skoove, a music learning platform that offers one of the world’s first interactive online piano lessons, has today opened to the public. Skoove operates through any web browser to deliver a library of expertly designed, software driven lessons, controlled via connecting a keyboard or e-piano to a computer. The app gives aspiring and returning pianists real time feedback on their progress, adapting to their pace as they advance. Sign-up for the public beta is free and available now from the Skoove homepage. High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) invests in this innovative solution for learning one of the world’s most beloved instruments.

Microsoft Ventures Accelerator graduate Skoove was created to offer a fun and effective, always available platform for music learning. The platform’s course curriculum has been developed and curated by Dominik Schirmer, former lecturer at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. It not only incorporates a wide spectrum of popular music favorites, but also makes use of games that teach music theory and note reading. Motivated new students will be able to play their first melodies in just a few hours.

“We have designed Skoove to combine the best elements of a live tutor – giving real time feedback and adapting to the student – with all the convenience of the web, being available anywhere 24/7, and at a fraction of the price,” commented Dr Florian Plenge, Skoove cofounder and CEO. “61% of the people in the US, UK, Australia, and Germany would like to learn a musical instrument, but currently only a fraction actually do*. With Skoove, we hope to make that dream a reality for anyone with access to a computer and a desire to learn.”

Targeted primarily at beginner piano students aged 12 and older, Skoove works through any modern web browser with an e-piano or keyboard connected via USB. A version for acoustic pianos that makes use of devices’ internal microphones is currently in development, and is slated for release later this year.

“With the support of world-renowned research organization, Fraunhofer IDMT (led by the inventor of the MP3), we have developed our own algorithm; ‘web-based polyphonic real time pitch validation’. Our patent-pending control of the app via users’ keys allows students to always stay focused on the piano and minimises distractions.”

“Skoove addresses an international market right from the start,” says Michael Wieser, senior investment manager at HTGF. “and we are convinced that adaptive online learning for musical instruments will be as successful as learning languages online.”

Skoove was founded in August 2014 by two experienced industry professionals with a track record in running successful music technology ventures. Stephan Schulz founded the multi-room wireless hifi system Raumfeld in 2008, which was recently acquired by HG Captial/Teufel. During his 10 years at Native Instruments, Dr Florian Plenge grew the Traktor product line to become the world’s leading DJ platform with millions of users.

The company now completed a seed funding round with the largest German early stage fund, the High-Tech Gründerfonds, and continues to be supported by the Microsoft Ventures Alumni program.

The Skoove public beta is available for free sign up from today. For more information head to – https://www.skoove.com/

About Skoove
Skoove is a fun and effective music learning platform that offers interactive online piano lessons. Skoove operates through any web browser and delivers a library of interactive, expertly designed lessons – controlled via connecting a keyboard or e-piano to one’s computer.
Founded in August 2014 by cofounders Dr Florian Plenge and Stephan Schulz, Skoove is based in Berlin, Germany and completed a seed funding round led by the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) in 2015.
Skoove is a graduate of the Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in Berlin and is supported by the Microsoft Ventures Alumni program.

Contact:
Dr. Florian Plenge
florian@plenge.net
Co-Founder | CEO
+49 178 4797787
www.skoove.com
Berlin, Germany

About High-Tech Gruenderfonds
High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping and to market launch. Typically, High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests EUR 500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of EUR 2 million per portfolio company in follow-on financing. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, the KfW Banking Group, as well as strategic corporate investors including ALTANA, BASF, Bayer, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Evonik, Lanxess, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, METRO, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, SAP, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gruenderfonds has about EUR 576 million under management in two funds (EUR 272 million HTGF I, EUR 304 million HTGF II).

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Michael Wieser
Tel: +49 228 823001-00
m.wieser@htgf.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

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