GrowMusic 2025: Applications now closed
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Rufy Ghazi provides strategic consulting services at the intersection of music, technology, and innovation. Drawing on extensive experience in product development, digital operations and research, she helps organisations develop impactful products, harness emerging technologies, and navigate industry shifts. Rufy also delivers in-depth music research, ecosystem mapping, and thought leadership to drive ethical innovation and sustainable growth in the music industry.

We provide advisory to companies at the intersection of music and technology, with a particular focus on music rights and emerging technologies. Providing strategic and detailed advice on global music rights across all areas of innovation. With a deep network built up over 20+ years

Music Foundry is a strategic consultancy helping businesses navigate the fast-changing intersection of music, technology, and licensing. Founded in London by three industry leaders — Rick Gleave, Jon Hilbrants, and Tom Grayson — we bring decades of combined experience across streaming, rights management, legal frameworks, and music-tech innovation. Our Mission We believe the future of music belongs to those who can connect creative ideas with sustainable business models.

Nuovo helps music tech founders, industry leaders & investors make smarter product & commercial decisions. Founded by Rachel Young (Ex-TikTok), we specialise in solving high-stakes challenges that are slowing down growth.

Water & Music is a research studio and strategic consultancy dedicated to cutting through the noise of music and tech. From major rights organizations to pre-launch startups, our clients turn to us to spot what’s coming next ahead of their competitors, and to approach innovation with clarity rather than confusion. We specialize in translating emerging tech and business trends across AI, Web3, gaming, superfandom, and more into actionable strategies that actually work.

November Labs tagline is "Solving today's problems with tomorrow's technology".

Championing, showcasing and supporting tech innovators and innovation across the UK through research, events, training/upskilling, hackathons and consultancy.

Mateus Moura is a music and streaming industry expert, leading Customer Success at Tuned Global. He helps businesses across industries including streaming, aviation, medtech, wellness, telecom, and gaming integrate digital music seamlessly. Previously at Pacemaker, an award-winning AI DJ app, he gained hands-on experience in scaling music tech startups. A former touring DJ, Mateus also advises on Web3 initiatives.

Alan is co-founder and CEO of ISL Talent, helping VC-backed startups scale through talent planning and hiring. A mentor and advisor to multiple accelerators, he supports founders in building high-performing teams. Alan has worked with 100+ startups, numerous investors and supported programmes with Science Creates and Royal Academy of Engineering.

Leon’s worked across film, TV & the music industry, including Walt Disney International plus >10 years at Universal Music, where he led insight teams in UK & international roles. Joining in 2021, Leon’s BPI Insights & Innovation team are responsible for delivering data & trends on the recorded music industry landscape.  The team also connect our record group members with a 130+ strong community of BPI Innovation member companies who provide solutions which help the industry to innovate & grow. Leon and team run bespoke events, speak at leading industry music tech conferences and produce the BPI Innovation Podcast.

Vanessa Bakewell is a Client Partner at Meta, leading the Entertainment Vertical from London. With 14 years at Meta and prior experience at Google, she brings a unique perspective to her work having had a front row seat to technology and innovation in Entertainment for most of her 25 year career. A passionate advocate for the arts, Vanessa has served on the boards of The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and SoundCity Festival. She is also a judge for the Music Week Awards and Women in Music Awards, and was inducted into the Women in Music Week Hall of Fame. She sat on the jury for the Cannes Lions Audio category in 2023. Vanessa is a dedicated mentor for BPI, PRS Powerup, Vanessa supports emerging music and tech startups, fostering innovation and growth in the industry.

Will is an advisor and consultant specialising in helping companies in the music/entertainment industries with fundraising, strategy, business development and GTM. As an executive, advisor and founder Will has helped create companies with a market cap>$600m and been involved in multiple exits to Apple, BMG, SoundCloud and more.

Will has 10+ years of music industry experience in rights management technologies, licensing, and label management. At Audible Magic, he leads Account Management and Customer Success. Previously, he held key roles at Songtradr, MRC, and HHO Group. A former session musician, he holds a BMus from Goldsmiths and an MBA from Cranfield.

Seri Guobadia is a product leader with deep expertise in the music and entertainment tech industries. As the former Head of Product at Songkick, she drove key product development that enhanced fan engagement and delivered strong revenue growth. Seri’s career spans roles at companies like ITV and Shazam, where she honed her skills in product strategy, data-driven decision-making, and user experience. Passionate about the intersection of entertainment and technology, Seri is excited to work with startups looking to add real value to the music industry

Tessa is a specialist in recruitment for music and audio technology companies, widely regarded as the go-to expert for connecting businesses with top talent in the industry. With over 15 years of experience, she has successfully partnered with organizations ranging from stealth startups to global enterprises across pro audio, consumer audio, music software, AI, streaming, and producer tools—covering every corner of the audio tech landscape. At The Audio Programmer, Tessa helps lead the largest global community of audio specialists. Beyond recruitment, the team is dedicated to shaping the future of music technology through tutorials, meetups, and educational events, fostering the next generation of talent in audio and music tech.

Tristan Hunt is a Music Industry ADHD Coach, working with multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated, Mobo & Brit Award-winning artists and top brands like Sony Music UK and Pioneer DJ. A former AFEM Regional Manager, Tristan's two decades in the electronic music industry and his personal experience with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia make him a trusted coach for artists and professionals with ADHD. Certified as a Transformational Coach with specialised ADHD training, he is part of Sony Music UK’s coaching pool and a Guest Lecturer for the ADHD Foundation’s ADHD Coaching Diploma course. He helps clients thrive at every level. They include artists, labels, publishers, artist management, PR, marketing, tech, synch, and live. His contributions to the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) have been significant, from founding its Mental Health Working Group to serving two terms on its Executive Board.

Stan McLeod is a seasoned entrepreneur and leader in the music technology industry with over a decade of experience. He is currently the Director of Product at Lickd, a micro-licensing platform for content creators, where he has been instrumental in shaping the company’s product strategy. Previously, Stan co-founded Headliner.io, a pioneering platform that connects event planners with musicians, bands, and DJs for performances at high-profile events.

Experienced music and tech leader. Former Warner Music VP, driving digital growth with Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Scaled 7digital as Deputy CEO, securing TikTok and Universal deals, and leading its IPO. Now scaling AI leader Miquido and advising startups as Chairman and NXD.

Lucas Cantor Santiago is primarily a composer. He's a two time Emmy award winner. His music has opened the coverage of two Super Bowls. He produced Lorde's cover of Everybody Wants To Rule The World on the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack. Lucas finished Schubert's 8th Symphony (the unfinished symphony) with the help of AI. He’s the co-GP of Mindset MusicTech, a music focused venture capital fund.

Daniel is a venture capitalist with more than 15 years of experience investing in startups from the US, UK, Israel and Latin America. Daniel also serves as a board member for several companies and accelerators, and teaches Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Insper, in Sao Paulo / Brazil.

Gironas (they/them) work as an advisor at the intersection of music, tech, and the creator economy. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, they are the founder of Cool Shit, Cool People, a consultancy specializing in artist development, talent relations, and marketing. Previously, they led creator strategies at YouTube, Reddit, Q&A, and Fender, championing creatives globally.

Joanna has over 17 years experience working in the music industry, focusing on music licensing, strategy and business development. Joanna helps companies understand the value of music, advises on commercial strategy and assists with licensing obligations. She is passionate about new technology, supporting innovation and positive disruption to grow the industry.

With a strong focus on the European musictech ecosystem, Anna is leading the Agenda on Innovation of the Italian social enterprise Music Innovation Hub, responsible of MusicTech-related activities, project leader of the EU-funded acceleration program for music startups Music Tech Europe Academy, Director of Linecheck Music Meeting and Festival and Co-founder and President of Music Tech Europe Network

Gareth Deakin is a serial meddler in start-ups and music tech. His passion is helping companies at the nexus of music and technology achieve incredible results and has mentored and advised a diverse range of companies for more than a decade. His speciality is advising early-stage start-ups from launch to series A, B2B marketing, strategy and emerging technologies. He has over two decades of experience in independent and major labels, as a start-up operator, consultant and advisor to companies at all stages. He has a unique view of what it takes to make it in music and tech. Alongside running Sonorous Consulting, a boutique strategy and business development consultancy, Gareth has been a Mentor for numerous start-up programs including Abbey Road Studio's Red, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), and Marathon Music Groups Labs program.

Amy LaMeyer advises and invests in pioneering XR, AI, and music tech start-ups, helping them scale and navigate emerging opportunities. As Managing Partner at WXR Fund and an angel investor, she champions bold founders redefining how we work, play, and connect through immersive technology.

Hazel Savage has worked in music tech for 18 years, most recently building the AI music tech company Musiio and selling it to SoundCloud in 2022, she now does Angel Investing in other AI music tech startups.

My career initially began in the fashion industry, after completing my degree in Fashion & Textile Management, I worked on the operational side at ASOS for 3-years. It was during my time at ASOS, when the business was experiencing explosive growth, that I began to become very interested in how creative businesses are built and scaled. This curiosity led me to my current position at Edge VC, where I support founders of tomorrow building products people love combining the best of creative and engaging content, technology and innovations in platforms and delivery. My role at Edge VC includes deal origination through to deal execution. I currently sit on the Board of three creative companies across the AdTech, EdTech and MusicTech sectors.

Senior brand & marketing professional with 15+ years experience in Go-To-Market strategy for high-growth startups and ente rprises. Specialised in scaling marketing, brand, content and communications, business modelling and demand generation across e-commerce, travel, media, music, tech (AI, blockchain). Board and Advisory roles at tech ventures between the UK and the US.

Ella Hughes is an Investment Associate at Mercuri, a leading venture capital fund based in London, where she plays a key role in driving early-stage investments in high-potential UK startups. Mercuri specializes in supporting companies at the intersection of media, entertainment, and technology, with a broad focus on businesses that are innovating across content creation, distribution, and digital platforms. This scope includes transformative investments in the music industry, where Mercuri is particularly interested in companies leveraging new technologies to redefine how music is produced, consumed, and monetized. Mercuri is committed to identifying companies that use technology to solve complex challenges in the entertainment space, such as improving artist access to fair compensation, developing new fan engagement models, or creating cutting-edge tools for music discovery and curation. By backing companies that bridge media and technology, Mercuri aims to support the evolution of the global music ecosystem alongside broader entertainment innovations.

Eddie Walker is the founder and Managing Director of WHYRE - a global commercial strategy, venture and business development partner for start-ups & scale-ups (from pre-seed to series A+), investment groups (Europe and the US) and emerging/nascent brands. He has 20+ years extensive international commercial, corporate, investment and management experience, working at the intersection of new technologies, music, media, entertainment and gaming. ​

Dorothy Hui is driven to help the industry face and evolve to stay ahead of the technological revolution. Most recently, as SVP, Digital & Audience Development at Sony Music UK’s 4th Floor Creative, Dorothy oversaw central teams in charge of Digital and Audience Development. She led a digital strategy integrated across Sony Music’s UK labels including the legendary Columbia, RCA, Commercial Group, Ministry of Sound labels.

Amanda Schupf is a born and raised New Yorker, mother, creative executive, entrepreneur and the founder of MAX, a trusted advisor to leading businesses and executives in the music, tech, and investment communities with a focus on bridging the gap between music, technology and capital.

Andy Davies is a creative strategist and innovation leader who thrives at the intersection of technology, entertainment, and design. As Co-Founder of Diverge, he helps businesses unlock opportunities and bring bold ideas to life. Formerly VP of Commercial Technologies at Universal Music Group, Andy led an internal innovation agency that delivered over $130M in revenue. He now works with music, media, and tech companies to shape strategy, brand, and product innovation with a results-driven approach.

Andrew Batey is an accomplished entertainment & technology entrepreneur whose 15+ year career has contributed to major industry transformations across music, social media, and web3. The Leadership Music alum has raised $150M+ for his own startups and filed 40+ patents across seven countries for artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and data infrastructure. Currently, he’s the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Canada-based Beatdapp – the music industry leader in combating artificial streaming fraud, aiding artists and record labels in recovering billions in lost royalty revenue. In his past life, he supported launches of multiple top 10 artists, lifestyle brands, and growth hacking web properties such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Mark Martin MBE, known as @Urban_Teacher, is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Education Practice. With an expertise spanning AI and data science, he has been at the forefront of championing EdTech and computer science education, delivering digital skills for the last two decades. His deep knowledge has made him an influential voice in the UK tech scene, serving as an advisor to the government, big tech companies, institutions, and charities.

Amalie Briden is Innovation Manager at BPI, the voice of UK recorded music, where she manages a growing global community of tech innovators looking to add value and drive change within the music industry. Amalie also hosts the BPI Innovation Podcast, interviewing industry leaders across music and technology to help understand the synergies, opportunities and threats.

Anthony Achille is Abbey Road REDD’s Programme Manager and runs Abbey Road’s music technology incubation programme. His role at Europe’s leading music technology incubation programme consists of research, deep technology diligence, scouting and delivering Red’s bespoke incubation programme. Over the last two years he has led REDD’s investor outreach programme, an internal drive to share knowledge with investors interested in the music industry.

Andy Ayim MBE is a passionate entrepreneur and advocate for diversity in tech. He founded The Angel Investing School (AIS), empowering underrepresented communities to become investors. With expertise in startups, product management, storytelling, and leadership development, Andy has invested in 17 gap-closing startups, while AIS alumni have collectively invested over $10m to date.

Karim is Abbey Road REDD's Innovation Manager, leading the groundbreaking music tech incubation programme at Abbey Road Studios across all of its activities from start-up scouting and diligence to incubation, internal innovation, strategic insight and external knowledge sharing via events and public relations. Now in its eighth year as Europe’s first and leading music technology incubation programme, Abbey Road REDD has incubated 20 music technology start-ups with Karim steering the last nine over his six years leading REDD.

Originally from Baltimore, Christine Osazuwa got her start in music at 15. She holds degrees in music, marketing and data science and combined those passions into roles in data & marketing at Universal Music Sweden and Warner Music Group in London. Currently, Christine is the founder of Measure of Music's part community, part conference, part hackathon which introduces music & data to others while highlighting majority minority attendees and speakers. Most recently, she was the Chief Strategy Officer for ticketing & event marketing startup Shoobs where she led their marketing & brand partnerships strategy. In addition, she sits on the board of The LIVE Association, Indie Venue Week, and Keychange US.

Anthony is the founder of ADK, building and advising tech hubs, accelerators and venture programmes for corporations, banks and governments in multiple countries. This includes designing the Grow Music programme with the BPI. Anthony is also the founder of Anthony David King Capital, leveraging technology and a network of international banks and lenders to finance innovative UK companies, their technology and growth.