Yamaha Corporation announces that Yamaha Music Innovations Fund I, LP, a corporate venture capital fund run by U.S. subsidiary Yamaha Music Innovations, LLC, led by President and CEO Yusuke “Scott” Sugino, will begin to invest out of a dedicated US$50 million fund in May 2025.
To strengthen its leadership position as an innovator in the fields of sound and music, Yamaha established a business development base named Yamaha Music Innovations in Silicon Valley in April 2024. YMI was incorporated in January 2025 and has accelerated initiatives to develop new businesses through partnerships with fast-growing startups and established companies.
To lead its new venture capital fund, YMIF has appointed Andrew Kahn as Managing Partner. Andrew Kahn has been a force for investing in innovative companies in the field of music technology, being named one of “Music’s Top Investors in Tech of The Future” by leading U.S. music industry magazine Billboard in 2023 along with being recognized by other publications such as Business Insider for his efforts. Additionally, he has extensive experience in startup operations, investment and business development at the intersection of music, interactive media, and the creator economy. Now, he will use his experience and relationships to establish YMIF as a key partner and value-add investor for the startup community, where Yamaha can leverage its strengths in sound, music and a century of work supporting creative people.
Through YMIF, Yamaha will strive to create and invest in innovative businesses that will enhance its role in the lives of creative people while accelerating business development collaborations with startups that have been underway since April 2024.