In this episode Richard Palmer welcomes Ifeanyichukwu Ezinmadu & CEO of SymphoMe, and a professional classical pianist, who has developed his global music education platform from a research topic at the University of Edinburgh School of Music for a fireside chat about his journey.

SymphonMe is described as "the Duolingo for music but even better!". This app leverages technology and artificial intelligence in music education to help users learn instruments and prepare for exams from day one. Ifeanyichukwu explains that the app augments the learning experience by addressing the fact that 80% of learning happens independently. It also provides a quality-assured tool for those who cannot afford high instrumental tuition costs (which can be as much as £40 to £80 per hour).

Today, SymphonMe has secured partnerships with major bodies like ABRSM, the largest music examination body worldwide, allowing them to offer their product in over 90 countries.

Ifeanyichukwu shares essential advice for founders, including the critical lesson of raising enough money—as his first £100k check felt like a fortune but was quickly depleted, leading to constant fundraising. He also discusses the charade of distributing team titles (like CTO/COO) just to tick boxes for a pitch deck, emphasising the importance of securing the right fit of team members rather than titles.

Finally, Ifeanyichukwu reveals how a spontaneous five-week trip to San Francisco provided him with a strong sense of validation and taught him the power of genuine collaboration and "paying it forward" within an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Thank you to Ifeanyichukwu for joining us and to Edinburgh University for hosting the event.

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