Hoopr, India’s pioneering music licensing platform focused on building a transparent and sustainable ecosystem for creators, artists, and brands, has raised an undisclosed amount from The Chennai Angels as part of its ongoing Pre-Series A funding round. Earlier, the round attracted participation from Inflection Point Ventures and MeitY, reinforcing investor confidence in Hoopr’s long-term vision.
With this fresh capital, Hoopr plans to aggressively scale its twin-engine ecosystem that powers both the creator and enterprise sides of music licensing. On one hand, the Hoopr platform enables YouTube and Instagram creators to access copyright-safe music for digital videos, while on the other, Hoopr Smash serves as India’s first Bollywood music licensing platform designed specifically for brands and large enterprises. At the same time, the company will invest in strengthening its technology stack, including its proprietary system that detects copyrighted music violations and ensures transparent, automated revenue sharing for artists and labels.
Over the years, the platform has emerged as a defining force in India’s digital music licensing landscape. Today, the platform serves more than 4 lakh creators, including well-known names such as Flying Beast, Ranveer Brar, Curly Tales, and Mr. Indian Hacker. In parallel, over 180 leading brands, including Marico, ITC, Himalaya, Myntra, and Rajasthan Royals, actively license music through Hoopr for campaigns and branded content.
On the supply side, Hoopr Smash has built the country’s largest licensing catalogue for Bollywood and Indian music by aggregating content from more than 21 leading Indian labels, including YRF and Universal Music Group, along with three international labels. As a result, the platform has positioned itself as a single destination for brands seeking legally licensed Indian music at scale.
In a major step toward nurturing original talent, Hoopr recently launched its Artist Accelerator programme in partnership with Universal Music Group. Through this initiative, the platform creates original compositions and recreations tailored for the fast-growing sync licensing market. Additionally, Hoopr has signed an agreement with the Indian Performing Right Society and entered into a strategic partnership with Adobe, further strengthening its presence at the intersection of music, technology, and content creation.
Hoopr’s growing sync capabilities recently came into the spotlight when the platform placed the title track in Saali Mohabbat, produced by Jio Studios. This milestone reflects Hoopr’s expanding role in film, advertising, and branded entertainment music placement.
Commenting on the fundraiser, Gaurav Dagaonkar, CEO and Co-founder of Hoopr and an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, said that India’s creator economy has grown fourfold over the past four years, yet music licensing continues to remain one of its most opaque and unregulated segments. He explained that with over 80,000 brands and nearly five lakh creators producing branded content on social media, the market represents a ₹1,500 crore opportunity that remains largely underserved. According to him, Hoopr is building the infrastructure rails for transparent music licensing so creators can access music legally, brands stay protected, and artists receive fair compensation.
Sharing his perspective, Srinivasan B, Investment Director at The Chennai Angels, said that Gaurav’s deep understanding of music publishing shaped Hoopr’s foundation. He highlighted how the company began by licensing Gaurav’s own music and iconic Indian catalogues as seed capital, which created a virtuous cycle of cash flows and innovation. He added that Hoopr’s growing network of labels, creators, and clients continues to strengthen its revenue engine, driven by powerful network effects that position the company for sustained growth.
As OTT platforms and digital advertising fuel unprecedented demand for licensed music across films, advertisements, and social media content, the startup stands uniquely placed to capture this opportunity. Its end-to-end technology stack, which spans discovery, licensing, copyright detection, and artist revenue sharing, differentiates it in an industry long dominated by informal agreements and opaque terms.
