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Saarey develops an audio streaming application focused on exclusive South Asian classical music. The platform offers human-curated content, holding significant worldwide rights to recorded music in this genre, especially from Pakistan. Available on iOS and Android, it provides a high-quality digital destination for a rich cultural art form, addressing a market previously reliant on fragmented sources.
The company originated from a desire to democratize access to this culturally significant art form. Founder and CEO Faraan Irfan, a veteran in South Asian classical music from a multi-generational family legacy, conceived the platform. His advanced business education informed this venture, supported by a team with complementary industry expertise.
Saarey primarily serves enthusiasts of South Asian classical music seeking reliable, curated access. The company envisions expanding beyond streaming to build a comprehensive ecosystem for this musical tradition. This includes facilitating education, connecting artists and event organizers, enabling direct support for artists, and offering related merchandise, fostering global cross-cultural artistic collaborations.
Saarey has raised $1.3M across 2 funding rounds.
Saarey has raised $1.3M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Saarey has raised $1.3M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Saarey is a London-based technology company that has developed an award-winning audio streaming platform focused on South Asian classical music. It serves a large, underserved global market of approximately 125 million enthusiasts, offering exclusive access to 85-90% of recorded South Asian classical music from Pakistan. Saarey’s product, Saarey Music, is available on iOS, Android, and the web, providing users with human-curated playlists and subscription plans to access this culturally significant music. The platform addresses the problem of limited digital access to this niche genre, enabling users worldwide to easily discover and enjoy South Asian classical music. Saarey has demonstrated strong growth momentum, with a 272% year-over-year revenue increase in its first year and steady monthly growth in paying subscribers and recurring revenue[1][2].
Founded in 2019, Saarey was born out of a deep desire to preserve and promote South Asian classical music, a living art form with rich cultural heritage. The company is led by CEO Faraan Irfan, a 16-year veteran of South Asian classical music who continues a 61-year family legacy in the genre. Faraan holds a Global MBA with honors from Columbia Business School, London Business School, and the University of Hong Kong. The founding team also includes Nick Cooke, a subscription funnel expert formerly with Spotify, and Deven Dave, a serial entrepreneur and angel investor with extensive experience in entrepreneurship and engineering. Early traction included securing exclusive worldwide rights to the majority of Pakistani classical music recordings and launching a live streaming service that quickly gained thousands of active users and strong revenue growth[1][2].
Saarey rides the global trend of niche streaming platforms that cater to underserved cultural and musical communities, leveraging digital technology to preserve and promote heritage art forms. The timing is favorable due to increasing global internet penetration, mobile device usage, and a growing appetite for culturally authentic content. Market forces such as the rise of subscription-based audio services and the demand for curated, high-quality music experiences work in Saarey’s favor. By focusing on South Asian classical music, Saarey fills a significant gap in the streaming ecosystem, influencing the broader music industry by expanding the diversity of accessible content and supporting cultural preservation through technology[1][2][3].
Saarey is well-positioned for substantial growth, aiming to reach 2 million paying subscribers and £50 million in revenue within five years, potentially becoming a £250 million company. Future trends shaping its journey include continued digital adoption in South Asia and diaspora communities, increasing demand for culturally rich content, and advances in streaming technology. Saarey’s influence may evolve from a niche streaming service to a broader digital ecosystem for South Asian classical music, potentially expanding into content acquisition, live experiences, and educational offerings. Its strong foundation and unique market position suggest it will remain a key player in preserving and popularizing South Asian classical music globally[1][2].
Saarey has raised $1.3M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $1.0M Seed in October 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2022 | $1.0M Seed | ||
| Oct 1, 2021 | $320K Seed |