Tribe XR is a technology company.
Tribe XR has raised $2.1M across 2 funding rounds.
Tribe XR has raised $2.1M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Tribe XR has raised $2.1M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Tribe XR's investors include 9Yards Capital, A* Capital (A Star Capital), Accel, Base Partners, Curie.Bio, Day One Ventures, Index Ventures, Prototype Capital, Sequoia Capital, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Two Sigma Ventures, Aaron Levie.
Tribe XR is a virtual reality platform that enables aspiring DJs to learn, practice, and perform using professional-grade virtual DJ equipment like Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000s and AlphaTheta gear.[1][2][6] It serves music enthusiasts and beginners by offering live workshops, interactive lessons from mentors such as Pete Tong and Carl Cox, and global performance opportunities, solving the barriers of access to expensive hardware and in-person training.[2][4][6] The company has shown steady growth since its 2017 founding, with a small team of 1-50 employees, revenue under $5 million, and expansions like VR DJ lessons in hospitals, fostering a vibrant community via Discord, Oculus Quest, Meta, and Steam.[1][2][5]
Tribe XR was founded in May 2017 in San Mateo (with operations in San Francisco), initially launching its VR DJ School in Q4 2017 as an early access title on Oculus Rift.[1][3][5] Co-founders include Tom Impallomeni (CEO, previously at GoSuperAwesome), Ozan Serim (technical artist from Pixar, High Fidelity), and Kevin Lowe, drawing from backgrounds in animation, VR, software like Docusign, and startups such as Rocket Lawyer and SuperAwesome.[3] The idea emerged to democratize DJ skills through immersive VR/AR, allowing anyone to learn mechanics, techniques, and backstories from top DJs without physical gear; early traction came from seed fundraising and partnerships like the Pete Tong DJ Academy.[3][4][6]
Tribe XR rides the VR/AR education and metaverse entertainment wave, capitalizing on accessible headsets like Oculus Quest to blend music production with immersive social experiences amid rising demand for remote, interactive learning post-pandemic.[1][3][6] Timing aligns with VR hardware maturation (e.g., Quest 2/3 adoption) and music tech growth, where market forces like streaming integration (Beatport, SoundCloud) and live virtual events favor scalable, hardware-agnostic platforms over costly physical venues.[2][6] It influences the ecosystem by lowering DJ entry barriers, nurturing talent for real-world and metaverse performances, and competing with/differentiating from players like Redpill VR in social music VR.[1]
Tribe XR is poised to expand as VR music education matures, potentially integrating AR for hybrid real-virtual DJing and deepening AI-driven personalization in lessons or synth tools. Trends like metaverse concerts, Web3 music ownership, and mainstream VR adoption (e.g., Apple Vision Pro era) will amplify its global reach, evolving from niche DJ school to full virtual music ecosystem hub. With its mentor-backed community and pro gear sims, it could redefine accessible creativity, turning more users into professional performers in a borderless digital scene—echoing its core promise to help aspiring DJs go pro.[4][6]
Tribe XR has raised $2.1M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Venture Round in November 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2020 | $2.0M Venture Round | 9Yards Capital, A* Capital (A Star Capital), Accel, Base Partners, Curie.Bio, Day One Ventures, Index Ventures, Prototype Capital, Sequoia Capital, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Two Sigma Ventures, Aaron Levie, Julia Hartz, Sahin Boydas | |
| Jun 1, 2020 | $100K Seed | Sound Media Ventures |