Hoopr.ai, a Mumbai-based music licensing and distribution platform founded by composer-preneur Gaurav Dagaonkar, has raised Pre-Series A funding from early-stage investor network The Chennai Angels, as part of its ongoing growth round.
The investment adds to Hoopr’s existing backers, including Inflection Point Ventures, MeitY Startup Hub, 100Unicorns, VCats Marketing, and 91 Ventures. Financial details of the latest tranche were not disclosed.
The funding comes at a time when copyright compliance has become a growing operational risk for brands and digital creators. With a single infringement notice capable of disrupting advertising campaigns or monetisation pipelines, demand for licensed and cleared music has increased across influencer marketing, OTT content, gaming, and branded media.
Hoopr operates in this space by offering structured access to commercial music while managing rights clearance and royalty distribution. Its core platform caters to creators seeking copyright-safe music, while its enterprise-focused vertical, Hoopr Smash, works with brands looking to license mainstream and regional catalogues for digital campaigns.
According to the company, more than 4 lakh creators currently use its marketplace. Its enterprise clients include brands such as Myntra, Marico, and ITC, which use the platform to secure legal clearance for music in advertising and social media campaigns.
Commenting on the investment, Srinivasan B, Managing Director of Vikatan Group and an investor through The Chennai Angels, said Hoopr’s approach reflects founder-led insight into long-standing licensing challenges. Dagaonkar has previously spoken about entering the space after encountering unauthorised use of his own music in brand campaigns.
India’s music licensing ecosystem has historically been shaped by fragmented rights ownership, limited standardisation, and complex negotiations. These factors have often left creators underpaid and brands exposed to legal uncertainty. As short-form video and digital advertising volumes have grown, these inefficiencies have become more visible.
Hoopr has positioned itself as an intermediary between independent artists, labels, and commercial users. The company works with rights holders to make catalogues available for licensed use, while offering simplified pricing and clearance mechanisms for buyers. It has also reported disbursing more than ₹4.5 crore in royalties to independent artists to date.
In addition to independent music, the platform provides access to mainstream catalogues through partnerships with companies such as Yash Raj Films and Universal Music Group, enabling brands to license well-known tracks for digital campaigns.
The company is also investing in technology-led tools, including automated copyright checks and music-brand matching systems, aimed at improving discovery and compliance for marketers.
Hoopr said the fresh capital will be used for product development, catalogue expansion, and partnerships with labels, agencies, and platforms. It is also exploring opportunities in international markets, as demand grows for structured licensing models in emerging creator economies.
