#166: FOUNDER: Beyond Generative AI: Building Technology for Musicians: Andrew Carlins

What does it take to build a scalable music technology company in a market many investors consider too niche?

In this episode of Sound Connections, host Jakob Wredstrøm speaks with Andrew Carlins, Co-founder and CEO of Play Anything, about how assistive AI is making music learning more accessible.

Andrew shares how a Stanford classroom project became a music technology company, developing tools that turn recordings into sheet music and offer personalized piano learning.

The conversation also explores the realities of building a venture-backed music startup, from securing music licensing agreements and navigating publisher relationships to validating organic demand, managing investor expectations, and balancing technical development with user growth. Andrew reflects on the challenges of being a non-technical founder and why community could become an important source of long-term differentiation.

Listen in for insights into the future of AI-powered music education and the business of building music technology.