Cicada (Techstars '24)Cicada helps musicians and artist managers earn more money from live music.3.9 out of 5
3.9 out of 5
Hot take
Cicada is an innovative SaaS platform helping performing musicians monetize their live shows more effectively. Launched in 2024 and part of Techstars Oakland's Spring 2024 cohort, Cicada addresses the significant income gap musicians face with streaming platforms (which pay a mere $0.003-$0.005 per stream). Their direct-to-fan solution enables real-time audience interaction features like singalong lyrics and calls-to-action during performances, creating additional revenue streams beyond traditional ticket sales. Still in early stages with 442 users and 37 paying customers generating around $1,746 in monthly revenue, Cicada is led by co-founders Mircea (CEO) and Mark (CTO) who are demonstrating impressive product velocity and user growth.
How was this take was created?
Pros
Addresses a real income problem for musicians in the streaming age
Creates new revenue streams through direct fan monetization
Offers engaging interactive features like real-time singalong lyrics
Shows promising early traction with 37 paying customers
Backed by reputable accelerator (Techstars Oakland)
Strong founding team with demonstrated product velocity
Cons
Very early-stage with limited market validation
Relatively small customer base and revenue so far
Potential challenges scaling beyond early adopters
May face competition from established music industry platforms
Key Features
Direct-to-fan sales platform
Real-time audience interaction tools
Singalong lyrics functionality during performances
Call-to-action capabilities for artists
Live performance monetization system
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