Oboe Secures $16 Million from a16z to Revolutionize AI-Driven Learning
Oboe, an innovative learning platform founded by former Spotify executives and Anchor co-founders Nir Zicherman and Michael Mignano, has successfully raised $16 million in a Series A funding round led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). This investment also saw participation from existing backers Eniac, Haystack, Offline, and Factorial, along with notable individual investors such as Adam D’Angelo, Garry Tan, Lenny Rachitsky, Mati Staniszewski, Mikey Shulman, Jared Hecht, and M.G. Siegler.
Launched in September 2025, Oboe empowers users to set personalized learning objectives and utilizes artificial intelligence to craft customized courses tailored to these goals. This recent funding round comes just three months after the platform’s debut and follows a $4 million seed round raised the previous year. CEO Nir Zicherman emphasized the necessity of this capital infusion to accelerate the company’s growth and broaden its reach.
We aim to connect with billions of individuals eager to explore new subjects, presenting a substantial opportunity, Zicherman stated in a conversation with TechCrunch. To realize this vision, we must expedite our execution and scale our audience rapidly.
Zicherman highlighted the strength of Oboe’s team, composed of seasoned consumer product developers, as a significant advantage over competitors in the market.
Bryan Kim, a partner at a16z, expressed admiration for Oboe’s swift content generation capabilities, noting the absence of prolonged loading times for users. We’ve long believed in the potential of AI-assisted learning to help people delve into new topics and have been searching for the right company to support. Upon Oboe’s launch, we were impressed by the product. We sought a founder who is ambitious, adaptable to various formats, and possesses a deep understanding of AI to build a substantial platform. We found that in Oboe, Kim conveyed to TechCrunch.
Oboe is also enhancing its core course-generation experience. Previously, the platform offered content in various text and audio formats, with styles differing based on user preferences and payment plans. The latest iteration focuses on understanding users’ learning objectives and generating structured chapters to facilitate topic comprehension. Additionally, interactive elements like quizzes are seamlessly integrated into the course material, and for certain subjects, Oboe provides flashcards to aid in information retention.
In the audio domain, Oboe now automatically generates podcasts tailored to the learning material, adjusting the tone based on the content and user feedback, eliminating the need for users to choose between podcast or lecture formats.
Zicherman noted a significant demand among users for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects, prompting the company to curate high-quality materials in these areas, including programming courses. He emphasized that, akin to skilled educators who determine optimal teaching methods for students, Oboe is committed to designing courses that cater to diverse learning preferences.
To make its offerings more accessible, Oboe is revising its pricing model. Users can now generate unlimited courses. For those seeking deeper exploration of topics, a subscription of $15 per month ($144 annually) grants access to additional course chapters. A Pro plan, priced at $40 per month ($384 annually), offers unlimited chapter access and the ability to export or download courses for offline consumption, catering to students who prefer printed study materials.
Currently, Oboe’s courses are available in English, but the company plans to expand its reach by offering localized courses and support for multiple languages. While the platform is presently accessible via the web, mobile applications are in development to enhance user convenience.
In recent years, various tools have emerged that allow users to input prompts to generate content, such as podcast episodes on specific topics. However, these are typically one-off creations. Oboe distinguishes itself by enabling users to engage in comprehensive, chapter-based learning experiences, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of subjects.
