Oboe secures $16 million in funding from a16z to advance its AI-driven platform for creating courses

Oboe Secures $16 Million in Series A Funding to Expand AI-Powered Learning Platform

Oboe, an educational technology startup founded by Anchor's creators and former Spotify executives Nir Zicherman and Michael Mignano, has announced a successful $16 million Series A funding round. The investment was led by a16z, with continued support from previous backers such as Eniac, Haystack, Offline, and Factorial. Notable individual investors include Adam D’Angelo, Garry Tan, Lenny Rachitsky, Mati Staniszewski, Mikey Shulman, Jared Hecht, and M.G. Siegler.

AI-Driven Personalized Learning

Launched in September, Oboe’s platform enables users to set specific learning objectives and leverages artificial intelligence to craft customized courses tailored to their goals.

This latest funding comes just three months after Oboe’s public debut and follows a $4 million seed round completed a year earlier. According to Zicherman, the new capital will be used to accelerate the company’s growth and reach a broader audience.

“Our ambition is to empower billions of learners worldwide to explore new subjects. To achieve this, we must scale rapidly and expand our reach,” Zicherman shared in an interview with TechCrunch.

“Our team’s proven track record in building successful consumer products gives us a significant advantage in the competitive edtech landscape,” he added.

Investor Confidence in Oboe’s Approach

a16z partner Bryan Kim expressed enthusiasm for Oboe’s ability to generate educational content quickly and efficiently, eliminating frustrating wait times for users.

“We’ve long believed in the potential of AI-assisted learning to help people discover new areas of knowledge. After trying Oboe, we were impressed by the product and the founders’ vision and adaptability. Oboe stood out as the right company to support,” Kim told TechCrunch.

Enhancements to the Learning Experience

Oboe is refining its core course creation process. Previously, the platform offered various text and audio formats and limited course generation based on users’ subscription plans.

Image Credits: Oboe

With the latest update, Oboe first identifies the learner’s objectives and then generates relevant chapters to guide their progress. The platform now integrates interactive elements such as quizzes directly into the course material, and for select courses, automatically creates flashcards to aid memory retention.

On the audio front, Oboe now produces podcast-style lessons that dynamically adjust their tone and delivery based on the subject matter and user feedback, eliminating the need to choose between podcast and lecture formats.

Image Credits: Oboe

Focus on STEM and Quality Content

Zicherman noted a strong demand among users for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) content. Oboe has prioritized sourcing high-quality materials for these subjects, including programming courses.

He emphasized that, much like skilled educators, Oboe’s approach is to design courses that match the most effective learning methods for each student.

Image Credits: Oboe

New Pricing Structure and Accessibility

Oboe is introducing a new pricing model that allows users to generate unlimited courses. For those seeking deeper exploration of topics, a $15 monthly plan (or $144 annually) unlocks access to additional chapters. The Pro plan, priced at $40 per month (or $384 annually), provides unlimited chapter access and the ability to export or download courses for offline use—ideal for students who prefer printed study materials.

Currently, Oboe’s courses are offered in English, but the company aims to expand its reach by adding localized content and language options. The platform is accessible via the web, with plans to launch mobile support in the future.

Standing Out in the EdTech Landscape

While several tools, such as Google’s NotebookLM and Huxe (created by former Google employees), allow users to generate podcast episodes on demand, Oboe differentiates itself by offering in-depth, chapter-based learning experiences that enable users to thoroughly explore new subjects.