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Top Pro Music Events 2023

MIDEM 2023

January 19-23 – France
Over the years, the world of music has experienced significant shifts and transformations. From the advent of digital formats that revolutionized how we consume and distribute music, to the resurgence of live performances that brought back the magic of experiencing music in person, these changes have been remarkable. Amidst this evolving musical landscape, one platform has played a pivotal role in witnessing and shaping these developments: Midem. As the leading international platform for the music industry, Midem has been at the forefront of these dynamic changes, serving as a hub where artists, professionals, and enthusiasts come together to explore new opportunities, forge connections, and navigate the ever-changing music business.

SXSW 2023

March 10- 19 – USA
Every year, in the month of March, professionals from around the world converge on an essential destination known as SXSW. This renowned event is not just a gathering, but an immersive experience that offers a multitude of opportunities.At SXSW, attendees can expect a diverse range of activities and attractions. The event features insightful sessions where industry experts and thought leaders share their knowledge and expertise, providing valuable insights into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations across various fields. These sessions cover a wide array of topics, ranging from technology and entrepreneurship to film, music, and comedy. Speaking of music and comedy, SXSW showcases the talents of emerging and established artists through captivating performances. Attendees can immerse themselves in the dynamic sounds of musicians from different genres or enjoy the laughter-inducing sets of renowned comedians. These showcases create an electrifying atmosphere that celebrates the power of live entertainment.

NIME 2023

May 31- June 2 – Mexico
The International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) is a global event that brings together researchers and musicians from various countries to exchange their expertise and cutting-edge research on the development of novel musical interfaces. Initially established as a workshop during the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) in 2001, NIME has since evolved into an annual series of international conferences held worldwide. These conferences are organized by research groups specializing in interface design, human-computer interaction, and computer music, aiming to explore and advance the field of musical interface design.

ICASSP 2023

June 4-10 – Greece
The upcoming International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing in 2023 is set to provide an extensive technical program that encompasses the most recent advancements in signal processing research and technology, along with their practical applications. This event will showcase a diverse range of activities including top-tier oral and poster sessions, keynote speeches, plenary sessions, perspective talks, tutorials, special sessions, exhibitions, demonstrations, industry workshops, and entrepreneurial presentations. With its broad scope and diverse offerings, the conference is anticipated to attract prominent researchers and industry pioneers from around the world.

Sonar +D

June 15-17-  Spain
At Sónar+D 2023, attendees will have the opportunity to witness, experience, engage in dialogue, and explore the utilization of AI in music and audiovisual production. The event will also delve into the ethical, industrial, and social implications that arise from its implementation. In addition, the program will feature a significant emphasis on the artistic community’s response to the climate emergency, with activities aimed at raising awareness and disseminating information. Through breathtaking multi-screen performances and technologically advanced shows, participants will be encouraged to contemplate fresh perspectives on our connection with the planet.

Sound and Music Computing Conference 2023

June 12-17-  Sweden
The 2023 Sound & Music Computing Conference and Summer School will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, 12-17 June 2023 and it will be organized by research groups in the field of Sound and Music Computing and Composition at both KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Royal College of Music in Stockholm.

Wallifornia MusicTech 2023

July 4-6 – Belgium
WALLIFORNIA, situated in the sunny city of Liège, Belgium, serves as an innovative Entertainment+Tech hub where startups, professionals, and investors collaborate to shape the future of their respective industries. With a primary focus on Music, Sports, Esports, and Gaming, WALLIFORNIA provides an ecosystem conducive to development and progress. It will bring together global professionals in the Music and Tech sectors. This summit is renowned for delivering inspiring talks on innovation, specifically tailored to startups, music professionals, and investors. Renowned speakers from diverse backgrounds, such as experienced professionals, successful entrepreneurs, visionary artists, and industry experts, generously share their valuable experiences and insights.

ICME 2023

July 10-14- Australia
The IEEE International Conference on Multimedia & Expo (ICME) has been the flagship multimedia conference for the past two decades. Through the IEEE societies, the Conference serves as a forum to promote the latest advances in multimedia technologies, systems, and applications from both a research and development perspective.

Audio Mostly 2023

August 30- September- 1 – UK
Audio Mostly is an interdisciplinary conference on design and experience of interaction with sound that prides itself on embracing applied theory and reflective practice. Its annual gatherings bring together thinkers and doers from academia and industry that share an interest in sonic interaction and the use of audio for interface design. This remit covers product design, auditory display, computer games and virtual environments, new musical instruments, and education and workplace tools. It further includes fields such as the psychology of sound and music, cultural studies, system engineering, and everything in between in which sonic interaction plays a role.

DAFX 2023

September 4-7- Denmark
The 26-th Digital Audio Effects Conference (DAFx23) will be held on September 4-7, 2023 at Aalborg University, Copenhagen. This annual conference brings together research practitioners across the globe working with digital audio processing for music and speech, sound art, acoustics and related applications.DAFx23 is organized by the Multisensory Experience Lab. The conference will be held at the Copenhagen campus and features oral presentations followed by poster/demo sessions of accepted papers, keynote addresses, tutorials and demonstrations, and a social program.

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Fundraising 23 hours ago

Despite ongoing conflict, Ukrainian fintech companies continue demonstrating remarkable resilience in securing international investment, challenging preconceptions about wartime entrepreneurship in Europe’s eastern frontier. The latest proof comes from Fintech IT Group, which has successfully raised €16.5M in growth funding from the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), marking one of the most significant wartime investments in the Ukrainian startup ecosystem. This funding round represents more than capital allocation—it signals international confidence in Ukraine’s tech sector durability and the strategic importance of maintaining financial infrastructure during crisis periods. Ukraine wartime funding attracts international backing The Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund’s investment thesis centres on supporting critical financial infrastructure that serves both civilian and business communities during unprecedented circumstances. UMAEF, backed by the U.S. government, specifically targets companies providing essential services that maintain economic stability in challenging geopolitical environments. “We’re investing in companies that demonstrate not just financial potential, but strategic importance for regional economic resilience,” noted UMAEF representatives familiar with the deal. This approach differs markedly from traditional European venture capital, which typically prioritises pure growth metrics over strategic infrastructure value. The investment reflects broader international recognition that Ukrainian fintech companies have proven their operational capabilities under extreme stress conditions—a unique value proposition in European markets where regulatory compliance and operational resilience increasingly matter to institutional investors. Monobank’s European expansion strategy Fintech IT Group, operating primarily through its flagship Monobank platform, has established itself as Ukraine’s leading digital bank with over 7 million active users. The company’s mobile-first approach and robust API infrastructure have proven particularly valuable during wartime, when traditional banking channels face physical disruption. The €16.5M funding will primarily support technological infrastructure expansion and enhanced security measures, according to company leadership. This includes strengthening cross-border payment capabilities and developing additional financial products tailored for both domestic and international Ukrainian communities. “Our experience maintaining financial services during conflict has given us unique insights into building resilient fintech infrastructure,” explained Monobank leadership. “These capabilities position us well for expansion into other European markets where operational reliability is paramount.” The funding also enables deeper integration with European financial systems, potentially positioning Monobank as a bridge between Ukrainian diaspora communities and their homeland—a strategic advantage as refugee populations establish new lives across European capitals. This investment underscores how wartime innovation often produces solutions with broader European market applications, particularly in financial services where trust and reliability prove more valuable than flashy features. For Ukrainian startups, proving operational excellence under extreme conditions may well become their unique competitive advantage in European expansion.

Fundraising 1 day ago

The UK’s fintech landscape is witnessing a new wave of institutional backing as specialised accelerators emerge to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and scalable growth. Against this backdrop, Antidote has secured €2.95M (£2.5M) in funding to launch its accelerator programme focused on fintech and Bitcoin-adjacent technologies. The funding signals renewed confidence in the UK’s position as a global fintech hub, despite ongoing regulatory uncertainties around digital assets. Led by Fulgur Ventures, the round reflects the growing appetite among European investors for infrastructure plays that can nurture the next generation of financial technology companies. The timing aligns with increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin and digital assets across traditional finance, creating demand for specialised support structures. Fintech accelerator funding attracts specialist investors Fulgur Ventures’ decision to lead this round underscores the firm’s thesis around Bitcoin infrastructure and the tools needed to support mainstream adoption. The Venice-based venture capital firm, known for backing Lightning Network infrastructure companies and Bitcoin-native startups, sees Antidote as a strategic platform to identify and develop promising UK fintech talent. “The UK remains one of Europe’s most vibrant fintech ecosystems, but there’s a clear gap in specialised support for Bitcoin and crypto-adjacent innovations,” notes a Fulgur partner familiar with the investment. “Antidote’s approach combines traditional accelerator methodology with deep domain expertise in digital assets.” The investor’s portfolio strategy focuses on companies building critical infrastructure for Bitcoin adoption, from payment rails to custody solutions. Antidote fits this thesis by positioning itself as a talent pipeline for the next wave of Bitcoin-enabled financial services. Bridging traditional fintech with digital asset innovation Antidote’s programme targets the intersection between established fintech verticals and emerging digital asset opportunities. This positioning reflects broader market dynamics where traditional financial services increasingly integrate blockchain-based solutions, creating demand for hybrid expertise. The accelerator plans to support 8-12 startups per cohort, providing €50,000 in initial funding alongside mentorship from industry veterans. The programme specifically targets companies working on payment infrastructure, trading platforms, custody solutions, and compliance technology for digital assets. “We’re seeing exceptional talent in the UK who understand both traditional financial services and the technical nuances of Bitcoin,” explains Antidote’s founding team. “Our role is to provide the runway and expertise needed to turn these insights into scalable businesses.” The funding will support programme operations, mentor network development, and follow-on investment capacity for portfolio companies. Antidote also plans to establish partnerships with major UK financial institutions seeking exposure to digital asset innovation without direct investment risk. This launch reflects the maturation of Europe’s digital asset ecosystem, where specialised support infrastructure is emerging to complement general-purpose accelerators. With regulatory clarity improving across EU markets, accelerators like Antidote are positioning to capture the next wave of fintech innovation at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets.

Fundraising 1 day ago

Germany’s tax advisory sector faces a looming crisis. With 57% of the country’s tax advisors aged over 50, the profession confronts both a demographic cliff and mounting pressure to digitalise decades-old processes. Into this gap steps AnyTax, which has secured €1 million in pre-seed funding from IBB Ventures to modernise Germany’s tax infrastructure through intelligent automation. The Berlin-based startup’s timing couldn’t be more strategic. As Germany’s Mittelstand grapples with increasingly complex tax regulations whilst traditional advisors edge towards retirement, AnyTax’s platform promises to bridge the growing expertise gap through technology that augments rather than replaces human judgment. German tax modernisation attracts strategic investment IBB Ventures’ investment reflects a broader recognition that Germany’s tax advisory market—worth billions annually—requires urgent technological intervention. The Berlin-based VC, backed by the city’s investment bank, has consistently backed companies addressing structural inefficiencies in German business processes. “The German tax system’s complexity creates both challenges and opportunities,” notes an IBB Ventures spokesperson. “AnyTax’s approach of augmenting advisor capabilities rather than replacing them aligns perfectly with how German professional services are evolving.” The funding round positions AnyTax within a growing cohort of European RegTech companies that specifically address continental European regulatory environments, rather than adapting Anglo-Saxon solutions. This localised approach proves increasingly valuable as EU member states maintain distinct professional service requirements. Addressing Germany’s tax advisor shortage through technology AnyTax’s platform targets the critical bottleneck facing German businesses: accessing quality tax advice amid advisor shortages. The company’s technology enables existing advisors to handle larger caseloads whilst maintaining compliance standards, effectively multiplying capacity within the existing professional framework. The startup’s solution addresses uniquely German challenges, including the complex interplay between federal and state tax obligations that confounds even sophisticated international businesses operating in Europe’s largest economy. By automating routine compliance tasks, AnyTax frees advisors to focus on strategic tax planning—precisely where human expertise adds most value. Founder insights suggest the €1 million will primarily fund platform development and partnerships with established German tax advisory firms, recognising that success requires deep integration with existing professional networks rather than attempting to bypass them entirely. AnyTax’s funding reflects broader momentum in European professional services technology, where regulatory complexity creates sustainable competitive moats for startups that truly understand local market dynamics. As Germany’s tax landscape grows increasingly sophisticated, platforms like AnyTax become essential infrastructure rather than mere efficiency tools.

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