Music League and Roxxem Win Music Tectonics Startup Competition 2025
Music League and Roxxem emerged as the top winners of the Music Tectonics Startup Competition ‘Swimming with Narwhals’ in 2025. Every year, this competition showcases companies that are transforming how music brings people together, fuels creativity, and expands into new cultural and technological territories.
Roxxem, which earned the Jury Award, is a language-learning application that utilizes licensed music to aid students in learning English, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese. The app was recognized by a panel of investors and industry experts for its innovative approach.
On the other hand, Music League, the recipient of the People’s Choice Award, is a social music game where users participate by submitting songs based on themed prompts. The Music Tectonics community selected this startup for its unique contribution to the music industry.
Both startups have already attracted over one million registered users, demonstrating the enduring appeal of music-driven experiences beyond traditional streaming platforms and artist-fan interactions.
Music League brings a competitive element to music discovery by incorporating elements of fantasy sports. Through playlists, anonymous voting, and themed challenges, users engage in music exploration together, turning it into a communal game. Roxxem, on the other hand, leverages music as a potent educational tool, offering educators and students immersive language experiences that surpass conventional language learning apps.
These winning startups exemplify the ongoing evolution of music technology, transitioning from industry-focused tools to products that enhance everyday experiences. The competition finalists presented this year were among the largest and most advanced in the history of the event. Esteemed judges, including Andrew Kahn of Yamaha Music Innovation Fund, Mike Walsh of Structure Capital, and artist Blanco Brown, evaluated pitches in real-time at the Music Tectonics conference in Santa Monica.
Troy Gould, a prominent law firm with a specialization in entertainment industry clients, sponsored the final competition. The finalists had the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a jury comprising industry investors and experts, leading to the ultimate selection of Music League and Roxxem as the winners.
Music Tectonics founder Dmitri Vietze emphasized how the 2025 winners demonstrate the expanding influence of music in daily life, bringing it into new contexts and moments. He praised Music League and Roxxem for their contributions to the industry’s growth.
Past Narwhal winners like Audioshake have seen significant success in the industry. Rock Paper Scissors’ Shayli Ankenbruck expressed excitement for the future trajectory of Music League and Roxxem, underscoring the unpredictability of innovation in the music tech space.