HotDrop Named Only Music Startup in 2022 Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator Class

HotDrop, the social music discovery app redefining how Gen Z finds new music, has joined The Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator out of Portland, Maine. For those tired of listening to the same songs on repeat, HotDrop guides music lovers and discoverers through a feed of underground indie music. The user interface resembles apps like TikTok; HotDrop users swipe through various short form audio snippets with supplemental links and info provided by indie artists themselves. With 91% of these indie artists completely undiscovered, they often struggle to break through the noise and get their music heard. HotDrop provides additional avenues for discovery and career development, without increasing the financial burden on artists. 

As one of nine companies gathered as the 2022 Techstars Accelerator class, HotDrop founders Max Goldberg and Steven Segel will receive valuable mentorship and guidance under the accelerator’s Managing Director, Lars Perkins (co-founder of Picasa and former Google executive). Companies were chosen for the accelerator based on their efforts to revolutionize how we live and work, with HotDrop emerging on college campuses as the new and hot way to discover and share new underground music.

“The Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator looks for startups at the intersection of humans and machines in areas that will revolutionize how we live and work. Music is an important part of our lives and the new music discovery experience is stale and ripe for innovation,” says Lars Perkins, Managing Director of The Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator. “We believe HotDrop has the potential to change how people discover and experience the music of emerging artists, helping new musicians get heard and giving listeners a richer experience.”

“Being in this environment, fully immersing ourselves alongside other talented founders and entrepreneurs is an incredible opportunity in this stage of development. We are so grateful for the mentorship and guidance of the Techstars team,” says HotDrop Co-founder Max Goldberg.

As the youngest CEO and COO to take part in the accelerator at the Portland, Maine office, Goldberg and Segel were chosen for their professional ambition and drive, both which power HotDrop. Their ability to understand complexities challenging indie artists in the music industry, and apply previous experience developing apps and building code for their own businesses throughout high school and college is shown through HotDrop. The team knows this demographic well, as HotDrop was founded by Goldberg and Segel in their Indiana University dorm room and is now supported by a team of talented professionals. 

“HotDrop is the culmination of all we have learned professionally, and we’re so honored to take part in the Techstars Accelerator to further our mission and learn from successful entrepreneurs,” says HotDrop Co-founder Steven Segel.

HotDrop will take part in Techstars’ Demo Day on December 15, 2022 in Portland, Maine, where they will pitch their company to an audience of supporters, community members, mentors, and potential investors