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Genius

AcquiredYC S11

New York City, US · Founded 2009 · Delaware corporation · 101 employees · 4 known investors

genius.com ↗

Genius is a crowdsourced music encyclopedia where a community of contributors annotates and discusses song lyrics, artist information, and music culture across all genres. The platform serves artists, creatives, and music fans who want to explore and share deeper context about music and its creators.

ConsumerCreator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentSocialMusicUnited States of AmericaAmerica / CanadaPartly Remote

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S11)

Genius was founded in 2009 by Tom Lehman and Ilan Zechory.

TLTom Lehman
Tom LehmaninFounder/CEO
IZIlan Zechory
Ilan ZechoryinFounder

Board

JC
Jacob CohenBoard director
SS
Steve StouteBoard director
BHBen Horowitz
Ben Horowitzin𝕏Board directorCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz

Investors · 4

Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M
Transmedia CapitalSan Francisco · $5M
Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K
Vista Equity PartnersreportedNew York

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$105.8M disclosed across 2 rounds · 2020–2026

▶$5.8MraisedSep 2020 · 3 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Book Review: Raise a Genius (2017)slatestarcodex.com · Jun 2020
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Ilan ZechoryExecutive Officer, Director
  • Tom LehmanExecutive Officer, Director
  • Jacob CohenDirector
  • Steve StouteDirector
  • Ben HorowitzDirector
Offering amount
$10.3M
Amount sold
$5.8M
First sale
Sep 2020
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Founder mafia

2 people who came through Genius went on to found or lead other companies.

Ben HorowitzDirectorFounded OpswareShayne CoplanInternFounded Polymarket

Competitors · 4

by search overlap
SoundCloud1062885 shared keywordsAudio distribution and music-sharing platform for artists and creators.
Shazam565232 shared keywordsShazam is a mobile app for iOS and Android that identifies music playing nearby by creating a digital fingerprint of the audio and matching it against a database of tracks, then returning song and artist details along with lyrics, video, and recommendations. The app also lets users identify TV programs and ads, and is now part of Apple.
Smule343850 shared keywords
Deezer315166 shared keywordsDeezer is a music streaming platform offering access to over 120 million tracks, podcasts, and curated recommendations across 180+ countries. The service operates on a freemium model with offline download capabilities and includes an AI music detector tool.

Companies competing with Genius for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.

In the news

Cover Genius Raises $100M in Capital From Vista Credit Partnersinsurancejournal.com · Jul 2026Cover Genius lands $100m to power AI embedded protectionfintech.global · Jul 2026Insurtech Cover Genius raises $100 mn at $1.9 bn valuation to expand embedded protectionbeinsure.com · Jul 2026Cover Genius Raises USD $100M in Fundingfinsmes.com · Jul 2026Cover Genius Raises USD $100M Backed by Vista Credit Partners, Reaching USD $1.9 Billion Valuation as it Advances AI-First Platform and Global Expansionbusinesswire.com · Jul 2026Cover Genius raises $100 million at $1.9 billion valuation | The Insurertheinsurer.com · Jul 2026The Banality of Genius: Notes on Peter Jackson's Get Backianleslie.substack.com · Jan 2022Book Review: Raise a Genius (2017)slatestarcodex.com · Jun 2020

Frequently asked questions

What does Genius do?
Genius is a crowdsourced music encyclopedia where a community of contributors annotates and discusses song lyrics, artist information, and music culture across all genres. The platform serves artists, creatives, and music fans who want to explore and share deeper context about music and its creators.
Who founded Genius?
Genius was founded by Tom Lehman, Ilan Zechory in 2009.
Who are Genius's investors?
Genius's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Transmedia Capital, Y Combinator, Vista Equity Partners.
How much funding has Genius raised?
Genius has disclosed $105.8M raised across 2 rounds.
Where is Genius headquartered?
Genius is headquartered in New York City, US.