New York-based Oboe, the AI-backed learning platform has secured a $16 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The startup, which launched publicly just three months ago, is betting big on personalized, AI-generated learning experiences designed to feel structured, immersive and tailored to each user’s goals.
Oboe was founded in 2024 by Nir Zicherman and Michael Mignano, the founders of the podcasting platform Anchor, which Spotify acquired in 2019. Before launching Oboe, both leaders held key roles at Spotify, experience that now shapes the platform’s vision for AI-driven learning.
Speaking of the development, Zicherman said the funding positions Oboe to accelerate its mission of building accessible learning systems for a global audience. “We want to reach billions of people who want to learn about new topics, and it is a very big opportunity,” he said, adding that the team’s consumer product background gives Oboe a sharp execution advantage. “We have a team of successful consumer product builders that can execute well, which gives us an edge over other startups in the market.”
Oboe generates multi-format, chapter-based courses instead of stand‑alone AI outputs. Users start by setting a goal, after which the platform produces structured chapters, quizzes, flashcards and adaptive audio content that adjusts its tone depending on the topic. This multimodal approach, the company says, is more effective for real learning than generating isolated text snippets.
Investors are equally convinced. Bryan Kim, general partner at a16z, said the team immediately gravitated to Oboe’s product after trying it post-launch. “After Oboe launched, we tried it and loved the product. We wanted to back a founder who was ambitious, flexible in adopting different form factors, and understood AI to build a big platform. We found that in Oboe,” he said. Kim pointed to the platform’s ability to generate structured learning quickly, reducing wait times that typically frustrate new users.
Alongside the funding announcement, Oboe has updated its product and pricing. The platform now begins each course by analyzing a user’s learning goal before assembling chapter sequences. Quizzes and flashcards have been fully integrated, and the audio component has been refined to blend podcast-style narration with educational clarity. The company also rolled out new pricing tiers: a free plan with unlimited basic course creation, a $15 monthly plan with deeper chapter access and a $40 Pro plan offering unlimited chapters and downloadable course exports.
Oboe is currently available on the web in English, with mobile apps and additional languages planned. The team reports rising demand in STEM subjects, particularly programming, and aims to expand course coverage accordingly.
As AI reshapes the education market, Oboe is positioning itself not as a chatbot, but as a complete course-generation engine designed for long-term learning. The company plans to deploy its new capital to grow the team, refine its platform and extend its global reach.
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