Sesh is a platform that enables creators, coaches, and experts to host and monetize live, interactive video sessions. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Sesh co-founder and CEO Pepe del Rio to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Pepe del Rio’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? del Rio said:
“I’m the co-founder and CEO of Sesh, an infrastructure layer built to power the next generation of artist fan communities. We officially launched in March 2023, and in just a year, we’ve had the chance to work with some of the world’s biggest artists — from Anitta to the Black Eyed Peas.”
“The idea behind Sesh came from a simple but powerful goal: to give artists a better way to connect with their fans — directly, authentically, and sustainably.”
“I grew up in Spain as the oldest of eight kids, but I’ve lived all over — Canada, the U.S., the UK, and Ireland. Music’s always been in my DNA. I played in bands, wrote songs, booked shows, and lived the full DIY artist hustle. That hands-on experience gave me a real understanding of how hard it is for artists to build and sustain fan relationships — especially without intermediaries.”
“Academically, I studied business and law in Madrid, then continued at UNC Chapel Hill and Tulane. I started my career in private equity, but I always knew I’d come back to music. Sesh was born at the intersection of that creative drive and business discipline — with the mission to build tools that let artists grow, activate, and own their communities. For us, it’s about more than software — it’s about creating a home for artists and fans to truly belong.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? del Rio shared:
“Sesh started with a lifelong friendship. I met one of my co-founders, Iñigo Bunzl, when we were just seven years old in Spain. Over the years, we always shared a vision of building something impactful — something entrepreneurial, ambitious, and rooted in culture. That vision eventually focused on music. We were fascinated by how fragmented the artist-fan relationship had become, and how little control artists had over their own audiences and economics.”
“Our first step was launching an MVP called Colkie — a simple app designed to test fan engagement mechanics. It gave us our first glimpse into what was possible. As we started working more closely with major Spanish artists to test tools and gather insights, we realized the opportunity was much bigger than we thought.”
“We flew to Miami to explore partnerships and deepen our understanding of the U.S. market. That’s where we met our third co-founder, María José Guzmán (MJ), who was working at Interscope Records at the time. She immediately understood the vision and brought industry experience that helped us take things to the next level.”
“That’s when Sesh was born — not just as a product, but as an infrastructure layer for the future of artist-fan relationships. We’re here to put power back in the hands of artists by helping them own their data, deepen fan relationships, and collaborate more effectively with stakeholders across the music ecosystem — from labels and agencies to platforms and promoters.”
“Today, over 250 artists use Sesh to manage and monetize their communities. And we’re just getting started.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? del Rio reflected:
“My favorite memory was closing our first big deal with a major industry player — and launching that artist’s community for the first time. It was the kind of early validation every founder dreams about: real buy-in from someone inside the industry who understood the value of what we were building.”
“What made it unforgettable was what happened next. The night we went live, the entire team stayed awake together, refreshing the dashboard, watching the numbers, the fan signups, the reactions — all the way until 8am the next morning. There was this electric energy in the air. We weren’t just shipping features anymore — we were moving the industry.”
“That night proved something to all of us: this isn’t just a cool tool or a niche product. Sesh matters. It’s building something foundational for the future of music.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? del Rio explained:
“Sesh is an all-in-one infrastructure designed to help artists grow, engage, and monetize their fan communities — all while owning the relationship.
We break the fan journey into four core layers:
- Acquisition — Artists launch their official fan club through a trackable link, QR code, or email invite. Our system captures key data from every fan interaction.
- Identity — Fans who join get a digital member card saved to their phone wallet. This becomes a direct channel — artists can send push notifications straight to fans’ lock screens without needing an app.
- Engagement — Fans can enter the Sesh community app, a gamified space to connect with each other, join live chats, and participate in exclusive sessions designed around the artist’s world.
- Ownership & Intelligence — Artists and their teams have access to a full CRM where all fan data lives. Our AI layer provides actionable insights and segmentation tools to activate superfans, optimize campaigns, and drive revenue.
At its core, Sesh is about making fanbases an asset artists truly control — unlocking recurring revenue, deeper relationships, and a platform they can grow on their own terms.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? del Rio acknowleged:
“One of our biggest challenges was cutting through the noise. The music-tech space is saturated with hype — AI tools, NFT marketplaces, you name it. We had to fight to get people to see that the real future of the music economy lies in the artist-fan relationship — and that fan ownership is the most valuable long-term asset an artist can build.”
“Another challenge was access. We didn’t come from the typical music industry circles. We didn’t have the usual network or insiders — and instead of trying to play that game, we focused entirely on building the best product in the market. One that could speak for itself and spread through word of mouth, not connections.”
“That discipline helped us stay obsessed with our users — artists and fans — and build something truly different. The result? Sesh is now being used by artists who reach over 750M monthly listeners, and the industry is starting to catch up to the thesis we bet on from day one.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since its launch? del Rio noted:
“Since launch, we’ve evolved from a basic fan engagement MVP into a full-stack platform that gives artists real ownership over their audience — and direct channels to activate them.”
“One of our biggest breakthroughs has been the launch of the Wallet Member Card. Fans can now join an artist’s official community and instantly download a digital pass to their phone’s wallet — no app required. This turns every fan into a verified, reachable contact, and gives the artist a new level of direct access.”
“With this card, artists can now send push notifications straight to fans’ lock screens, completely bypassing the algorithms of social media or streaming platforms. Whether it’s a music release, exclusive merch drop, VIP event, or ticket presale — artists can now drive action in real time, from their own ecosystem.”
“This feature not only boosts engagement, but it also transforms the artist’s fanbase into a dynamic, data-rich asset they fully control. And it’s just the beginning — we’re continuing to build new layers of intelligence, automation, and monetization on top of this foundation.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? del Rio cited:
“We’ve hit several key milestones since launching Sesh — both in terms of product innovation and market traction.”
“On the product side, the launch of our Wallet Member Card has been a game-changer. It’s the first tool that allows artists to send direct push notifications to their fans’ phone wallets, creating a new communication layer that’s more direct and effective than social media.”
“On the growth side, we’re now working with over 250 artists across Latin America, the U.S., and Europe — including names like Yeri Mua, Anitta, Alleh & Yorghaki, Mau y Ricky, Lasso, Timø, Nathy Peluso, and Zoe Gotusso. Collectively, these artists reach over 750 million monthly listeners on Spotify, have 1 billion+ followers on social media, and received 44 Grammy nominations last year alone.”
“We’ve also raised $7 million in pre-seed and seed funding from top-tier investors who believe in our mission to build the infrastructure for the next generation of fan communities.”
“And we’re just getting started. The momentum we’re seeing — from artists, managers, and the wider industry — confirms that fan ownership is the next frontier in music.”
Funding
When asking del Rio about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“Sesh has raised $7 million to date, led by Miura Global, with participation from a select group of angel investors across the music, tech, and entertainment industries. This backing has given us the resources to move fast — expanding our team, accelerating product development, and onboarding a fast-growing roster of artists.”
“Our focus now is on scaling the ecosystem: giving artists even deeper tools for engagement, monetization, and fan intelligence. We’re also investing heavily in data infrastructure and AI to help artists unlock the full value of their communities.”
“While we’re not sharing specific revenue figures yet, our model is subscription-based, and early traction has validated both the demand and willingness to pay. Artists see Sesh as a core part of their business stack — not just a tool, but infrastructure. And that’s reflected in our growth.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? del Rio assessed:
“We’re targeting a fast-growing global market of artists — both independent and signed — who want more control over their careers and fan relationships. There are over 11 million active artists worldwide, and that number is growing every year as creation and distribution continue to democratize.”
“What’s changing is the mindset: more and more artists are shifting from a label-first to a fan-first strategy. They want direct channels, better data, and tools that help them own their audience. Yet the infrastructure to support this shift is still early — and that’s where Sesh comes in.”
“We believe the TAM goes far beyond traditional SaaS. We’re building infrastructure for an entire fan economy — encompassing artist CRM, community tools, fan monetization, merch, ticketing, and even direct media. That opens up a multi-billion dollar opportunity at the intersection of music, tech, and consumer platforms.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? del Rio affirmed:
“Sesh is built for artists — not algorithms.
While most platforms prioritize scale or virality, we focus on ownership. Our mission is to give artists a direct line to their fans — one they can control, activate, and monetize on their own terms.
What sets us apart is that we’re not just another community app or CRM tool. Sesh is the only platform that combines:
- Fan relationship management (data capture, segmentation, AI insights)
- Community-building (gamified spaces, session-based engagement, wallet cards)
- Monetization (subscriptions, presales, exclusive drops, and more)
All in one ecosystem.
We’re not here to replace social media or streaming — we’re here to give artists a layer of infrastructure that sits underneath it all. One that’s designed for longevity, not just reach.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? del Rio emphasized:
“Right now, our priority at Sesh is scaling the ecosystem — deepening our product, expanding our artist base, and growing our presence in key markets like the United States.
We’re doubling down on two core areas:
- Community Building — Helping artists activate their fanbases in more dynamic, gamified, and rewarding ways. We’re focused on turning passive audiences into active communities that drive real engagement and revenue.
- Product Development — We’re continuously shipping new features to expand our monetization stack — from presales and exclusive drops to segmentation tools and deeper fan intelligence. Everything we build is designed to help artists own their data, grow sustainably, and unlock new income streams.
Ultimately, we’re not just building tools — we’re building the infrastructure for a new kind of artist economy. One where artists own the fan relationship end-to-end.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? del Rio concluded:
“I’d love to keep pushing the conversation around fan ownership — not just as a trend, but as a structural shift in the music industry. For too long, artists have built their careers on platforms they don’t control, relying on algorithms, intermediaries, and fragmented data. We believe the next era of music will be defined by fan-first models, where community is the core asset and artists own the relationship end-to-end.”
“We’re also thinking a lot about what comes after social media. Fans want more than content — they want connection, access, identity, and belonging. That’s the space we’re building for, and we’re excited to partner with artists, labels, and forward-thinking stakeholders who see that future too.”
“Finally, I’d love to open the door to more conversations around collaboration — with anyone building in music, tech, or consumer who believes in empowering creators and shifting value back to where it belongs.”
