MUSTACH strengthens global impact and million-dollar deals in music technology
Today, through their label and export catalog MusicTech Chile, they aim to boost the export potential of an industry that generated USD 2 million in sales in 2024. One of the member companies, DSM%26Humboldt, has even seen artists like the Foo Fighters use their high-fidelity processors.
The music and entertainment businesses are among the industries that incorporate the most technology year after year. The reason? The demand for more immersive, powerful, and impactful experiences. In 2024, the recorded music industry reached revenues of 29.6 billion dollars, with artificial intelligence and technology investment exceeding 10 billion dollars. In Chile, the Association of Technology Companies for the Music Industry (MUSTACH) has been working to create a development and momentum space for startups, entrepreneurs, and companies that want to contribute to music creators. Today, after ten years of silent flight, the organization can proudly show its results.
The birth of MUSTACH (in 2011 as a group, which formalized with its legal constitution in 2017) dates back to a clear motivation: to provide support, visibility, and collaboration opportunities to Chilean companies that, from different fronts, sought to address issues in the music and entertainment industry through new technologies.
From managing rehearsal rooms, manufacturing instruments and accessories, to digital platforms for the protection of intellectual property and based on artificial intelligence, this association - the first of its kind providing solutions globally, as noted by its board - seeks to provide a space that allows its members to scale up and internationalize.
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Today, there are 25 companies that make up the guild and span sectors as diverse as the manufacturing of custom speakers with ceramic chassis (Mapu Speakers), the creation of high-end signal effects and processors (DSM&Humboldt), or the crafting of personalized accessories and instruments (Raven Straps, Valis Guitars), whose products are already used on stages of world-renowned artists. As well as the in-ear monitoring system provided by StageWave or the platform of Divisi, which aims to modernize the music industry by facilitating the creation and management of music contracts and credits.
"When we founded MUSTACH, we believed in the potential of national developments to generate a highly specialized, competitive industry of the highest level, capable of breaking any barrier and external competition. Our purpose has always been to become a benchmark that helps social companies think globally from Chile, and achieve internationalization, strengthening the diversification of the productive matrix and image of our country," affirms Hugo Villarroel, its president.
The Consolidation of a Vision
This vision, of advancing the creation of international networks, with active participation in industry fairs and events, as well as access to financing opportunities and strategic contacts, has already begun to bear fruit.
And it became more evident at the end of 2024, when the association, hand in hand with ProChile, implemented a co-financed sectorial project to participate in major global gatherings, such as relevant events in Europe such as BIME Bilbao (where Divisi was a finalist of the startup competition), LineCheck in Milan, Sónar+D in Barcelona and Wallifornia MusicTech in Belgium and in the United States they were present at NAMM. It is precisely in the 2025 edition of this last event that MUSTACH managed to finalize deals valued at USD 1.5 million.
Likewise, a decade of relationship building work has allowed them to weave a network with Chilean cultural institutions, such as Matucana 100, and alliances with international entities -highlighting the Barcelona Music Tech Hub-, which confirms the group's ambition to export the sectorial brand of the Chilean music tech industry.
Made in Chile
One of the hallmarks of MUSTACH is its focus on continuous innovation, with a portfolio of companies ranging from nascent startups to established ventures. The requirement to join is simple: be formally established in Chile. It is not mandatory to accredit sales, allowing emerging projects to access the network and support of the association. In fact, the networking strategy has been crucial.
According to the executives, the exchange of contacts with artists and professionals in the field, agreements with producers and labels, as well as the creation of meeting spaces, facilitate the positioning of each member in global scenarios.
"We take pride in seeing how small businesses, just starting out, can reach international markets thanks to the collaboration and support from more advanced members. This is precisely a culture of collaboration, an ecosystem that will allow us to be a powerhouse. Should we continue this work agenda and make it permanent, with the support of such important instances as ProChile, we will achieve an unprecedented positioning for this industry and business opportunities on a global scale," emphasizes Villarroel.
DSM&Humboldt, for example, has succeeded in having their high fidelity signal processors used by artists such as Foo Fighters, Los Bunkers, and Los Tres. They were also recently used by the group Congreso at their presentation at Chile Day at Expo Osaka. Meanwhile, Mp Custom is recognized by names like Alain Johaness. Raven Straps, on the other hand, boasts clients of the caliber of Luis Miguel's and Naty Peluso's guitarists, among many other renowned artists.
The Future: Strengthening Brand and Increased Public-Private Engagement
One of the following goals for the coming years is to develop instances of training and connection with public and private actors. With the public sector, the association maintains a strong link with ProChile and Corfo, promoting diagnostics to enhance the industry and generating sectoral projects with a focus on internationalization.
Highlighted there is "Evento Medido", an associated company that integrates systems of economic impact measurement in various events, such as the Viña Festival (2023), REC Festival in Concepción —gathered about 360 thousand people in its 2025 —, Rockódromo in Valparaíso and Rally Chile Biobío (date of the world championship), which has measured 50 events, mainly festivals, adding up to three attendees and 250 million dollars in impact on local economies.
Furthermore, Villarroel emphasizes that "we want to be recognized as an association of 'start-uppers', companies dedicated to the creation of tools and platforms for the music and entertainment industry. It is important that everyone understands that we are not a guild of artists, but a set of global providers and creators".
In that same vein, MUSTACH aims to consolidate the export label and catalog of Music Tech Chile , boosting the potential of this industry. Following this line, the guild seeks to expand at the regional level, for which they are considering collaborating with the emerging MusicTech Brasi and beginning to prospect the creation of MusicTech Latam.
At the local level, the participation of some members in high-profile projects, such as the potential International Creative District in the former O'Higgins Hotel of Viña del Mar, reflects the entity's innovation capacity and its willingness to collaborate in a pioneering innovation ecosystem, with municipalities and government institutions.
Similarly, the focus on issues such as intellectual property, AI applied to musical development, or digital distribution platforms, are part of the agenda that the guild wishes to install more forcefully in public discussion.
From the association, they believe that the recently reached USD 1.5 million will be the basis on which to project growth for the industry in 2025 and the following three years, of at least 10 to 15% annually, without forgetting to promote the creation and marketing of high-impact products and services.