What problem is Beatdapp trying to solve?

Beatdapp addresses the 'missing royalties' issue in the music streaming industry. According to slide 2, streaming services self-report play counts with an estimated 15% reporting error rate. This leads to a $4.5 billion annual loss for rights holders. By providing an independent, real-time authentication and verification system, Beatdapp aims to eliminate these discrepancies and reduce litigation risk for Digital Service Providers (DSPs).

How does the technology work according to the deck?

The deck is relatively high-level regarding the underlying architecture, but slide 6 illustrates a central verification hub that connects Music Labels, DSPs, and Beatdapp. The key technical claim is the ability to process over 1 million transactions per second, which is necessary to track global streaming data in real-time across the 600+ platforms mentioned on slide 3.

Who are the key people involved in Beatdapp?

The leadership team consists of Andrew Batey (CEO), Morgan Hayduk (COO), and Pouria Assadipour (CTO), with backgrounds at companies like EasyMarkit, Telus, and the LA Clippers (Slide 10). However, the advisory board is the standout feature, including Stephen J. Harper (22nd PM of Canada) and Sarah Scott (former Chief Counsel at Universal Music Group), providing significant industry and regulatory weight (Slide 11).

What is the market size for this solution?

Beatdapp cites a Goldman Sachs report on slide 8, projecting the music streaming market to reach $30 billion by 2030. They highlight a 10.6% year-over-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR). On slide 9, they further break down the opportunity by royalty volume, noting that 1% of annual royalties are in North America while 3% are international.

Is there evidence of product-market fit in the deck?

While the deck doesn't show a product demo, it demonstrates significant market interest through a $25 million pipeline (Slide 7). This pipeline includes major industry players such as Warner Music, TuneCore, The Orchard, and T-Series. This list of potential customers suggests that the 'reporting error' problem is a recognized pain point for the world's largest music rights holders.

Beatdapp Pitch Deck (2018): 12-Slide Seed Deck

See all 12 slides of the Beatdapp pitch deck — a 2018 Seed deck — with a slide-by-slide teardown of what the deck does well and where it falls short.

Beatdapp's 12-slide seed deck from 2018 is a masterclass in 'problem-first' storytelling. The company identifies a specific, multi-billion dollar pain point—the discrepancy between streaming play counts and royalty payouts—and offers a high-throughput technical solution. By highlighting a 15% reporting error rate and the looming threat of billion-dollar lawsuits (citing Spotify's $1.6B settlement), the deck creates immediate urgency. While the technical explanation of the 'dapp' or blockchain element is light, the strength of the team and an exceptionally high-profile advisory board, includin…

Key takeaways

The deck identifies a specific $4.5 billion annual loss in the music industry due to reporting errors (Slide 2).
It creates urgency by citing a $1.6 billion publishing lawsuit settlement involving Spotify (Slide 4).
Beatdapp claims a technical capacity of over 1 million transactions per second to handle global streaming volume (Slide 6).
The company demonstrates commercial traction with a stated $25M sales pipeline featuring major labels like Warner Music and eOne (Slide 7).
Market timing is supported by a Goldman Sachs forecast of a $30B market by 2030 with a 10.6% CAGR (Slide 8).
The advisory board includes the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada and the former Chief Counsel of Universal Music Group (Slide 11).
The deck omits a specific 'Ask' slide detailing how the $2.4M would be spent.
There is no detailed breakdown of the business model or per-transaction pricing structure.

The Problem-Centric Pitch: Beatdapp's $2.4M Seed Strategy

Beatdapp’s 2018 seed deck is a focused, 12-slide presentation that prioritizes the scale of the problem over the complexity of the solution. In an era where 'blockchain' was often a buzzword looking for a problem, Beatdapp identified a multi-billion dollar accounting failure in the music industry and positioned itself as the objective auditor. By using a 'PWC for music' analogy, they simplified a complex technical proposition into a clear value add: recovering lost revenue and preventing lawsuits.

Slides 1-4: Establishing the $4.5 Billion Pain Point

The deck opens with a bold claim on Slide 1 : 'Solving a $4.5B problem for the music industry.' This immediately sets the stakes. Slide 2 breaks down the mechanics of this problem. It explains that streaming services self-report play counts, but these reports contain approximately 15% reporting errors, leading to 'Missing Royalties.' This is the core thesis of the company.

Slide 3 contextualizes the difficulty of tracking these plays by noting there are over 600 streaming platforms globally. It displays logos for major players like Spotify, YouTube, Tidal, and Peloton, alongside international giants like QQ Music and Gaana. This illustrates that the fragmentation of the market makes manual auditing impossible.

To move the problem from 'annoying' to 'existential,' Slide 4 highlights 'Multi-billion dollar headline litigation risk.' It features a Rolling Stone headline: 'Spotify Settles Its $1.6 Billion Publishing Lawsuit.' This slide is crucial because it shows that the 15% error rate isn't just lost revenue for labels; it is a massive legal liability for the platforms (DSPs) themselves. This establishes a dual-sided market need.

Slides 5-7: The Solution and Commercial Traction

Slide 5 serves as a transition, showing a collage of artists under the 'entertainment One' (eOne) brand, likely signaling an early partner or a representative rights holder. Slide 6 introduces the technical capability of the platform. It claims the system can handle '1 Million + transactions / sec.' The diagram shows a central node receiving data from Music Labels and Digital Service Providers, with Beatdapp acting as the verification layer. This is the only slide that hints at the 'dapp' (decentralized app) nature of the business, though it focuses on throughput rather than decentralization.

Slide 7 is the 'Traction' slide, though it is framed as a '$25M Pipeline.' It lists heavy hitters in the music space: Warner Music, TuneCore, The Orchard, T-Series, and Saregama. For a seed-stage company, showing a pipeline of this caliber validates that the problem identified in the first four slides is one that the industry's largest incumbents are willing to pay to solve.

Slides 8-9: Market Opportunity and Growth

Slide 8 uses external validation to size the market. Citing a Goldman Sachs 'Stairway to Heaven' report, it projects a '$30B [market] by 2030' with a '+10.6% YOY CAGR.' This tells investors that even if Beatdapp only captures a small percentage of the audit/verification fee, the underlying volume is massive and growing.

Slide 9 provides a geographical breakdown of royalties, noting 1% in North America and 3% internationally. This is a somewhat vague slide—it isn't clear if these percentages represent the error rates, the market share, or the target commission. However, it reinforces the global nature of the streaming royalty problem.

Slides 10-12: The Team and the 'Why Now'

The 'Team' on Slide 10 features Andrew Batey (CEO), Morgan Hayduk (COO), and Pouria Assadipour (CTO). Their backgrounds include EasyMarkit, Spinlister, Telus, and the LA Clippers. While the founders have solid operational experience, Slide 11 is the 'heavy hitter' slide. The 'Our Advisors' section includes Stephen J. Harper, the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada. Having a former G7 world leader as an advisor is an extraordinary signal of credibility for a seed-stage startup. The board also includes the former Chief Counsel of Universal Music Group (Sarah Scott) and the former Canadian Consul General to Los Angeles (James Villeneuve), providing deep legal and diplomatic ties to the music industry's hubs.

The deck concludes on Slide 12 by restating the three most important numbers: '$30B by 2030,' '15% reporting error,' and '$4.5B annual loss.' It ends with a simple contact email, leaving the investors with the scale of the opportunity fresh in their minds.

What Works in This Deck

The Urgency of the Problem: By leading with a $4.5B loss and a $1.6B lawsuit, the deck makes the solution feel mandatory rather than optional. · The Advisory Board: In a complex industry like music rights, having the former Chief Counsel of UMG and a former Prime Minister provides a level of 'institutional trust' that is very hard to replicate. · The Pipeline: Listing Warner Music and T-Series in a $25M pipeline for a seed round is a very strong indicator of product-market fit. · Simplicity: The deck avoids getting bogged down in the technical 'how' of blockchain/Dapp technology and focuses entirely on the business value of 'verification.'

What is Missing

The Business Model: There is no mention of how Beatdapp actually makes money. Is it a SaaS fee? A percentage of recovered royalties? A per-transaction fee? This is a significant omission for a seed deck. · The Ask: The deck does not state how much money they are raising or what the milestones for the next 18 months will be. (We know from catalogue facts they raised $2.4M, but it isn't on the slides). · Competition: There is no competitive landscape slide. Investors would want to know how Beatdapp differs from traditional auditors or other blockchain-based rights management startups. · Product Visuals: There are no screenshots or mockups of the actual dashboard or reporting tool.

What a Founder Should Copy

The 'Anchor' Metric: Find the one number that defines the industry's failure (in this case, the 15% error rate) and repeat it. It becomes the 'hook' for the entire pitch. · The Headline Strategy: Using a real-world news headline (the Spotify lawsuit) to prove that the problem you are solving is currently causing pain for the biggest players in the market. · The 'Pipeline' Slide: If you don't have revenue yet, a pipeline slide with recognizable logos is the next best thing. It proves that people are at least taking your calls. · External Data Sources: Using a Goldman Sachs report to size your market adds a layer of professionalism and objectivity that 'founder-calculated' TAM slides often lack.

Frequently asked questions

What problem is Beatdapp trying to solve?: Beatdapp addresses the 'missing royalties' issue in the music streaming industry. According to slide 2, streaming services self-report play counts with an estimated 15% reporting error rate. This leads to a $4.5 billion annual loss for rights holders. By providing an independent, real-time authentication and verification system, Beatdapp aims to eliminate these discrepancies and reduce litigation risk for Digital Service Providers (DSPs).
How does the technology work according to the deck?: The deck is relatively high-level regarding the underlying architecture, but slide 6 illustrates a central verification hub that connects Music Labels, DSPs, and Beatdapp. The key technical claim is the ability to process over 1 million transactions per second, which is necessary to track global streaming data in real-time across the 600+ platforms mentioned on slide 3.
Who are the key people involved in Beatdapp?: The leadership team consists of Andrew Batey (CEO), Morgan Hayduk (COO), and Pouria Assadipour (CTO), with backgrounds at companies like EasyMarkit, Telus, and the LA Clippers (Slide 10). However, the advisory board is the standout feature, including Stephen J. Harper (22nd PM of Canada) and Sarah Scott (former Chief Counsel at Universal Music Group), providing significant industry and regulatory weight (Slide 11).
What is the market size for this solution?: Beatdapp cites a Goldman Sachs report on slide 8, projecting the music streaming market to reach $30 billion by 2030. They highlight a 10.6% year-over-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR). On slide 9, they further break down the opportunity by royalty volume, noting that 1% of annual royalties are in North America while 3% are international.
Is there evidence of product-market fit in the deck?: While the deck doesn't show a product demo, it demonstrates significant market interest through a $25 million pipeline (Slide 7). This pipeline includes major industry players such as Warner Music, TuneCore, The Orchard, and T-Series. This list of potential customers suggests that the 'reporting error' problem is a recognized pain point for the world's largest music rights holders.

Cover slide of the Beatdapp pitch deck — Seed 2018 — Beatdapp pitch deck, slide 1 (2018)

Beatdapp pitch deck: the facts

Company: Beatdapp
Year: 2018
Stage: Seed
Slides: 12
Sector: Music Technology / Blockchain
Deck type: Seed Pitch Deck
Outcome: Raised $2,400,000
Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada (implied by team/advisors)

Beatdapp pitch deck PDF

The full Beatdapp deck is embedded on this page and can be read slide by slide in the browser — no download or account required. Each slide is covered in the breakdown above.

What the Beatdapp pitch deck was used for

This pitch deck is Beatdapp’s 12‑slide **seed-stage** fundraising deck from 2018 for a blockchain-based music technology startup addressing streaming royalty reporting errors. The deck positions Beatdapp as a real-time, blockchain-powered auditor for music streaming play counts—described externally as a “PWC for music play count”—aimed at helping labels and rights holders recover underreported royalties. It was used in the period leading up to Beatdapp’s combined pre-seed and seed financing that later totalled about $3.2M USD in 2019, though the specific 2018 seed tranche for this deck is reported in secondary commentary as $2.4M and not directly disclosed in primary funding announcements. The deck also highlights a significant advisory board, including former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to support credibility with investors and industry stakeholders.

Business model: Beatdapp provides a blockchain-enabled streaming content auditing and fraud detection platform that tracks song play counts across music streaming services so labels and rights holders can accurately invoice and collect royalties while helping streaming services detect streaming fraud and reduce audit costs.

Round: Seed
Year: 2019
Investors: Panache Ventures, 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups), Hike Ventures, Maple VC, Valhalla Private Capital, Additional undisclosed or smaller investors reported in funding databases
Founded: 2018
Founders: Andrew Batey, Morgan Hayduk, Pouria Assadipour
Headquarters: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with additional offices in Los Angeles and Toronto.
Industry: Music technology, blockchain, and streaming fraud detection.

Raised: Public reports and databases indicate that Beatdapp grouped its pre-seed and seed financings, along with grants and bursaries, into a total of approximately $3.2M USD announced in October 2019; some databases list a seed round of about $2.35M–$3.2M USD.

Lead investor: Panache Ventures is reported as the lead venture investor in media coverage of Beatdapp’s seed financing.

Total funding: Beatdapp has disclosed approximately $3.2M raised in combined pre-seed and seed financing grouped as one round in 2019, plus grants and bursaries, according to company and media reports.

Use of funds as presented: Beatdapp reported using seed funding to expand its service, scale its high-throughput blockchain application for auditing streaming play counts, and support business development in the music industry.

What happened after the Beatdapp deck

Following its 2018 seed deck, Beatdapp progressed through several accelerators, built out its blockchain-based auditing platform, expanded its advisory board, and raised an aggregate of around $3.2M USD in early-stage funding while pursuing partnerships and market expansion in the global music streaming industry.

Beatdapp graduated from multiple accelerators, including 500 Startups, Creative Destruction Lab, and Project Music, whic
The company raised a combined pre-seed and seed financing of approximately $3.2M USD in 2019, led by investors such as P
Beatdapp added high-profile advisors, including former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper and prominent music and
It entered partnerships such as a three-year blockchain technology collaboration with GuildOne to support music streamin
Beatdapp has been recognized in industry competitions and media as an innovative streaming fraud detection and auditing

What the Beatdapp deck got right

Compelling, quantified problem narrative. The deck anchors its story in a clearly quantified problem—an estimated 15% reporting error rate in streaming that translates into a multi-billion dollar royalty shortfall for rights holders—providing a strong, data-driven rationale for the product.
Distinct positioning as a streaming audit and fraud detection infrastructure. Beatdapp’s positioning as a real-time, blockchain-based auditor for music streaming play counts—described externally as a “PWC for music play count”—offers a differentiated infrastructure solution focused on trust, accuracy, and fraud detection.
High-credibility advisory board highlighted in the deck. The inclusion of high-profile advisors such as Stephen J. Harper (22nd Prime Minister of Canada) and senior music and legal industry leaders on the advisor slide strengthens perceived credibility with both investors and industry stakeholders.
Strong technical ambition with high-throughput blockchain focus. External descriptions of the deck and company emphasize that Beatdapp built a custom blockchain application capable of processing over one million transactions per second, underscoring the technical ambition and scalability narrative likely showcased in the slides.
Third-party validation via accelerators and competitions. By the time this deck was in use, Beatdapp had already secured spots in respected accelerators like 500 Startups, Creative Destruction Lab, and Project Music, which would have been compelling traction and validation points to include in the narrative.
Problem-first storytelling tied to a sizable pipeline. Secondary commentary notes that the deck leads with the industry pain point and ties it directly to a large revenue opportunity and a reported sales pipeline, which helps investors quickly grasp the scale and urgency of the opportunity.

What could have been stronger

Limited explicit traction and revenue evidence on the slides. Available commentary on the deck notes that while it quantifies the industry problem (e.g., a 15% error rate in streaming reporting and multi-billion dollar royalty losses), it does not clearly present concrete early traction metrics such as paying customers, pilot deals, or live integrations, leaving investors to infer commercial validation from a reported pipeline figure rather than contracted revenue.
High-level technical description without deep implementation detail. The deck positions Beatdapp as a high-throughput blockchain solution but, based on secondary descriptions, gives limited technical detail on how the system integrates with existing streaming infrastructure, handles privacy, or scales beyond million-transactions-per-second benchmarks, which may leave technically sophisticated investors wanting more architectural clarity.
Heavy reliance on high-profile advisors without clear role definition. While the advisors slide emphasizes high-profile names such as Stephen Harper and senior music industry executives, it is less clear from available descriptions how deeply involved these advisors are operationally, which may raise questions about how much they contribute beyond signaling.

How an investor would read this deck

What draws attention

The deck’s framing of a quantified industry problem—an estimated 15% reporting error rate in streaming leading to multi-billion dollar royalty discrepancies—provides a clear, data-driven rationale for the product’s existence and market potential.
Beatdapp’s positioning as a blockchain-enabled “PWC for music play count” directly addresses royalty audits and streaming fraud, aligning the product with a critical, recurring need for labels and streaming platforms.
High-profile advisors, including former Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper and senior figures from Universal Music Group and major legal and songwriting organizations, add perceived credibility and access to both regulatory and industry networks.
External coverage emphasizes Beatdapp’s participation in respected accelerators (500 Startups, Creative Destruction Lab, Project Music) and its ability to raise capital, signalling third-party validation of the team and concept.

Risks that stand out

Adoption depends on convincing both streaming platforms and labels to integrate new auditing infrastructure into existing royalty reporting processes, which can be complex, politically sensitive, and slow-moving in the music industry.
Beatdapp’s product relies on ongoing access to detailed streaming data; any changes in platform policies, data-sharing agreements, or regulations could limit its ability to provide accurate audits.
Competing solutions—whether internal tools from large DSPs or other data/audit providers—could erode Beatdapp’s differentiation if they offer similar fraud detection and auditing capabilities.
The company’s positioning as a blockchain technology provider could expose it to sector-specific skepticism or regulatory scrutiny, particularly if investors or partners associate blockchain with volatility or speculative use cases rather than infrastructure.

Questions this deck invites

How many streaming platforms and labels had signed pilots, integrations, or commercial contracts at the time of this 2018 seed deck, and what was the status of that reported sales pipeline (e.g., value, stage, conversion rates)?
How does Beatdapp’s blockchain infrastructure integrate with major DSPs’ existing data flows and privacy requirements, and what specific performance benchmarks (e.g., sustained transactions per second in production) had been demonstrated wi
What is the detailed business model at the 2018 stage—pricing structure, target customer segments, and expected sales cycle length—for label and platform customers?
To what extent are high-profile advisors such as Stephen Harper and senior music executives contractually engaged, and what concrete responsibilities, time commitments, or introductions have they agreed to provide?
How does Beatdapp navigate regulatory and contractual issues around accessing streaming data (including cross-border data transfer and rights agreements) in key markets like North America, India, and Japan?

What founders can take from the Beatdapp deck

Quantifying a specific and large industry pain point—such as an estimated error rate in streaming reporting and its associated multi-billion dollar royalty shortfall—creates a compelling, problem-first narrative for a seed-stage deck.
Positioning a startup as an infrastructure-layer “audit” or “PWC-style” solution in a data-sensitive industry can resonate strongly if the value proposition focuses on accuracy, trust, and fraud detection.
Featuring credible, domain-relevant advisors (e.g., a former head of government and senior music industry executives) can significantly enhance perceived legitimacy, especially when selling into regulated or relationship-driven markets.
Participation in well-known accelerators and competitions (such as 500 Startups, Creative Destruction Lab, and Project Music) acts as third-party validation that can be highlighted alongside a seed deck when raising capital.
Combining multiple small financings (pre-seed, seed, grants) into a single headline round can simplify fundraising storytelling, but it is important to distinguish clearly between what is claimed in the deck and what is later grouped in public funding announcements.
Seed decks that focus heavily on the magnitude of the problem and technical capacity benefit from complementary clarity on early commercial traction, as investors will probe for pilots, contracts, and revenue even when they are not detailed on the slides.

Beatdapp pitch deck: common questions

What does Beatdapp do?

Beatdapp is a blockchain-enabled streaming content auditor and fraud detection platform that tracks song play counts in real time for music streaming services and rights holders, helping labels and artists accurately collect royalties and helping platforms detect streaming fraud and reduce audit costs.

How much funding did Beatdapp raise around this 2018 seed deck?

According to company and media reports, Beatdapp grouped its pre-seed and seed financings, plus grants and bursaries, into a combined $3.2M round announced in October 2019; data aggregators report a seed round of about $2.35M–$3.2M USD with investors including 500 Global, Panache Ventures, Hike Ventures, Maple VC, and others. The specific 2018 seed tranche associated with this deck is described in secondary commentary as $2.4M, but that figure does not appear in primary funding announcements.

Who founded Beatdapp and when?

Public profiles and company materials state that Beatdapp was founded in 2018 by co-CEOs Andrew Batey and Morgan Hayduk, together with co-founder Pouria Assadipour, as a blockchain-based platform for record labels to track streaming plays and detect fraud.

Who invested in Beatdapp’s seed round showcased in this deck?

Media coverage reports that Beatdapp’s funding round was led by Panache Ventures and included participation from investors such as 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups), Hike Ventures, Maple VC, Valhalla Private Capital and others, though different databases list slightly different subsets of investors and amounts. The deck itself, based on the excerpt, does not explicitly list the round size or investor names on the slides referenced here.

Is it true that former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is on Beatdapp’s advisory board?

Yes. Beatdapp’s advisory board includes Stephen J. Harper, the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada; media reports describe him joining the advisory board of Beatdapp Software Inc. to assist with expansion, and the deck’s advisor slide lists him alongside other music and legal industry advisors.

Sources

Funding and outcome facts on this page were researched on 2026-08-21 from the pages below.

Beatdapp pitch deck slides

Beatdapp pitch deck slide 1 of 12 — Beatdapp pitch deck — slide 1 of 12

Beatdapp pitch deck slide 2 of 12 — Beatdapp pitch deck — slide 2 of 12

Beatdapp pitch deck slide 3 of 12 — Beatdapp pitch deck — slide 3 of 12

Beatdapp pitch deck slide 4 of 12 — Beatdapp pitch deck — slide 4 of 12

Beatdapp pitch deck slide 5 of 12 — Beatdapp pitch deck — slide 5 of 12

Beatdapp pitch deck slide 6 of 12 — Beatdapp pitch deck — slide 6 of 12

What each slide of the Beatdapp pitch deck says

Slide 2

andrew@beatdapp.com Hy: beatdapp opge The $4.5 Billion Problem dla Streaming Service Labels Invoice Self Reports Play Counts Based On Reporting ~15% Reporting Errors Missing Royalties

Slide 4

andrew(@beatdapp.com 'Hy: beatdapp Multi-billion dollar headline litigation risk - MSwne Subscribe HOME > MUSIC > MUSIC NEWS DECEMBER 20, 2018 4:05PM ET Spotify Settles Its $1.6 Billion Publishing Lawsuit Spotify and Wixen, publisher of artists like Neil Young and Tom Petty, reach resolution with undisclosed sum

Slide 6

’ H ! beatdapp andrew@beatdapp.com rd ITH 1Million + — ZF transactions / sec proses N . beatdapp

Slide 11

' ' . ' beatdapp STEPHEN J. HARPER 22nd Prime Minister of Canada andrew@beatdapp.com SARAH SCOTT JAMES VILLENEUVE BARRY SHRUM Former Chief Counsel & Former Canadian General Counsel Songwriters Head of Digital at Consul General to Music Hall of Fame Universal Music Group Los Angeles Our Advisors

Slide text above is read directly from the Beatdapp deck PDF embedded on this page.