/ What Happens When You Give a Music Startup £50K to Go Global?
What Happens When You Give a Music Startup £50K to Go Global?
Sunday 04 May 25
Mamba Sounds has established itself as a leading artist collective and cultural institution, operating across music, media, and consultancy.
In less than a year since completing his degree in Economics and Finance at Heriot-Watt University, Leo Fakhrul has transitioned from managing multiple jobs while building a startup on the side, to leading one of Scotland’s most ambitious music-tech ventures, with global ambition. At the heart of this journey is Mamba Sounds - a company combining culture, technology, and community to build infrastructure that empowers independent Afrobeats artists and creative entrepreneurs around the world. From Scotland to West Africa, Europe to North America, the company’s network is truly international - and growing. Backed by a £50,000 Innovate UK Creative Catalyst grant, Leo and his team are entering a pivotal new phase - one that’s set to redefine how artists connect with tools, platforms, and opportunities.
Global traction and strategic backing
Mamba Sounds has established itself as a leading artist collective and cultural institution, operating across music, media, and consultancy - in Scotland and far beyond. In the last two years, the company has generated millions of listeners across major DSPs, launched multiple radio shows, and built a global presence that bridges creative excellence with operational scale.
With strong roots in curation, artist development, and cultural strategy, the company is now laying the groundwork for its next chapter — one focused on product innovation and deeper integrations across the music-tech ecosystem. Behind the scenes, Mamba Sounds is developing enterprise-grade infrastructure designed to support both independent artists and larger clients, with a focus on tools, systems, and services that meet the demands of a fast-evolving global industry.
Leo credits much of this momentum to a strong foundation of institutional support:
● Innovate UK, whose Creative Catalyst grant enabled the company to validate and build its digital infrastructure;
● Santander Universities, who helped fund the company’s first interns;
● GRID at Heriot-Watt University, which provided mentorship and space during their incubator phase;
● And the RBS Entrepreneur Accelerator, which continues to support their growth with strategic guidance and executive-level backing.
High-stakes moments ahead
This spring marks a defining chapter in Mamba Sounds’ evolution. On April 25, the company will host a flagship RBS-backed showcase at the prestigious RBS Hub in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, marking the culmination of their Innovate UK project. The event will unveil the company’s future plans in front of a select audience of executives, investors, and cultural stakeholders — with support from local sponsors, further affirming Mamba’s position as a serious player in the creative economy.
In May, Leo Fakhrul will be a panellist at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in collaboration with the African Union Commission, speaking on “Unlocking and Monetizing Africa’s Music Economy.” His participation reflects Mamba Sounds’ growing influence in international policy and industry conversations around music’s global future.
And in June, Mamba Sounds will host a panel event at the Scottish Parliament titled “Bridging the Gap: Scotland’s Creative Future.” The event will bring together stakeholders across government, music, and technology to explore the role of innovation, infrastructure, and equity in shaping Scotland’s next chapter in the global creative economy.
What’s next?
As the Creative Catalyst phase comes to a close, Mamba Sounds is focused on scaling its digital tools - developing smarter, creator-first systems to serve artists across borders. Alongside platform development, the company is expanding its consultancy work, advising artists, collectives, and institutions, while continuing to operate as a creative agency and global-facing collective.
Whether through platform access, infrastructure, or expert consultancy, the mission remains clear: to build the systems that today’s artists need, and tomorrow’s industry demands. Backed by a growing international network - and powered by a dedicated team working behind the scenes - Mamba Sounds is no longer just a collective. It’s a movement, scaling at pace. Follow Leo’s journey by staying connected with Heriot-Watt GRID or signing up to the GRID mailing list.