Tunisia-Based 216 Capital Invests In Turkey's Deplike To Revolutionize Music Education

Tunisia-based early-stage venture capital firm 216 Capital has invested in Deplike, the Turkey-based music education technology startup behind Chordie AI, an app that’s transforming how people learn to play the guitar.

Other backers include Eren Bali, co-founder of the US-based online education platform Udemy; Mehmet Ecevit, co-founder of the UK-based mobile entertainment studio Gram Games; Melih Ödemiş, co-founder of the Turkey-based online food delivery company Yemeksepeti; Ali Akgün, Vice President, Microsoft AI; and Ankara-based hybrid mobile game developer and publisher MagicLab. 

Founded in Turkey in 2017 by engineers Ufuk Polat, Mehmet Süleyman Sağlam, and Mustafa Demir, all driven by a shared passion for music and technology, Deplike aims to make learning musical instruments more accessible and engaging by using artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D visualization.

In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Polat, who is also the CEO of Deplike, told us that his enterprise was created to fill a major gap in music education technology by lowering the threshold for aspiring musicians. “The core gap we address is the relevance and engagement of music education,” Polat told Inc. Arabia. “Our experience, starting with an advanced guitar effects app, showed us that most people don't want to learn complex music theory or instrument mechanics first; they want to learn their favorite songs and achieve the sound of their favorite bands.” 

As such, Deplike distinguishes itself through its fusion of elements that personalize the experience and keep users motivated. “Deplike is the only company that focuses on gamified learning paired with a personalized learning path," Polat added. "We shift the focus from learning ‘music’ to learning ‘your music,’ making the journey immediately rewarding, relevant, and fun."

Building on that mission, Polat explained that Deplike’s innovation is best exemplified in Chordie AI, its flagship technology that merges AI and 3D visualization, which, together, transform the way people learn music. The AI listens as users play, delivering instant, precise feedback on timing, rhythm, and accuracy, while continuously adapting lessons based on their skill level and goals—such as mastering a specific song. Complementing this, it utilizes 3D visualization to provide an interactive visual guide of the fretboard, showing a realistic hand model demonstrating chord shapes and finger placements in real time. This immersive approach, Polat noted, helps users grasp complex techniques more easily and progress faster than with traditional methods. 

Deplike now boasts 250,000 active users since the beginning of 2025, and 3,000 new signups a day, growth that Polat said is owing to “product love and community.” He noted that the factors that have helped the app grow its user base come down to organic virality driven by user satisfaction, community, and relevance. “People genuinely love our app because it helps them achieve their musical goals faster and more enjoyably than traditional methods," he said. "This satisfaction naturally leads them to share it with their friends, driving high organic user acquisition.” 

Polat added that Deplike’s online community also serves as a support system for users, noting, “We haven't just built an app; we've built a thriving guitar community. Users connect over music, share tips, and showcase their progress. This sense of belonging and mutual encouragement increases retention and serves as a powerful word-of-mouth engine.” 

Dhekra Khelifi, founding partner at 216 Capital. Courtesy of 216 Capital.

Reflecting on the factors behind 216 Capital’s investment in Deplike, founding partner Dhekra Khelifi highlighted the qualities that distinguish the startup in the music education space. “What drew us to Deplike was its powerful convergence of several major trends," she said. "AI-powered tools are simply the new normal for creation, and music—a timeless, massive market—has always evolved alongside technology. Deplike excels at using AI to make learning and creating music accessible and personalized." For 216 Capital, the investment in Deplike represents more than just a financial commitment; it also reflects the firm’s broader mission. “This aligns perfectly with 216 Capital's mission: backing MENA-based founders who build global-ready solutions blending education, creativity, and technology," Khelifi said, adding, "Deplike's vision is inherently global."

Khelifi also highlighted the firm’s plans to support Deplike in scaling internationally while strengthening its regional presence. “While Deplike has early momentum in the US and UK, we believe it will become the pioneer in music education across the MENA region," she said. "We are fully committed to supporting their efforts to localize and capture this key market, making them a strategic regional champion."

Ufuk Polat, co-founder and CEO of Deplike. Courtesy of Deplike.

According to Polat, investors were drawn to three main factors that define Deplike’s advantage in the market, specifically pointing to the company’s disruptive business model, product-market fit, and technology. “Seeing the success of Udemy and Gram Games, they recognized Deplike's potential to disrupt the massive music education market by blending education with gaming/social mechanics,” he said. “Our high user numbers, low churn, and strong organic growth demonstrated we had solved a real problem for a quarter of a million users. [As for the technology], the innovative use of AI and 3D visualization created a significant defensible advantage against competitors relying on older, less interactive teaching methods.” 

Building on that foundation, Polat noted that the confidence of prominent backers has further accelerated Deplike’s growth. “The credibility of our investors—including Eren Bali (Udemy), Mehmet Ecevit (Gram Games), Melih Ödemiş (Yemeksepeti), Ali Akgün (VP Microsoft AI), and MagicLab—is a testament to the potential of Deplike's vision,” he said. In terms of Deplike’s road ahead, Polat said the guidance and networks of its investors will enable the company to accelerate its global expansion and strengthen its position as a leader in AI-powered music education. 

For instance, Polat noted that Microsoft AI's Ali Akgün brings deep technical and AI expertise, helping Deplike scale its Chordie AI technology and integrate advanced machine learning capabilities. From the edtech side, Udemy co-founder Eren Bali offers strategic insight on global market entry, content expansion, and user acquisition. Meanwhile, Mehmet Ecevit of Gram Games and the team at MagicLab contribute their experience in gaming and growth—ensuring Deplike refines its gamified learning experience and strengthens its position in the competitive B2C app market. 

Beyond guidance, Polat noted that securing the backing of such experienced and well-connected investors provides Deplike with a strategic edge as it prepares for its next funding round and global scaling. “Their credibility and networks significantly enhance our position as we prepare for our next funding round, offering due diligence validation and opening doors to global partners and investors necessary for large-scale international expansion,” he said. 

In terms of advice for founders navigating the intersection of creativity and technology, Polat emphasized the importance of maintaining a customer-centric focus. “Focus obsessively on your customers, not your competitors,” he said. Expanding on that idea, Polat highlighted the first pillar of success, which is to solve the customer's real problem. “Instead of benchmarking against existing solutions, spend your energy understanding why people fail or give up on the creative activity you are focused on (for us, learning music),” he explained. “Your product should remove those barriers. Our early insight was that people care about their favorite band tone, not complex effects—this customer focus changed our product's direction entirely.” 

Polat also emphasized that technology should serve as a source of inspiration, not friction, encouraging other founders to embrace the "joy" in tech. “Technology should enhance the joy and flow of the creative process, not complicate it. Use AI, 3D, and other tools to simplify, personalize, and gamify the experience so the user spends less time figuring out the tool and more time being creative,” he said. 

Finally, Polat touched on what he believed keeps users inspired and coming back—the power of shared connection and belonging. “Creativity is often a shared experience," he said. "Your product should facilitate a community where users feel safe to share their work and celebrate their progress. This is the ultimate retention mechanism."

From the perspective of an investor, 216 Capital's Khelifi also shared advice for founders in the creative industries looking to attract smart capital. “I think the key is to package your creative genius within a framework of global ambition, verifiable metrics, and a proprietary technology edge," she said. "Think global, prove the economics, and embed your creativity in proprietary tech: that is how a creative industry startup becomes a smart capital investment."