The Equity | Impact Center is excited to announce that Maximillian Obasiolu, founder of Lead-In Record Co., has been awarded a 2025 IMPACT Fund award. The IMPACT Fund supports entrepreneurs who are building innovative, socially responsible ventures, and Maximillian’s work is a powerful example of that mission in action.
A former jazz trombonist and experienced artist manager, Maximillian is also a dual master’s graduate from Carnegie Mellon University in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Engineering & Technology Innovation Management. He founded Lead-In to reimagine vinyl record manufacturing by developing robotic solutions that make production faster, more affordable, and more accessible for independent artists. Lead-In will reduce the typical record manufacturing timeline from six months to just one week, unlocking new opportunities for small-scale and underrepresented musicians.
Maximillian is part of a growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs leveraging technology for social impact, and we’re excited to invest in his journey. The IMPACT Fund award will support Lead-In’s next phase of growth, covering key hardware prototyping, engineering, and operational expenses. Maximillian, an alumnus of the PEER Fellowship program, plans to give back by partnering with the Equity Impact Center’s SCALE Fellowship to manufacture records for artists in the program. “The mission of SCALE aligns perfectly with ours,” Maximillian shared. “We’re both working to lower barriers and build tools that empower artists to thrive on their own terms.”
“We know support to our community cannot end when our programs end, so we launched the IMPACT Fund to continue to provide resources and strategic support to our alumni community, especially those like Maximillian, who have continued to support our work and the EIC community at large.” Leigh Solomon Pugliano, President & CEO, The Equity | Impact Center.
Follow and support Lead-In: @LeadInRecordsCo
Looking for ways to invest in the community and make an impact? Make a donation to the IMPACT Fund.