Roli, the company behind the innovative Seaboard musical keyboard and backed by figures including Pharrell Williams and Grimes, has entered administration for a second time following prolonged financial difficulties. Last week, administrators from RSM were appointed to Luminary Roli after emergency refinancing talks failed to secure the company’s future. This move resulted in the redundancy of 72 employees, though a small number were retained on a short-term basis.

Founded in 2009 by Roland Lamb while studying design at the Royal College of Art in London, Roli garnered attention for its novel music technology products. Its flagship Seaboard keyboard features a distinctive silicone surface designed to replace traditional piano keys, allowing for expressive playing techniques. Another notable product was the Airwave, a hand-tracking device aimed at composers and music learners. Despite receiving tens of millions of pounds in venture capital funding and securing £4 million from the UK government’s Future Fund, Roli struggled to convert critical acclaim into sustainable commercial success.

The company initially collapsed in 2021, with administrators at the time citing a market too limited to support its business despite widespread praise for its innovative instruments. Following this, the firm was relaunched under the name Luminary but continued to face financial headwinds. Pharrell Williams, who was an early backer of Roli and its Seaboard product, had lent his support to the company during its rise, though there has been no public statement from Roland Lamb regarding the latest development.

The company’s repeated financial instability underscores the challenges facing niche technology ventures even when backed by high-profile investors and government funding. The future of Luminary Roli remains uncertain as it navigates this latest phase in administration.