Edinburgh-based global entertainment tech company Esk has raised £2.6m in a round led by Maven Capital Partners.
Esk produces live experiences for blue-chip brands such as Netflix, Paramount and BAFTA. The business specialises in licensing IP from rightsholders and transforming it into live entertainment formats, providing services to promoters and venue operators on an international scale.
The company’s recent work includes Top Gun: Maverick – Live in Concert, and Ocean In Concert narrated by David Attenborough.
The company has also developed a proprietary media control system, combining bespoke hardware and software to deliver audio-visual playback for live entertainment. The tech was created in-house in response to repeated failures with incumbent solutions.
The funding round, provided by the Maven VCTs and the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland, will allow Esk to invest in its business development and marketing functions as it continues to expand its reach internationally.
The investment will also help to continue the development of its proprietary hardware offering and increase its IP portfolio.
“We started Esk with a deep appreciation of live performance and immersive experiences, and a recognition that audiences have a huge appetite for in person, communal ways to enjoy the stories, creators and worlds they love – and to discover new ones,” says Sam Weatherstone, CEO of Esk.
“This investment from Maven and the British Business Bank is a massive vote of confidence in the company and our approach, and we look forward to building out our capabilities even further with their support.”
