Scottish film company Esk raises funds to expand – Daily Business

Jamie Warner of Maven and Samuel Weatherstone, CEO of Esk

Maven Capital Partners has led a £2.6 million funding round in Edinburgh-based, Esk Film Services, a global entertainment technology company.

Funding was provided by the Maven VCTs and the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland which is also managed by Maven.

Esk produces high-end live experiences for blue-chip brands such as Netflix, Paramount and BAFTA. The business specialises in licensing iconic IP from rightsholders and transforming it into impactful, live entertainment formats providing services to promotors and venue operators on an international scale.

The company has also developed a proprietary media control system, combining bespoke hardware and software to deliver reliable, high-quality audio-visual playback for live entertainment.

Created in-house in response to repeated failures with incumbent solutions, the system is designed to deliver dependable synchronisation and performance in medium to large venues internationally.

Today’s transaction will allow Esk to invest in its business development and marketing functions as it continues to expand its reach internationally, as well as increase its IP portfolio. Funding will also help to continue the development of its unique proprietary hardware offering.

Over the last three years, Esk has delivered more than 550 shows worldwide and the company already boasts a number of major entertainment brands, venues, and agencies as customers. 

With promoters, venues, and audiences increasingly favouring formats anchored in recognisable IP, and demand being driven by fan communities, gaming franchises, and streaming-era cinematic universes, there has been a significant market shift within the rapidly evolving derivative IP live events market.

Sam Weatherstone, CEO of Esk, said: “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.

“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.”

Jamie Warner, investment ssociate at Maven, said: “Esk’s significant experience delivering highly acclaimed live entertainment experiences across the globe has attracted an impressive base of customers and IP creators and has allowed the business to rapidly grow.

“We are very much looking forward to supporting the Esk team scale this exciting business.”

Sarah Newbould, Senior Investment Manager at Nations & Regions Investment Funds, the British Business Bank, said: “This investment demonstrates the role the Investment Fund for Scotland plays in backing high‑growth, innovative businesses, helping them access the funding they need to scale, invest in new technology and compete globally.

“Esk exemplifies the type of ambitious company IFS  was established to support, and we look forward to seeing how this investment contributes to its next stage of growth.”

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