Ascension Ventures

Ascension Ventures Limited is a private equity and venture capital firm based in London and Birmingham, United Kingdom, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in early-stage to later-stage investments, focusing on sectors such as creative industries, digital media, technology, and health. It targets investments in areas including advertising technology, financial technology, educational technology, and sustainability, among others. Ascension Ventures primarily invests in Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) companies, with investment amounts ranging from £250,000 to £1.5 million. The firm aims to exit investments within four to seven years and is open to co-investing with angel investors and other funds. With a commitment to supporting the UK tech ecosystem, Ascension Ventures actively seeks to back innovative startups that have the potential for significant growth.

Nico Albanese

Principal

Brian Belsky

Principal

Jean Fougerolles

CEO

John Kuelper JD

Senior Managing Director

Sam Marchant

Investment Associate

Remy Minute

Partner

Ryan Schuler

Managing Director

Emma Steele

Partner

Past deals in Digital Media

We are Digital

Venture Round in 2020
We Are Digital Limited specializes in providing digital skills training and courses aimed at housing tenants across the United Kingdom. Established in 2010 and based in Warwick, the company offers a diverse range of training programs, including home training, intensive group courses, digital champion workshops, and financial inclusion courses. It also focuses on specific audiences through initiatives like younger learners' tech skills training and parent/child tech clubs. We Are Digital serves a wide array of clients, including housing associations, councils, charities, and corporate entities. In 2015, the company expanded its reach by taking over Digital Unite’s tutor network, positioning itself as a leading provider of digital and financial inclusion training with a significant network of centrally managed tutors throughout the UK.

Poplar Studio

Seed Round in 2020
Poplar Studio is a platform that specializes in on-demand 3D and augmented reality (AR) campaigns. It focuses on activating a new generation of global 3D and AR creators while offering collaborative tools that streamline the production process, making it both affordable and efficient. The company has developed a visualization tool that allows businesses to present virtual previews of their products, enhancing customer engagement through an immersive shopping experience. By enabling customers to visualize products in AR, Poplar Studio helps brands build awareness and connect with targeted audiences across social media, ultimately facilitating more engaging and informative interactions between businesses and their customers.

Clara

Seed Round in 2020
Clara is a data visualization platform that enables users to transform any data set, such as Excel, CRM, or JSON files, into an interactive content management system (CMS). The platform facilitates the organization, understanding, and collaboration on complex data through interactive visualizations. Users leverage Clara for various purposes, including visual project management, corporate communication, transaction monitoring, and clustering consumer spending patterns. This functionality helps identify merchants with rapid transaction approvals and provides insights into consumer spending habits across different categories. Additionally, Clara assists venture capitalists and investors in analyzing and clustering deal flow, enhancing their investment decision-making processes.

Moteefe

Seed Round in 2019
Moteefe is an e-commerce platform established in 2014 that empowers individuals and businesses to create and sell customized merchandise through social media. It offers a comprehensive print-on-demand service that supports entrepreneurs of all sizes, from individual creators to larger retailers, in transforming their creative designs into marketable products quickly and efficiently. Moteefe's platform allows users to launch their own white-labeled stores or sell directly through their websites, minimizing upfront investment and promoting entrepreneurship. By facilitating the design and sale of custom clothing and merchandise, Moteefe enables users to reach a global audience and monetize their creative ideas.

Poplar Studio

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Poplar Studio is a platform that specializes in on-demand 3D and augmented reality (AR) campaigns. It focuses on activating a new generation of global 3D and AR creators while offering collaborative tools that streamline the production process, making it both affordable and efficient. The company has developed a visualization tool that allows businesses to present virtual previews of their products, enhancing customer engagement through an immersive shopping experience. By enabling customers to visualize products in AR, Poplar Studio helps brands build awareness and connect with targeted audiences across social media, ultimately facilitating more engaging and informative interactions between businesses and their customers.

Moteefe

Venture Round in 2018
Moteefe is an e-commerce platform established in 2014 that empowers individuals and businesses to create and sell customized merchandise through social media. It offers a comprehensive print-on-demand service that supports entrepreneurs of all sizes, from individual creators to larger retailers, in transforming their creative designs into marketable products quickly and efficiently. Moteefe's platform allows users to launch their own white-labeled stores or sell directly through their websites, minimizing upfront investment and promoting entrepreneurship. By facilitating the design and sale of custom clothing and merchandise, Moteefe enables users to reach a global audience and monetize their creative ideas.

Vidsy

Series A in 2018
Vidsy is a creative technology platform that specializes in the efficient creation of mobile video advertisements for global brands. By leveraging its advanced technology and a network of over 6,000 vetted creators, Vidsy enables brands to produce effective and consistent video content across various digital channels. The platform focuses on short-form videos, including GIFs and animations, tailored for branding and advertising purposes. This approach allows clients to swiftly capitalize on digital opportunities and adapt to changing market dynamics, while also integrating valuable insights to foster sustainable growth in their advertising efforts.

We are Digital

Venture Round in 2018
We Are Digital Limited specializes in providing digital skills training and courses aimed at housing tenants across the United Kingdom. Established in 2010 and based in Warwick, the company offers a diverse range of training programs, including home training, intensive group courses, digital champion workshops, and financial inclusion courses. It also focuses on specific audiences through initiatives like younger learners' tech skills training and parent/child tech clubs. We Are Digital serves a wide array of clients, including housing associations, councils, charities, and corporate entities. In 2015, the company expanded its reach by taking over Digital Unite’s tutor network, positioning itself as a leading provider of digital and financial inclusion training with a significant network of centrally managed tutors throughout the UK.

A Million Ads

Seed Round in 2018
A Million Ads Limited, founded in 2015 and based in London, United Kingdom, specializes in digital audio advertising services. The company utilizes contextual and audience-level data to deliver highly relevant and personalized advertisements to listeners. Its proprietary technology, the AMA studio, leverages various data sources—including purchase history, loyalty status, music preferences, and listener location—to tailor every aspect of an ad, such as voiceover and sound effects. A Million Ads also features a fully automated decision-making engine that can serve multiple ad versions through a single tag, achieving over 10 billion ad impressions across diverse audio formats, including streaming, podcasts, and broadcast radio. Additionally, the company's in-house creative team collaborates with leading brands to produce engaging campaigns. Independent third-party studies indicate that A Million Ads' campaigns positively impact key performance metrics such as brand recall, foot traffic, and sales.

CampaignDeus

Seed Round in 2018
CampaignDeus is an independent provider of influencer campaign analysis and reporting in the marketing industry. The company operates a measurement platform designed to optimize campaign performance by offering features such as engagement metrics, industry benchmarks, and competitor activity monitoring. This platform enables clients to assess and report on influencer performance across various industries and product types, facilitating informed decision-making and enhanced effectiveness in marketing strategies.

WeAreDigital

Funding Round in 2018
WeAreDigital is a strategy, experience and design consultancy with a focus on making things better and more useful. We believe in asking better questions to get better answers and are obsessed with achieving results and creating impact. Our focus is on people and not just technology. We work as partners with local and global brands spanning e-commerce, enterprise, retail, finance, sport, and consumer industries to deliver products, services, platforms and solutions that people love to use.

Formatzone

Venture Round in 2018
Formatzone, established in 2016 and headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, focuses on the production, broadcast, distribution, and monetization of video entertainment formats. The company operates as a fast-track platform that facilitates the creation and dissemination of content on television and social media. Formatzone collaborates with both emerging and established creative talent, forming joint ventures to enhance its offerings in the competitive entertainment landscape.

Trackd

Seed Round in 2017
Trackd is a social music platform designed to connect music lovers and artists globally. The platform enables artists, including musicians, lyricists, DJs, and producers, to create and share their music while generating recurring revenue from their work. Users can enjoy a wide range of ad-free music from both independent and emerging artists, allowing them to discover new sounds and engage with artists through playlists, likes, and social interactions. Additionally, Trackd provides tools for recording, collaborating, and sharing musical ideas, making it accessible for creators to develop and distribute their artistic expressions. The platform emphasizes the communal and collaborative nature of music, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for both creators and fans.

Night Zookeeper

Seed Round in 2017
Night Zookeeper is an online learning platform dedicated to enhancing children's writing and creativity skills. It offers engaging digital experiences that transform children from mere consumers of online content into active creators. The platform includes an online writing tool, a class blog, and a library of interactive lessons, alongside a series of storybooks. These resources provide children with opportunities to participate in various creative activities, both in educational settings and at home, thereby fostering a love for reading and writing.

Moteefe

Seed Round in 2017
Moteefe is an e-commerce platform established in 2014 that empowers individuals and businesses to create and sell customized merchandise through social media. It offers a comprehensive print-on-demand service that supports entrepreneurs of all sizes, from individual creators to larger retailers, in transforming their creative designs into marketable products quickly and efficiently. Moteefe's platform allows users to launch their own white-labeled stores or sell directly through their websites, minimizing upfront investment and promoting entrepreneurship. By facilitating the design and sale of custom clothing and merchandise, Moteefe enables users to reach a global audience and monetize their creative ideas.

CampaignDeus

Seed Round in 2017
CampaignDeus is an independent provider of influencer campaign analysis and reporting in the marketing industry. The company operates a measurement platform designed to optimize campaign performance by offering features such as engagement metrics, industry benchmarks, and competitor activity monitoring. This platform enables clients to assess and report on influencer performance across various industries and product types, facilitating informed decision-making and enhanced effectiveness in marketing strategies.

Rotor

Seed Round in 2017
Rotor is a next-generation platform for music video creation that simplifies the process for users by leveraging artificial intelligence. Designed by award-winning directors and visual artists, Rotor enables individuals to upload audio files and automatically generate video content that aligns with the music. The platform's RotorD engine and professionally designed styles facilitate the production of personalized music videos, lyric videos, and promotional content in a matter of minutes. By combining industry expertise with user-friendly tools, Rotor aims to revolutionize creativity and streamline video production for musicians and content creators.

Vidsy

Seed Round in 2017
Vidsy is a creative technology platform that specializes in the efficient creation of mobile video advertisements for global brands. By leveraging its advanced technology and a network of over 6,000 vetted creators, Vidsy enables brands to produce effective and consistent video content across various digital channels. The platform focuses on short-form videos, including GIFs and animations, tailored for branding and advertising purposes. This approach allows clients to swiftly capitalize on digital opportunities and adapt to changing market dynamics, while also integrating valuable insights to foster sustainable growth in their advertising efforts.

Rotor

Funding Round in 2016
Rotor is a next-generation platform for music video creation that simplifies the process for users by leveraging artificial intelligence. Designed by award-winning directors and visual artists, Rotor enables individuals to upload audio files and automatically generate video content that aligns with the music. The platform's RotorD engine and professionally designed styles facilitate the production of personalized music videos, lyric videos, and promotional content in a matter of minutes. By combining industry expertise with user-friendly tools, Rotor aims to revolutionize creativity and streamline video production for musicians and content creators.

A Million Ads

Funding Round in 2016
A Million Ads Limited, founded in 2015 and based in London, United Kingdom, specializes in digital audio advertising services. The company utilizes contextual and audience-level data to deliver highly relevant and personalized advertisements to listeners. Its proprietary technology, the AMA studio, leverages various data sources—including purchase history, loyalty status, music preferences, and listener location—to tailor every aspect of an ad, such as voiceover and sound effects. A Million Ads also features a fully automated decision-making engine that can serve multiple ad versions through a single tag, achieving over 10 billion ad impressions across diverse audio formats, including streaming, podcasts, and broadcast radio. Additionally, the company's in-house creative team collaborates with leading brands to produce engaging campaigns. Independent third-party studies indicate that A Million Ads' campaigns positively impact key performance metrics such as brand recall, foot traffic, and sales.

Moteefe

Venture Round in 2016
Moteefe is an e-commerce platform established in 2014 that empowers individuals and businesses to create and sell customized merchandise through social media. It offers a comprehensive print-on-demand service that supports entrepreneurs of all sizes, from individual creators to larger retailers, in transforming their creative designs into marketable products quickly and efficiently. Moteefe's platform allows users to launch their own white-labeled stores or sell directly through their websites, minimizing upfront investment and promoting entrepreneurship. By facilitating the design and sale of custom clothing and merchandise, Moteefe enables users to reach a global audience and monetize their creative ideas.

Formatzone

Seed Round in 2016
Formatzone, established in 2016 and headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, focuses on the production, broadcast, distribution, and monetization of video entertainment formats. The company operates as a fast-track platform that facilitates the creation and dissemination of content on television and social media. Formatzone collaborates with both emerging and established creative talent, forming joint ventures to enhance its offerings in the competitive entertainment landscape.

MusicGurus

Seed Round in 2015
Their teachers are all awe-inspiring, world-class musicians who’ve chosen to give back to the musical community by sharing their talent and knowledge with students across the world. Students subscribe monthly to access high-quality educational videos with useful camera angles, structured around specific topics and themes “a bit like a series of master-classes”.

Vidsy

Angel Round in 2015
Vidsy is a creative technology platform that specializes in the efficient creation of mobile video advertisements for global brands. By leveraging its advanced technology and a network of over 6,000 vetted creators, Vidsy enables brands to produce effective and consistent video content across various digital channels. The platform focuses on short-form videos, including GIFs and animations, tailored for branding and advertising purposes. This approach allows clients to swiftly capitalize on digital opportunities and adapt to changing market dynamics, while also integrating valuable insights to foster sustainable growth in their advertising efforts.

Trackd

Seed Round in 2015
Trackd is a social music platform designed to connect music lovers and artists globally. The platform enables artists, including musicians, lyricists, DJs, and producers, to create and share their music while generating recurring revenue from their work. Users can enjoy a wide range of ad-free music from both independent and emerging artists, allowing them to discover new sounds and engage with artists through playlists, likes, and social interactions. Additionally, Trackd provides tools for recording, collaborating, and sharing musical ideas, making it accessible for creators to develop and distribute their artistic expressions. The platform emphasizes the communal and collaborative nature of music, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for both creators and fans.

Moteefe

Seed Round in 2015
Moteefe is an e-commerce platform established in 2014 that empowers individuals and businesses to create and sell customized merchandise through social media. It offers a comprehensive print-on-demand service that supports entrepreneurs of all sizes, from individual creators to larger retailers, in transforming their creative designs into marketable products quickly and efficiently. Moteefe's platform allows users to launch their own white-labeled stores or sell directly through their websites, minimizing upfront investment and promoting entrepreneurship. By facilitating the design and sale of custom clothing and merchandise, Moteefe enables users to reach a global audience and monetize their creative ideas.

Wir3s

Seed Round in 2013
WIR3S is a mobile app that allows multimedia content to be sent directly to fans in return for a small monthly subscription. It allows content publishers - celebrities, artists, clubs, brands and organisations - to communicate with and monetise their fan-base. Publishers do this by downloading the WIR3S app for free, customising their ‘Wire’ by uploading video, audio, images and text and then publicising their Wire to fans via their website and social media channels. To subscribe to a particular Wire, and receive all the content uploaded to it, fans pay a small monthly subscription, the lion's share of which goes directly back to the publisher. WIR3S - exclusive fan channels in your pocket.

40 Partners

Seed Round in 2013
We produce for talent, broadcasters and brands, from short-form to feature length. Our studio is going to be a bit different though and hopefully a game-changer for talent. Stay in touch and over the course of this year we’ll show you why.
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