Innovate UK

Innovate UK is a non-departmental public body established in 2007 and based in Swindon, United Kingdom. Funded by a government grant, it supports innovation in science and technology by providing funding services to businesses across various sectors and regions. The organization aims to drive productivity and economic growth by facilitating advancements that contribute to the UK’s economic landscape. In addition to funding, Innovate UK offers a range of services and information related to business and economic development, thereby fostering a supportive environment for innovation.

Mike Biddle

Programme Director of Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund

Will Drury

Executive Director, Digital and Technologies

Paul Gadd

Deputy Director

Dr. Tom Jenkins

Deputy Director

Scott James O'Brien

Director, Innovation Finance

Nigel Walker

Deputy Director, Lending and Investor Partnerships

Dave Wilkes

Director of Innovation Ecosystem

Past deals in Entertainment

North AI

Grant in 2025
North AI is a startup specializing in AI-driven risk assessment for the media industry. It offers a platform that helps entertainment brands understand their audience better, assess commercial risks, and evaluate content value. This enables brands to secure necessary financing and gauge audience demand more effectively.

North AI

Pre Seed Round in 2024
North AI is a startup specializing in AI-driven risk assessment for the media industry. It offers a platform that helps entertainment brands understand their audience better, assess commercial risks, and evaluate content value. This enables brands to secure necessary financing and gauge audience demand more effectively.

North AI

Grant in 2024
North AI is a startup specializing in AI-driven risk assessment for the media industry. It offers a platform that helps entertainment brands understand their audience better, assess commercial risks, and evaluate content value. This enables brands to secure necessary financing and gauge audience demand more effectively.

NextUp

Grant in 2023
NextUp is a developer of a subscription-based video streaming platform that specializes in live stand-up comedy. The platform offers users access to a diverse array of over 80 exclusive comedy shows, featuring both well-known comedians and emerging talent. By catering to various comedic styles, including sketch acts, character performances, storytelling, and observational humor, NextUp aims to provide a comprehensive experience for comedy enthusiasts. In addition to delivering entertainment, the platform also plays a vital role in supporting comedians and venues, fostering a collaborative environment within the comedy community. With a user-friendly subscription model that includes a 30-day free trial, NextUp positions itself as an accessible and engaging option for comedy fans.

Digit Music

Grant in 2023
Digit Music, established to foster diversity and inclusion in the music industry, manufactures innovative musical instruments and controllers. Their products aim to make music creation accessible and enjoyable, with features like intuitive controls, integrated music theory, and plug-and-play functionality. This enables DJs, beat makers, and aspiring musicians to enhance their skills and express their creativity. The company's work is supported by the Innovate UK Inclusive Innovation Award.

Beat Blocks

Grant in 2023
Beat Blocks is a potent interactive flooring system with several senses. Beat Blocks. delivers a genuinely synergetic immersive sensory experience by converting any sound source into felt vibration.

ZU-UK

Grant in 2023
ZU-UK is well-known for its unique personal, political, and occasionally hilarious approach to creating interactive performance.

Green Bean Studios

Grant in 2023
Green Bean Studios develops retail, music, TV, film, and immersive events/attractions to inspire children to learn, discover, nurture, and appreciate the world's natural resources.

Night Time Economy Solutions

Grant in 2023
Night Time Economy Solutions is on a mission to make nightlife, arts, and culture safer, more inclusive, and more vibrant.

Vision 3

Grant in 2023
Vision 3 is an award-winning production firm dedicated to telling interesting and original stories via the use of modern technology.

Panivox

Grant in 2022
Panivox is an innovative entertainment platform that focuses on empowering user-generated content creators while providing new commercial opportunities for intellectual property holders. The company offers a comprehensive system that simplifies the development of interactive titles through a visual no-code interface, significantly reducing costs to approximately one-tenth of traditional development methods. This user-friendly approach enables clients to efficiently create, share, and publish device-agnostic interactive media, making it accessible for a wider range of creators and enhancing the overall landscape of interactive entertainment.

Eckofide

Grant in 2021
Eckofide is a social entertainment platform that connects communities. We're already revolutionizing the entertainment industry as we aim to become the 'go-to' destination for Creatives giving the must-have tools to manage & monetize their art. Whilst keeping entertainment lovers engaged through exclusive Eckofide content & monetary incentives. Eckofide was created by people who are passionate about music, entertainment and technology. Alongside being supported by some of the world's biggest music artists, professional athletes & public speakers. Want to find out more? Check out our website & subscribe for information regarding our service, release date, vision and much more. www.Eckofide.com / @Eckofide [socials] Want to invest in Eckofide? We love to hear from well-connected, ambitious angels & VC's that express interest in becoming a part of our journey! Invest@Eckofide.com

DashSalt

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Empowering food and drink Content Creators to be discovered by and directly supported by an audience hungry for content.

The Round

Grant in 2021
The Round is a software as a service (SaaS) company that specializes in real-time animation streaming for virtual applications. It has developed an end-to-end media platform that focuses on creating and distributing live digital performances. By leveraging virtual reality and real-time technology, The Round transforms immediate surroundings into immersive, holographic venues, making it possible for users to experience live entertainment in augmented reality. This innovative approach aims to enhance the way audiences engage with theatrical performances, bringing a new dimension to live entertainment.

SMASH

Grant in 2020
SMASH exploits a gap in the creative industries and transforms the way content is pitched and discovered. SMASH introduces standardised pitch tools and easily accessed sales projections. It equips content creators with a new generation of digital tools including a Pitch Builder, Pitch Protector, Sales Estimator, Automated Legal Templates and Talent Discoverer on one easy-to-use platform. SMASH launches in the film & TV industries before moving into web series, short-form content, music videos, VR, games.

Tonguesten

Grant in 2014
Tonguesten Limited, established in 2007 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom, specializes in enhancing language education through entertainment. The company offers Tongues10 (T10), an interactive and gamified platform that transforms out-of-class activities into engaging learning experiences. Users can create personalized textbooks featuring examples, exercises, quizzes, and tests aimed at expanding their vocabulary and improving language skills. Tonguesten also employs Artificial Intelligence to align video subtitles and music lyrics with educational frameworks for English language teaching (ELT), making learning more accessible and enjoyable for students. The company draws on diverse materials from popular culture, such as football, music, and films, to create a dynamic learning environment.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.