The funding was provided by the Maven VCTs and the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland (IFS), which is also managed by Maven.

Esk specialises in licensing iconic intellectual property from rightsholders and transforming it into live entertainment formats, providing services to promotors and venue operators on an international scale. Its client roster includes Netflix, Paramount and BAFTA.

The capital injection will enable Esk to invest in its business development and marketing functions as it continues to expand its international reach, while also growing its IP portfolio. A portion of the funding will further support the ongoing development of the company’s proprietary hardware offering.

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 associate 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.”