ESP gets an edge

Edge Performance, a VCT aimed at investing in the entertainment industry, has led a £2.1m investment round for Enrich Social Productions (ESP), a UK media distribution company.

Other investors in the round include Andrew Black, founder of BetFair, Mark Blandford, founder of Sportingbet, Philip Highlander, Principal of Strategic Investments at Goldman Sachs and Richard Glynn, Chairman and former CEO of SportingIndex.

The deal was syndicated by London-based early-stage investment and advisory firm Ariadne Capital, also a founding equity investor.

Julie Meyer, CEO of Ariadne, said: “ESP could see that the development and distribution of formats, which the UK does well, would move online. I was involved in the interpreting of the BBC’s ‘Dragon’s Den’ format to the web and so was intrigued to be part of a venture which would do that on a broad scale: in this way ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ has become 1Click2Fame, which is broadcast to the web, mobile and into Tesco stores. The funding ESP has acquired will provide it with the means to really drive innovation and thrive in the industry – it will change the game for them.”