Blockbuster quality visuals are no longer reserved for Hollywood thanks to CGHero
Innovate UK support and grant funding has unlocked additional investment for CGHero accelerating their journey toward becoming a leading player in the visual content production sector.
Background
Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) has been transforming film, art, and design, opening up innovative storytelling possibilities and offering unmatched creative freedom. With companies like CGHero, an on-demand collaborative talent platform for entertainment and gaming, blockbuster quality visuals are no longer reserved for Hollywood. Smaller production companies and studios can now tap into this powerful technology to create new narratives and experiences.
About CGHero
Founded in 2016 and with headquarters in Manchester, CGHero is a co-creation company and a global collaborative talent platform for fast and cost-efficient real-time production, with a strong emphasis on the entertainment and video game sectors.
The CGHero team believes the future of content production is co-creation that is global, flexible, and scalable. The company’s mission is to connect companies of all sizes with the world’s top digital artists to produce awe-inspiring visuals.
We’ve discovered a lot of gaps in the market, which is connecting talent into the industry. I wanted to find a way to bring these creatives from around the world together, in a cloud-based platform and an easier way to collaborate online and on creative productions, which are highly visual.
– Jonathan Lloyd, Founder and CEO, CGHero
CGHero facilitates vital connections between developers and top-tier creative professionals and teams, offering a dynamic solution for studios to efficiently scale their production capacities to meet diverse project demands.
The platform has now become home to over 6,000 pre-vetted industry specialists and freelance artists – called Heroes – and caters to a wide range of industries spanning gaming, automotive, fashion, architecture and retail.
Innovate UK funding
CGHero recently secured Innovate UK Investor Partnerships grant funding through the Create Growth Programme. The programme supports the development of creative industries with high-growth potential, de-risking their offering while attracting equity investment.
The grant funding provided additional support for CGHero’s growth, positioning them to secure the necessary follow-on investment as they scale and expand.
We wouldn’t have raised additional capital from investors without having the grant behind it. The great thing with Innovate UK and getting the grant, is getting those warm introductions into the investors. They have a huge network of investor partners and there’s going to be a match for most companies in there. They’ve made those introductions for us which has been fantastic and that’s allowed us to move a lot quicker on discussions with investors.
– Jonathan Lloyd
The future
CGhero’s long term plan is to build a production platform for the industry at large and to become that global, main player in the market enabling development of groundbreaking graphics for the constantly evolving entertainment and video game landscape.
I’d encourage investors to look at the creative industries here in the UK. We’re awesome at the creative industries in general and being a springboard into what ultimately goes on to become an amazing creative tech and other things in the market.
– Jonathan Lloyd
Related programmes
Create Growth Programme
Helping businesses in England convert their creative potential into creative growth.
Investor Partnerships Future Economy
A three-year initiative to boost Future Economy-focused SMEs through aligning grant funding for R&D development with investment from partnerships with credible investor partners.