Having worked with DTS since 2016, The Growth Company (GC) has provided a wide range of training and funding services to the Bolton-based business. This includes using GC Business Growth Hub’s mentoring and Access to Finance services, as well as receiving a £25,000 start-up loan from GC Business Finance in 2016.
The Growth Company has also played a key role in supporting their overseas ambitions, with DTS receiving support from GC’s International Trade Team to secure a £20,000 export grant under the Department for International Trade’s ‘Exporting Is Great Campaign’.
In May this year, GC Angels completed a £250,000 joint equity investment with Maven, as the business looks to develop immersive technology in the training sector.
Most recently, the company has secured a place on The Growth Company’s Global Scale-Up Programme, which gives 50 of the region’s SMEs the opportunity to visit a key international growth market and a combination of tailored coaching and bootcamp support.
Founded by Mike Todd and Geseth Garcia in 2014 after working abroad in post-war Kosovo, DTS is an online learning company that uses cutting edge interactive video technology to create bespoke courses, with the objective of bringing a gaming approach to training. The firm has developed its Near-Life™ technology to offer a bespoke first-person experience that challenges users to make real-time decisions.
DTS has also demonstrated its scalability overseas. The business worked alongside the Norwegian Refugee Council, training Syrian aid workers entirely in Arabic to deliver support according to humanitarian guidelines. This saw the business claim an ‘Excellence in Learning Design’ award at the 2018 Learning and Tech Awards.
DTS is now looking to continue its journey with The Growth Company through further funding, support from the Department for International Trade to continue expanding internationally as well as showing an interest in the Made Smarter Programme and Global Scale-Up Programme.
GC Angels, part of the Growth Company, offers equity investment from £250,000 up to £2m. In addition, the company can reach, prepare and prequalify investments, as well as invest alongside associate angels and investment partners. In the last year, GC Angels invested £4.1m into eight businesses.