Sports technology business Urban Zoo has secured a £20 million investment from BGF.
BGF’s investment will support the development of Urban Zoo’s proprietary technology, while enabling the company to capitalise on the significant growth potential across international markets, particularly in North America.
Founded in 2013, the Warrington-based company provides world-leading digital platforms for sports brands, clubs and federations – across mobile, web, streaming, eCommerce, and retail – to drive fan engagement and strengthen revenue streams.
Since its launch, the company has disrupted the highly competitive global digital sports market through a differentiated all-in-one platform solution, Gamechanger. It was developed in collaboration with global sports leaders and organisations to streamline content workflows, drive ROI, and deliver feature and data-rich websites and apps.
The technology has enabled Urban Zoo to win a significant share of the UK market, working with more than 60 professional clubs across all tiers of English and Scottish Football Leagues, including Aston Villa, Everton and Celtic, as well as the Professional Darts Corporation, Motocross GP, and the Rugby Football League.
“Over the last 13 years, Urban Zoo has created a strong foothold in the UK sports market, working with some of the biggest brands, clubs and governing bodies to deliver digital platforms that engage fans around the world,” said CEO Chris Grannell.
“We have a massive opportunity to take our platform into key global markets. To maximise that opportunity and accelerate our strategic ambitions, we recognised the need to form a strong investment partnership. BGF was the standout choice following a competitive approach, based on its tangible value creation support and unique investment model. We’re very excited about the journey ahead.”
As part of the investment, Geoffrey Finlay, former CEO of Lysanda and nCipher plc, will join as non-executive chair. Finlay brings more than 35 years’ experience in building and scaling dynamic technology businesses globally. He was appointed through BGF’s Talent Network – one of the largest groups of board-level non-executives in the UK and Ireland.
Rhys Davenport, investor at BGF, commented: “We’ve developed a close working relationship with Urban Zoo over the last five years, seeing them go from strength to strength. That relationship has helped to underpin a flexible deal, centering on value creation and long-term, patient growth capital.
“The company’s proven traction in the UK market creates a strong foundation for a significant scaling opportunity, with global potential and the ability to position itself at the forefront of the digital sports market. We’re delighted to be working with Chris and the team.”
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