Video digitising firm secures £250k investment to launch cloud-based photo platform

A video digitising company has announced that it has secured a £250k investment to launch a new cloud-based photo-sharing platform as it aims to grow its team.

Digital Converters, based in Ripon, has received the £250k investment from PIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

The company specialises in the conversion of almost all types of outdated media including videotapes, photos and cine film to digital formats such as memory sticks, DVD and cloud.

Its new online platform will be a dedicated service for safe storage of family archives, accessible via web browsers or Apple, Android and TV apps.

The company now employs a team of 25 and aims to double in size each year for the next five years.

Sean Parle, director at Digital Converters, said: “For decades, memories were captured on formats which are now inaccessible and deteriorating.

“Our existing service helps people reconnect with their memories by converting them to digital.

“The new platform is a natural extension of this, enabling customers to store their memories online and build an archive that can be easily viewed and shared with other family members.

“This round of funding will allow us to launch the platform and step up our marketing to target new regions such as Europe, with the ultimate aim of rolling it out worldwide.”

Jonathan Craig, senior investment manager at Mercia said: “Sean and the team are driven young entrepreneurs who have grown the business rapidly over the past five years.

“With the pandemic having accelerated the demand for digital services, they have now spotted a gap in the market for a dedicated hosting service. The funding will enable them to pursue this opportunity.”