The VFX animation industry in Europe thrives on creativity, technology, and storytelling. This sector includes a mix of animation studios, visual effects companies, and post-production houses, all dedicated to producing captivating content for films, television, and digital platforms. Europe is home to renowned players like Aardman Animations and MediaMonks, each contributing unique artistic perspectives. The industry's future is buoyed by trends such as increasing demand for quality content and advancements in virtual reality. As digital consumption grows, the role of VFX and animation will continue to expand, driven by innovations and new creative possibilities, bringing more visual experiences to audiences.


This article highlights 18 prominent investors in the European VFX animation sector, ranging across corporate, venture capital, and private equity firms. These investors are primarily based in key cities such as Dublin, Paris, and London, showcasing their influence throughout the region. Established from 1982 to 2019, they vary in size, from small boutique investors to large corporations employing thousands. In 2024 alone, these firms collectively made numerous strategic investments, with notable activity from Kima Ventures and Scottish Enterprise. Their dedication to supporting innovative ideas helps propel Europe’s VFX animation industry forward.


Top 18 VFX Animation Investors in Europe


1. Keywords Studios


Keywords Studios plc, based in Dublin, Ireland, is a prominent video game service provider specializing in various aspects of game development, including art, audio, localization, and quality assurance. Founded in 1998, the company has grown significantly, employing over 10,000 people and expanding its global reach. Keywords Studios has made strategic acquisitions to bolster its art services, including the acquisition of Volta Creation, a visual development and art studio, for CAD$5.25 million in 2016, and Lakshya Digital, an art services provider, for approximately $4 million in 2014. These transactions highlight Keywords' focus on enhancing its artistic capabilities, which are crucial for VFX and animation in the gaming industry. Additionally, their acquisition of Liquid Development, a provider of outsourced art services, further emphasizes their commitment to expanding their art services business. Overall, Keywords Studios is well-positioned as an investor in the VFX animation space, particularly within the context of video game development.


2. Kima Ventures

  • Website: kimaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 50
  • LinkedIn: kima-ventures

Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, providing financial support and mentorship to help them grow. Kima Ventures backs two startups per week, demonstrating a robust investment strategy. Among their notable transactions, they have invested in several companies relevant to the vfx animation industry, including Animaj, which raised $5,267,616 in a seed round in May 2022, and AniML, which secured $2,000,000 in May 2024. Other relevant investments include Mini Studio and Flagcat, both of which are likely involved in animation or related technologies. These transactions highlight Kima Ventures' commitment to supporting innovative companies in the vfx animation space.


3. Bgf

  • Website: bgf.co.uk
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 53
  • LinkedIn: bgfinvestments

BGF Investment Management Limited is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2011. The firm specializes in providing growth funding and value creation support to small and mid-sized businesses in the UK and Ireland. BGF addresses the funding gap in the market through minority investments and extensive support services. Notably, BGF has invested in several companies within the vfx animation sector, including Milk VFX, which received £2 million to expand its studios and enhance its capabilities for major film and TV producers like Warner Bros. and Netflix. Additionally, BGF invested in Snipple Animation Studios, which raised over $8 million in a venture round, further demonstrating their commitment to supporting the animation industry. These transactions highlight BGF's active role in fostering growth in the vfx animation space.


4. Ubisoft

  • Website: ubisoft.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Issy-Les-Moulineaux, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1986
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • LinkedIn: ubisoft

Ubisoft Entertainment SA, founded in 1986 and based in Issy-Les-Moulineaux, Île-De-France, France, is a leading video game publisher and developer known for its popular franchises such as Assassin's Creed and Far Cry. The company has a workforce of over 10,000 employees and operates through digital platforms, providing engaging entertainment experiences to consumers. Notably, Ubisoft has made strategic acquisitions to bolster its capabilities in visual effects and animation. In 2008, Ubisoft acquired Montreal-based Hybride Technologies, a visual effects studio, to enhance collaboration in technology and creative expertise, optimizing both video game and visual effects creation. This acquisition highlights Ubisoft's commitment to integrating advanced visual effects into their gaming projects. Additionally, Ubisoft has acquired several game development studios, such as Massive Entertainment and RedLynx, which further showcases their strategy to expand their portfolio and enhance their creative capabilities.


5. Agoranov

  • Website: agoranov.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 42
  • LinkedIn: agoranov

Agoranov is a startup incubator based in Paris, Île-De-France, founded in 2000. They specialize in supporting technology and science startups through personalized assistance, fully equipped facilities, and acceleration programs. With 42 investments in 2024 alone, Agoranov has demonstrated a commitment to fostering innovation across various sectors. Notably, they have been involved in transactions with companies like Mocaplab, which focuses on motion capture technology, and Kinetix, which may relate to animation and digital content creation. Their approach to providing non-equity assistance to startups like Flaneer and Enginn Technologies further highlights their role in nurturing early-stage companies, potentially including those in the vfx animation industry.


6. Endemol Shine Group

  • Website: banijay.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: endemolshine

Endemol Shine Group, a subsidiary of Banijay Entertainment S.A., is a prominent television production and distribution company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 2015, the company specializes in creating and distributing a diverse range of content across various genres, boasting over 130 production labels and a catalogue exceeding 200,000 hours of programming. In recent years, Endemol Shine Group has made significant strides in the animation sector, highlighted by its acquisition of Monello Productions in April 2021, a French animation studio known for its creative output. This acquisition allows Endemol Shine to enhance its portfolio in animation, particularly in children's content. Furthermore, their acquisition of a majority stake in Procidis in September 2024, a company recognized for its educational entertainment brand, further emphasizes their commitment to expanding their influence in the animation and edutainment sectors. These strategic moves indicate that Endemol Shine Group is not only a major player in television production but also actively invests in animation, making them a relevant investor in the vfx animation landscape.


7. Wpp

  • Website: wpp.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1985
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: wpp

WPP plc is a leading advertising and communications company based in London, UK, founded in 1985. The company provides a wide range of services including advertising, public relations, media buying, and market research, serving various industries to enhance brand visibility and consumer connection. Notably, WPP has made strategic acquisitions and investments that align with the creative and technology sectors. For instance, their acquisition of AQuest, a technology-driven creative agency, enhances their integrated offerings in communications and experience, which are crucial for VFX and animation projects. Additionally, WPP's investment in SubVRsive, an Emmy-nominated VR startup, highlights their interest in innovative media solutions that often incorporate VFX and animation elements. These transactions reflect WPP's commitment to expanding its capabilities in creative production and technology, making them a significant player in the broader media landscape.


8. THQ Nordic


THQ Nordic is a video game publisher and developer based in Vienna, Austria, founded in 2011. The company has established a diverse portfolio of video games across various platforms, catering to gamers and enthusiasts with engaging experiences and a strong community presence. Notably, THQ Nordic has made strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities in the gaming industry, including the acquisition of metricminds on February 24, 2022. Metricminds is a German animation studio known for its expertise in motion capture, which is crucial for creating realistic animations in video games. This acquisition highlights THQ Nordic's commitment to integrating advanced animation techniques into its game development process. Other acquisitions, such as Purple Lamp Studios and Appeal Studios, further demonstrate THQ Nordic's strategy to bolster its development resources and expand its creative offerings.


9. Hiro Capital

  • Website: hiro.capital
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: hirocapital

Hiro Capital is a venture capital firm based in London, UK, founded in 2019. The firm specializes in investing in innovative companies within the gaming, esports, and technology sectors. They provide funding, strategic insights, and networking opportunities to help startups grow and succeed. Hiro Capital aims to build the future of games, digital sports, and metaverse technologies, making them a key player in these industries. Notable transactions include leading a $6.4 million investment in Twin Suns, a company focused on game innovation, and a $10 million Series B funding round for Keen Games, which is developing an open-world sandbox RPG. They also led a $12 million Series A funding round for Noodle Cat Games, which is expanding its team and developing its debut title. Their investment in Telltale Games, which raised $8 million for the development of narrative-driven games, further highlights their engagement in projects that may involve animation and visual storytelling.


10. YFM Equity Partners

  • Website: yfmep.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Leeds, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1982
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 10
  • LinkedIn: yfm-equity-partners

YFM Equity Partners is a private equity firm based in Leeds, England, established in 1982. The firm specializes in management buyouts and growth capital for small to medium-sized enterprises in the UK. YFM supports entrepreneurs and management teams in achieving their growth ambitions through strategic investments. Notably, YFM has made significant investments in the vfx animation sector, including follow-on investments in Outpost VFX, a company known for its work in visual effects. Additionally, they have invested in NCam, which provides technology solutions for the media and entertainment industry, and Eikon Group, a media localizer that is expanding into the US market. These transactions highlight YFM's active role in supporting companies that contribute to the vfx animation landscape, further solidifying their relevance in this field.


11. Scottish Enterprise


Scottish Enterprise is a public entity established in 1991, focused on economic development in Scotland. It provides a range of services including funding, business development advice, and support for innovation and exports. With a significant number of investments, including notable transactions in the vfx animation context, such as their support for Speech Graphics, a tech firm specializing in animation technology, Scottish Enterprise plays a crucial role in enhancing Scotland's economic landscape. Their investment in Blazing Griffin, a company involved in game development and animation, further highlights their engagement in the vfx animation industry. Through these investments, Scottish Enterprise demonstrates its commitment to fostering innovation and growth in the creative sectors, including vfx and animation.


12. Enterprise Ireland


Enterprise Ireland is a public entity that serves as the Irish government's enterprise development agency, founded in 1998. It supports Irish businesses at all stages of their growth journey by providing funding, advisory services, and market access assistance. The agency focuses on helping companies scale and compete internationally across various industries, including technology and manufacturing. Notably, Enterprise Ireland has been involved in several transactions relevant to the vfx animation sector, such as its investment in Cartoon Saloon, which raised an undisclosed amount in a venture round in November 2017. Additionally, it has supported other media-related companies like Wavebreak Media and usheru, indicating a broader interest in the creative and digital sectors, which often intersect with animation and vfx.


13. Mediawan

  • Website: mediawan.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: mediawan-corporate

Mediawan S.A. is a corporate investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2015. The company specializes in the production, distribution, and publication of a wide range of audiovisual content, including scripted and non-scripted productions, documentaries, and animations. In 2023, Mediawan made significant strides in the animation sector by acquiring a majority stake in Submarine, a production company recognized for its animated works such as Netflix's 'Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood' and Amazon Prime Video's 'Undone'. This acquisition is part of Mediawan's strategy to enhance its international co-productions and build a robust catalogue of intellectual properties. Additionally, Mediawan acquired Wildseed Studios, further expanding its footprint in the animation industry. These transactions highlight Mediawan's commitment to investing in animation and vfx-related content, making it a notable player in this space.


14. Maven Capital Partners

  • Website: mavencp.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 25
  • LinkedIn: maven-cp

Maven Capital Partners is a private equity firm founded in 2009, based in Glasgow, Scotland. The firm specializes in providing growth capital and investment solutions to small and mid-sized businesses across various sectors, including technology and healthcare. Notably, Maven has been involved in significant transactions within the vfx animation context, such as their investment in Second Home Studios Limited (SHSL), which received a £250,000 funding package to enhance its animation production capabilities. This funding is aimed at enabling SHSL to film multiple long-form animation series, showcasing Maven's commitment to supporting the animation industry. Additionally, Maven has participated in funding rounds for companies like XR Games, which, while primarily focused on gaming, also intersects with animation and visual effects technology. These transactions highlight Maven's active role in sectors that overlap with vfx animation, reinforcing their relevance as an investor in this space.


15. Chaos

  • Website: chaos.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  • Founded year: 1997
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn: chaos-group

Chaos is a corporate investor based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, founded in 1997. The company specializes in 3D rendering and visualization tools, offering products like V-Ray, Enscape, and Corona, which are utilized by architects, designers, and VFX professionals for high-quality visualizations. In recent years, Chaos has made several strategic acquisitions to enhance its ecosystem of visualization tools. Notably, they acquired AXYZ Design in July 2023, a leading developer of 3D/4D animation software, which aims to improve the integration of realistic human animations in architectural visualizations. Other significant acquisitions include Render Legion, the company behind the Corona Renderer, and Cylindo, a 3D product visualization platform. These transactions demonstrate Chaos's commitment to expanding its capabilities in the VFX and animation sectors, making it a relevant player in the industry.


16. Publicis Groupe

  • Website: publicisgroupe.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1926
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: publicis-groupe

Publicis Groupe is a leading advertising agency and marketing consultancy based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 1926. With over 10,000 employees, the company provides a wide range of services including advertising, public relations, and digital business transformation. In recent years, Publicis Groupe has made significant investments to enhance its capabilities in content production and digital innovation. Notably, they acquired Harbor Picture Company in 2017 to bolster their in-house production capabilities through their unit Prodigious, which is crucial for vfx animation projects. Furthermore, their participation in the Series A funding round for BRIA, a platform focused on generative AI for visual content production, highlights their interest in technologies that can streamline and enhance the creation of visual content, making them a relevant player in the vfx animation landscape.


17. Motier Ventures

  • Website: motier.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2021
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 30
  • LinkedIn: motierventures

Motier Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2021. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, including FinTech and Creative Technologies. They provide funding, mentorship, and access to a corporate network to support entrepreneurs in their growth. Notably, Motier Ventures has been involved in significant transactions within the vfx animation context, such as their investment in Animaj, which raised over $23 million in a Series A round in September 2023, and previously raised $5.3 million in a Seed Round in May 2022. These investments highlight their commitment to fostering innovation in the creative technology space, which includes vfx animation.


18. Barco

  • Website: barco.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Kortrijk, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1934
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: barco

Barco NV is a corporate investor based in Kortrijk, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 1934. The company specializes in digital projection and imaging solutions, serving various sectors including healthcare, entertainment, and enterprise. Barco's focus on enhancing visualization and communication through innovative technology is evident in their strategic acquisitions. Notably, Barco fully acquired Cinionic's premium cinema products business from the China Film Equipment Company in November 2023, reinforcing their commitment to the global cinema industry. Additionally, their acquisition of Element Labs, an LED video-systems company, in March 2010, further enhances their portfolio in visual technology, which is crucial for vfx animation. Other acquisitions, such as MTT Innovation, which specializes in high dynamic range technology, also align with the needs of the vfx animation sector, showcasing Barco's dedication to advancing imaging technologies relevant to this field.



VFX Animation Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Keywords StudiosDublin, Dublin, Ireland10001+19982
Kima VenturesParis, Île-De-France, France1-10201050
BgfLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200201153
UbisoftIssy-Les-Moulineaux, Île-De-France, France10001+19860
AgoranovParis, Île-De-France, France11-50200042
Endemol Shine GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands5001-1000020152
WppLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)10001+19852
THQ NordicVienna, Vienna, Austria501-100020110
Hiro CapitalLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)1-1020195
YFM Equity PartnersLeeds, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200198210
Scottish EnterpriseGlasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)1001-5000199155
Enterprise IrelandDublin, Dublin, Ireland501-1000199848
MediawanParis, Île-De-France, France1001-500020152
Maven Capital PartnersGlasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)51-200200925
ChaosKarlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany501-100019970
Publicis GroupeParis, Île-De-France, France10001+19267
Motier VenturesParis, Île-De-France, France1-10202130
BarcoKortrijk, Flanders, Belgium1001-500019341


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