Two tech entrepreneurs behind a Manchester-based ticketing business have raised 40 times the amount they were offered on BBC’s Dragons’ Den last year.
TickX founders Steve Pearce and Sam Coley turned down a £75,000 offer from three Dragons while appearing on the show last year.
The company has now raised £3m in Series A funding, led by venture capital firm BGF Ventures.
TickX allows customers to find, discover, and compare ticket prices for events and attractions listed on over fifty ticket selling platforms.
“Our focus is firmly on international expansion and leading innovation in the multi-billion pound global experience market,” said Steve Pearce, CEO of TickX.
“The new funding from BGF Ventures and our other fantastic investors will drive us towards becoming the go-to destination for experience-lovers across the world.”
The funding round saw existing investors – music giants Ministry of Sound and 24Haymarket – increase their backing.
The company has earmarked the new investment to fuel national growth, add a cinema ticket offering and to grow its Manchester-based team to 35 to support rapid expansion.
It will also invest in more technological innovation, having already introduced the world’s first Chatbot for event ticketing and a market-leading 3D seating map to help users find the best theatre seat.
“We are both proud and excited to be backing Steve, Sam and the whole of the TickX team,” said George Mills of BGF Ventures.
“We’ve been seriously impressed by their ambition and pace in building the company, and we’re confident that TickX will continue to expand and reach their goal of becoming the global go-to platform for discovering experiences.”