UK@SXSW 2023 Trade Mission

Trade Mission

The Future Creative Economy

UK House at South by Southwest is set to be the most exciting yet. See UK creative expression at it’s finest: building bridges between the real and digital worlds, using the best of both to build out the future in incredible ways that engage and grow audiences wherever they are.

transformation in how we share ideas.

Rosamund O’Neill North America Sector Director of Creative, Media and Sports Economy

Imagine the first printing press. That printed paper augmented the oral traditions that came before it, heralding a new human era. Over four hundred years later, bits and bytes shared over a decentralized computer system ushered in another radical

Does it really matter whether you read this forward online, through our pocketfriendly booklet, or hear by word-of-mouth that the UK boasts the best collection of companies and innovations at SXSW each year? Simply put, is the medium still the message? This is a question at the heart of our postpandemic crossroads. From this intersection, we see the silhouette of the future creative economy begin to emerge.

We now – or soon will – meet in the teeming streets of Austin. The UK comes to South by Southwest to join a global community of thinkers,

innovators and dreamers. Here, we also pull into the real-time world some of those relationships that began at a distance, virtually. How can we build robust, intuitive connective tissue between these overlapping worlds? Can we move seamlessly between them while still retaining – or even creating – authentic meaning and connection? What is lost and what is gained as we move from one well-understood technology like Web 2.0, to the Web 3.0 landscape? What comes next?

The companies that have successfully joined this mission represent the very best of UK creativity and innovation. This is the

bedrock of UK business excellence: the ability to deliver imagination and innovation tailored to the needs of diverse global markets. They make the onramp to the metaverse easy and achievable. They use generative AI, machine learning, and good old-fashioned characters and storytelling to engage customers in ways that build brand loyalty and spark delight. They create live experiences and spatial art that seamlessly blends augmented and physical worlds. Let them help you demystify the metaverse, build fans and brands, and bridge digital landscapes with the real one we cherish most.

The UK Government Services in the USA

The UK Government helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade deals, and champions free trade.

For UK companies looking to export to the US, the UK Government can provide tailored support and advice including arranging missions of UK companies to the US to meet with possible export partners; making critical business introductions to US companies; advising companies on export regulations and best practice; and supporting trade policy.

For US companies looking to grow their business overseas, the UK Government also provides complimentary, tailored investment support including helping build key contacts in the UK and providing custom information on R&D

support, relevant regulations, financial incentives, and immigration issues.

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America, Emma Wade-Smith OBE, leads the team across the US and Canada with staff located at the British Embassy in Washington, DC and at British consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco.

Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask how our Creative, Media and Sports Economy Team can support your company’s international growth.

The UK Government Contacts

Rosamund O’Neill

North America Sector Director for Creative, Media and Sports Economy

The Department for Business and Trade

British Consulate - Los Angeles

rosamund.oneill@trade.gov.uk

Address: 2029 Century Park East, Suite 1350, Century City, CA 90067 USA

David Moody

Sector Specialist – Advertising and Marketing

The Department for Business and Trade

+44 (0)7557 865474

david.moody@trade.gov.uk

Address: Old Admiralty Building, Admiralty Place, London, SW1A 2BL

Lara Purser

Senior Trade & Investment Officer

The Department for Business and Trade

British Consulate - Houston

+1 713.553.7887

lara.purser@trade.gov.uk

Address: 1301 Fannin Street, Suite 2400, Houston, Texas 77002

Trade Mission Companies

2LK

Andy Sexton

Executive Creative Director and Partner

andrew.sexton@2LK.com

2LK.com

linkedin.com/company/2lk-design-ltd

Company Bio: We give courageous technology brands The Experience Advantage.

Specialities: At 2LK ideas lead and anything’s possible. Focused firmly on the future we combine creativity, craft and

technology to pioneer next generation, content-rich experiences that matter.

Through live, hybrid and digital brand experiences we change how people feel, think and act.

Trade Mission Companies

Aardman Animations Ltd

Robert Goodchild Commercial Director

robert.goodchild@aardman.com aardman.com

linkedin.com/in/robgoodchild

Company Bio:

Academy Award-winning winning creators of Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run.

Specialities:

We craft unique films and interactive experiences that entertain, educate and inspire change. Our work is a diverse mix of character and story-focused products across a

range of film, immersive and digital formats, all lovingly crafted with the Aardman magic we’re renowned for globally. Recent work includes console game development, location based experiences, XR storytelling, character creation, short films and trailers. We are experienced in Unreal and Unity along with all traditional animation techniques.

Sprinkle some AARDMAN MAGIC

We craft unique and purposeful, interactive experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire change. Our work is a diverse mix of character and story focused products across a range of immersive formats, all lovingly crafted with the Aardman quality weʼre renowned for globally.

Get in touch: Rob Goodchild, robert.goodchild@aardman.com

Trade Mission Companies

Anything World

Gordon Midwood Chief Executive Officer

gordon@anything.world anything.world

linkedin.com/company/anything-world

@AnythingWorld

@_anythingworld

Company Bio:

3D Creativity Powered by Machine Learning.

Specialities:

We’re here to up the ante on fun and games. Drop any static 3D model into Anything World and we’ll do the heavy lifting to bring it to life.

We’ll classify, segment and add strikingly lifelike behaviors to it - a hop, skip or jump, wink, waddle, flit or flutter, freewheel or bunnyhop.

And for a bit of luxury while you create - it’s all voice activated!

Thank you Machine Learning!

Trade Mission Companies

Arcade

Alex Book

Co-founder

alex@arcade.ltd arcade.ltd

linkedin.com/in/alex-book @alex_book

Company Bio: Arcade is The Creative Reality Company, using immersive technologies such as augmented reality to connect people more meaningfully to the places and spaces around them.

Specialities:

Arcade creates award-winning immersive experiences for clients across sectors including arts & culture, sports & entertainment, and brands & marketing.

From immersing children and their families into a magical world of art and adventure at The National Gallery, to bringing cricket fans closer to the superstar players of The Hundred with Sky Sports and ECB, to developing Nissan’s first step into the metaverse, we create work that is technically inventive, thoughtfully creative, and seriously playful.

Trade Mission Companies

Audiomob

Christian Facey Chief Executive Officer / Founder

christian@audiomob.com

audiomob.com

linkedin.com/in/christian-facey

@Christian_Facey

Company Bio:

Audiomob is an adtech company providing non-interrupting in-game audio ads in mobile games. Our in-game audio ad format allows advertisers to receive high LTRs by connecting them to millions of gamers worldwide, giving developers an easier way to monetize their games and gamers a non-intrusive mobile gamer experience.

Specialities:

We work with clients to create contextually relevant, innovative and creative-led in-game ad campaigns that amplify their brand messaging and association through engaging and attention-led strategies driven by the power of digital audio. We’ve worked with major gaming publishers such as Socialpoint and TapNation to enhance their games’ experiences and huge advertisers such as Mcdonald’s and P&G to connect them to billions of gamers worldwide.

Trade Mission Companies

Brandfuel Ltd

David Ball Founder and Chairman

david@brandfuel.co.uk

brandfuel.co.uk

linkedin.com/company/brandfuel-ltd/

Company Bio: Brandfuel delivers brand experiences for organizations that are reshaping our world, that challenge the way things are, and reimagine how they could be.

Specialities:

Our clients are the change-makers who are challenging the way things are and reimagining how they could be - global brands such as Google, Android, YouTube, Aramco, BlackRock and Barclays.

We deliver their brand presence at seminal moments in their calendars and at key tent-pole events around the world.

Over 18 years, we have established an international reputation for producing global events with exceptional creativity and attention to detail, and with purposeful integration of interactive technologies.

Trade Mission Companies

Charisma

Guy Gadney Chief Executive Officer

guy@charisma.ai

charisma.ai

linkedin.com/in/guygadney

Company Bio:

Charisma powers the heart of digital characters and avatars for video games, avatars and metaverses.

Built on world-class storytelling and advanced artificial intelligence Charisma gives power and empathy to your virtual beings.

Specialities:

Charisma powers multi-character scenarios full of emotion, life-like experiences and interactive stories.

Whether for complex simulations, Shakespeare for teenagers or immersive training, Charisma provides an easy-to-use turnkey creation environment.

Trade Mission Companies

Crowd

Jamie Sergeant Chief Executive Officer

jamie@thisiscrowd.com

thisiscrowd.com

linkedin.com/in/jamiesergeant

Company Bio:

Crowd is an independent global marketing agency that specializes in the creation and delivery of environmentally sustainable product and service promotions.

We proudly amplify demand for new and established brands with a conscience.

Specialities:

Crowd is a global creative agency that amplifies the demand for clients across the world.

We fuse data, digital innovation, and award-winning creativity to make budgets go further, sales reach higher, and voices heard louder.

Trade Mission Companies

Experience12

Chris Whittle Founder

chris@experience12.com

experience12.com

linkedin.com/in/whittlechris

Company Bio: Experience12 - A Pop Culture Brand Experience Agency

Specialities: Experience12 is an independent, pop culture brand experience agency. We live and breathe Film, Games, TV/SVOD, Pop Culture properties and work with clients to engage with existing fan bases and to develop new audiences.

Our core services include global creative consulting, experiential events, Exhibitions & Conventions, Influencer, Press and Community events, PR stunts; you think it, we make it happen.

Clients include: Prime Video, Netflix, Sega, Warner (Theatrical), Disney, Paramount+, 110 Games amongst many others.

Trade Mission Companies

Factory 42

John Cassy Founder and Chief Executive Officer

john@factory42.uk

factory42.uk

linkedin.com/company/factory-42-limited @factoryforty2

Company Bio: Factory 42 is a multi-award-winning immersive technology and experience studio.

Specialities: We combine the science of stories with the magic of technology to make impact entertainment - emotionally engaging interactive experiences with purpose.

Recent credits include the Green Planet AR Experience - powered by EE 5G with BBC Studios and Sir David Attenborough - which has won 14 awards, including multiple Clios. Partners include Meta, NVidia, Google, Unity, Comcast/Sky, and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

WE CREATE IMPACT ENTERTAINMENT

Factory 42 is a multi-award-winning immersive technology and experience studio.

We combine the science of stories with the magic of technology to make impact entertainmentemotionally engaging interactive experiences with purpose, in partnership with some of the world’s leading brands and cultural institutions.

WWW.FACTORY42.UK | LONDON

The Green Planet AR Experience powered by EE5G @factoryforty2 @factory-42-limited

Trade Mission Companies

Flight Story

Oliver Yonchev Chief Executive Officer and Founder

oliver@flightstory.com

flightstory.com

linkedin.com/in/oliveryonchev

@oliveryonchev

@oliveryonche

Company Bio:

We keep brands at the forefront of what’s possible.

Specialities:

Flight Story exists to keep brands at the forefront of what’s possible, offering a range of services to disruptive brands, emerging technologies and the finance industry.

For a decade, our founding team has been at the forefront of digital marketing and transformation, helping guide the management of many of the world’s most successful companies including: Amazon, Apple, Coca-Cola, TikTok, Twitch, Apple, Disney & Uber to name just a few.

Trade Mission Companies

Good-Loop

Amy Williams Founder and Chief Executive Officer

amy@good-loop.com

good-loop.com

linkedin.com/in/amy-williams

Company Bio:

Good-Loop will create a new, more positive role for advertising in society. We will harness the massive potential as a force for good and make people be proud to be part of the advertising industry.

Specialities:

Good-Loop is a purpose-led ad platform on a mission to make advertising better for consumers, brands, and the planet.

Our B Corps-certified company builds products for advertisers to do good at scale.

Good-Loop’s ad formats drive engagement by converting people’s attention into donations.

The company’s green media technology also enables advertisers to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of their digital ads.

Good-Loop has raised over $7M for good causes.

W H A T I S G O O D - L O O P ?

Good-Loop is the purposeful advertising platform that boosts your ad performance, engagement and brand love by turning your ads into charity donations

With Good-Loop you can convert every view, swipe and click of your ad into social impact funding And with 4.5X higher ad recall and 3X uplift in brand trust, it’s proven to work for you, while having a positive impact on the world

We take your existing assets

We wrap the creative in our unique formats

When viewers engage with your content, they unlock a free donation funded by the advertiser

90 5% completed view rate

48% uplift in perception as a charitable brand

17% uplift in purchase intent

75 2% completed view rate

42% uplift as a brand that cares about the environment

36% uplift in purchase intent

75 8% completed view rate

32% uplift in brand

26% uplift in purchase intent

Boost your ad performance and brand purpose today. Message nick@good-loop.com

Trade Mission Companies

Happaning

Ando Eniwumide Chief Executive Officer

ando@happaning.com

happaning.com

linkedin.com/company/happaning

@thehappaningapp

Company Bio: Think Google street view, but with video.

Specialities: Happaning is a video collaboration app that gives you the power to easily record with friends and the people around you, in the SAME PLACE, at the SAME TIME, to capture moments from everyone’s perspective.

So, whether it’s a concert, sporting event or family wedding, you can virtually move through the crowd and see what they ALL see.

Trade Mission Companies

Ignis

Stephanie Whitaker Founder

stephw@ignis.co.uk ignis.co.uk

Company Bio: Ignis is an independent brand activation agency that works with global Clients to deliver counterconventional solutions to marketing challenges.

Specialities: Are you sitting uncomfortably?

Then that’s where we begin, creating counter-conventional communication for global brand owners, including Campari, Marriott and PepsiCo.

From social to experiential, from shopper to internal comms, our Upstart approach to category and channel challenges fuses strategic insight and a diverse pool of extraordinary creative talent to deliver transformative and award-winning solutions.

LOOK BEYOND THE TRENDS. LEAD WITH VISION. CREATE THE INFINITE.

Immersive is a multidisciplinary creative studio specializing in immersive design, digital art and spatial storytelling. We seamlessly blend physical and digital realities to entertain, educate and inspire audiences across the globe.

We make it our business to imagine the future. If you’re interested in changing the way the world experiences art and storytelling - get in touch!

Trade Mission Companies

Immersive

Tommy Lexen

Managing Director

tommy@immersive.international

immersive.international

linkedin.com/in/tommylexen

@ImmersiveLtd

@immersive.international

Company Bio: A multidisciplinary creative studio specializing in immersive design, digital art and spatial storytelling. We seamlessly blend physical and digital realities to entertain, educate and inspire audiences across the globe.

Specialities:

Having designed some of the world’s most impactful and mesmerizing multidimensional live experiences in public, private and commercial

spaces, Immersive has established a global reputation for developing the use of new technologies to expand the art of immersive storytelling. Our work includes boundary-pushing live shows, digital artworks, museum installations and exclusive brand experiences for clients such as London 2012 Olympic Games, Expo 2020 Dubai, Comcast, and the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.

Trade Mission Companies

Magnopus

Sol Rogers

Global Director of Innovation

sol.rogers@magnopus.com

magnopus.com

linkedin.com/company/magnopus

@magnopus

Company Bio: Magnopus connects art and technology to create new realities and a better world.

Specialities:

Founded by Oscar-winning visual effects artists, Magnopus has crafted hundreds of immersive projects for global brands and studios including Disney, Sony Music, NASA, and Meta.

To inspire a generation, Magnopus has developed a platform to make next-gen content faster, better, and cheaper. This simple yet powerful product has been recognized in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2022. It enables designers, artists, and engineers to unite the physical and digital to create extraordinary cross-reality experiences.

Trade Mission Companies

Modern English Digital

Andrew Hirst President

Andy@modernenglish.co.uk

modernenglish.co.uk

Company Bio: Modern English is a specialized digital agency that has devised challenging, memorable and award-winning solutions for over a decade.

Specialities: Creative technology, content production, platform builds, campaign sites, mixed reality, AR/VR, Web3 and blockchain - we unleash creative potential.

We work extensively within the music industry but have sprinkled our magic across many sectors, forging fruitful partnerships with a diverse range of clients and agencies. Our clients include Rolling Stones, Discovery Education, Warner Music Group, Foo Fighters, Universal Music Group, Rocket Entertainment, BBC, Sony Music, Dentsu and Hipgnosis.

Trade Mission Companies

Novalia

Madeleine Kelleyan Head of Experiential

madeleine.kelleyan@novalia.co.uk

novalia.co.uk

linkedin.com/company/novaliaglobal

Company Bio:

Novalia creates award-winning immersive experiences, powered by interactive print.

Specialities:

Novalia is a creative technology company that adds interactivity to printed surfaces, working across Brand Experience and Placemaking to enable audiences to launch audio or digital content on touch.

In our world, walls launch soundscapes, murals tell you stories, posters play music and printed advertising captures data. Our clients include Google, NASA, Netflix & IKEA.

We’re currently working on integrating social sharing & developing a low cost multitouch sensor for licensing into high volume applications.

AWARD WINNING IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES

Powered by Interactive Print

Novalia is a creative technology company that adds interactivity to printed surfaces. We work across Brand Experience & Placemaking to enable audiences to launch audio or digital content on touch.

In Novalia’s world, walls launch unfolding soundscapes, murals can tell you the stories of a community, posters play you tracks from up and coming artists, point of sale can talk you through a product and printed advertising can capture data on interactions.

We’re currently working on integrating social sharing to our platform, as well as developing a low cost multitouch sensor for licensing into high volume applications.

We make the metaverse easy

Over the last 4 years we have built and deployed high quality Metaverse experiences for the likes of UEFA Womens Football, the NHS and in higher education, manufacturing and events. With our global streaming infrastructure, PixelMax Metaverse Store, and our developer SDK we are the platform that provides businesses the simplest, safest and most cost effective onboarding to the Metaverse.

pixelmax.com

Trade Mission Companies

Pixelmax

Andy Sands

Co-founder

andy@pixelmax.com

pixelmax.com

linkedin.com/in/andrew-sands

Company Bio:

We help businesses create and operate their own immersive environment, allowing them to evolve with the internet and enter the Metaverse.

Specialities:

Over the last 4 years, we have built and deployed high-quality Metaverse experiences for the likes of UEFA Womens Football, the NHS and in

higher education, manufacturing and events.

Withour global streaming infrastructure, an off-the-shelf SaaS offering, the PixelMax Metaverse Store, and our developer SDK we want to become ‘WordPress’ for the Metaverse. The platform provides businesses with the simplest, safest and most cost-effective onboarding to the Metaverse.

Trade Mission Companies

Production Park

Jim Farmery Development Director

jim.farmery@xplor.one productionpark.co.uk

linkedin.com/company/production-park

@ProductionPark_ @productionparkuk

Company Bio: Europe’s largest Live Experience Campus, where global tours are staged, theater is formed and TV comes to life.

Specialities:

Production Park is a curated community of studios, technology and talent, shaping the future of live and screen industries. From Lady Gaga to Cirque Du Soleil, we work with global

talent, while ensuring the sector is recognized at the UK government level.

Investment in the next generation and cross-collaboration drives everything we do – from a higher education facility embedded in the fabric of the park, to a research and innovation centre dedicated to solving industry problems.

Digital worlds powered by hands, not hardware. No touchscreens. No controllers. No wearables. Just natural interaction.

Ultraleap’s hand tracking and mid-air haptics technologies are removing boundaries between physical and digital worlds – for anyone, anywhere.

EXTENDED REALITY (XR)

OUT-OF-HOME & RETAIL

AUTOMOTIVE

Trade Mission Companies

Ultraleap

Faye Lockier Global Communications Director

faye.lockier@ultraleap.com

ultraleap.com

linkedin.com/in/fayellockier

@Faye_Lockier

Company Bio: Ultraleap’s world-leading human technologies – hand tracking and mid-air haptics – remove boundaries between physical and digital worlds.

Specialities:

Top customers/partners: Lynx (XR), Ocean Outdoor, LEGO, PepsiCo, OpenXR, Pico, Varjo, Lufthansa, Skoda, Intel, BrightSign, Looking Glass, Aquarium of the Pacific, Warner Brothers

Trade Mission Companies

Umbrella

Elizabeth Johnson Chief Executive Officer

beth@team-umbrella.co.uk team-umbrella.co.uk

linkedin.com/company/umbrella-risk-management/ @TeamUmbrella1

@team_umbrella

Company Bio: We are a data driving agency that delivers sales in any ‘verse’.

Specialities: Umbrella delivers solutions to drive sales for clients.

We apply incentives to new technology to motivate consumers.

We forecast response rates and sales uplift.

Our clients are top global brands, and we successfully deliver hundreds of campaigns each year.

We have a unique bird’s eye view of what is delivered on the ground.

Our forecasting is imperative, especially as we transition to Web3, Metaverse and NFT solutions; ensuring that new technology delivers commercial results.

At Umbrella we drive sales. We do this by driving consumers to you. We are Web 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 and 4.0 agnostic (Web3 too). Partnering with Unilever, Mondelez, Diageo and more.

Challenge everything you thought possible.

We’re VCCP - the challenger agency for challenger brands. We help our clients take on their grizzly bear - we strategize, lock target, and take them down.

Whether your bear is a new brand launch or one in need of an overhaul, we excel with clients who have the same challenger mindset and want to disrupt their market rather than simply reflect the status quo.

In our pursuit of creativity, we are relentless and we look to work with clients who are similarly agile, collaborative, forward-thinking and opportunistic.

We’re for brands who want to be bigger, braver, bolder. We’re for those who want to shake things up. Even market leaders have their ‘bear’ - and we’re ready to take yours on.

Bears Wanted

Get in touch with VCCP through Robert Wills - CMO, robertw@vccp.com

Trade Mission Companies

VCCP

Robert Wills Chief Marketing Officer

robertw@vccp.com

vccp.com

linkedin.com/in/robert-wills

Company Bio:

VCCP is the challenger agency for challenger brands. We are an international integrated communications agency, built around the principles of simplicity, collaboration and un-preciousness which transforms the fortunes of our clients by challenging and disrupting the categories they operate in.

Specialities:

We believe it only works if it all works. Only if a consumer experience is

compelling and coherent from the initial search query, through to the post-purchase management of your data and loyalty, can we expect to have a transformational impact on your business.

We offer capabilities across creative, distribution & experience, with offices in NA, EMEA & APAC, producing award-winning work for clients including Virgin Media O2, White Claw, Google, Abbott, Canon and Cadbury.

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

We support growth by backing businesses in the UK and globally, promoting investment and championing free trade.

Disclaimer

Whereas every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document is accurate, the Department for Business and Trade and the Contributors do not accept liability for any errors, omissions or misleading statements, and no warranty is given or responsibility accepted as to the standing of any individual, firm, company or other organisation mentioned.

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Published by

Department for Business and Trade

February 2023