Hotspring

What Hotspring does

Hotspring is a New York-based VFX creative services studio founded in 2019/2020 that provides rotoscoping, paint, and 3D tracking services to film, television, streaming, and advertising clients. The company serves enterprise customers including 7 of the 10 leading creative studios (Untold Studios, Selected Works, ETC, Time Based Arts, Coffee & TV), major streamers (Netflix, Apple TV, Paramount, Warner Bros, Amazon), and advertising brands (John Lewis, Sainsbury's, Argos). Hotspring holds Gold TPN Certification and Tier 1 studio clearances from Disney (covering Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar) and Amazon, enabling work on the most security-sensitive productions.

Hotspring's core product is the Hotspring 2.0 platform, a web-based VFX outsourcing management system that centralizes bidding, project management, financial dashboards, real-time messaging with coordinators and artists, shot playback with metadata, and centralized delivery. The platform is tightly integrated with Slapshot AI, a proprietary in-house developed AI toolset that automates the initial roto extraction and camera tracking, which skilled artists then refine to final quality. This hybrid AI+manual workflow delivers 30-50% cost reductions on roto outsourcing and up to 50% time/cost reduction on certain shots compared to fully manual approaches. The 5800+ creator network provides scalable labor capacity for projects of varying size and complexity.

The business model combines managed VFX services with platform-based project delivery. Revenue is generated through project-based fees on a pay-as-you-go cadence, with pricing varying by shot count, scope, and complexity. Clients engage via the Hotspring Platform (app.thehotspring.com) to submit bid requests and manage project delivery, while contractors perform work under Subcontractor Agreements. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales via dedicated executive producers in UK/Europe and US/Canada/Australia with a product-led platform interface for registration and project submission. The company maintains no disclosed external funding, suggesting it is bootstrapped or founder-funded.

Name

Hotspring

Legal name

Hotspring

Website

https://thehotspring.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hotspring is a New York-based VFX services studio providing rotoscoping, paint, and 3D tracking for film, TV, streaming, and advertising clients. It combines proprietary Slapshot AI tools with human artist finishing via its Hotspring 2.0 platform, serving 7 of 10 leading creative studios and major streamers including Disney, Netflix, and Apple TV.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Visual Effects Services

akta.pro primary industry

Compositing Services (2D/3D Compositing, Keying, Roto, Cleanup) (MPAHABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Review, Approval & Dailies (screening, annotations, version compare) (MPAHANAB), Cloud Editing & Finishing Platforms (NLE in cloud, conform, color) (MPAHANAA)

Keywords

• Visual effects services
• Rotoscoping services
• Camera tracking
• Compositing services
• Digital matte painting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Managed VFX Services: Hotspring provides managed services for roto, paint, and tracking through a platform that connects clients with freelance VFX artists and coordinated project teams. Clients engage via Client Services Agreement to bid out and manage services, while contractors perform work under Subcontractor Agreements. Revenue is generated through project fees with payment processing handled via the Platform.
2. Platform Services: Hotspring operates a platform (Hotspring Platform Services) that facilitates registered members to bid, place, accept, manage and complete projects for content creation. The platform enables real-time project tracking, financial management, invoicing, and shot delivery. Revenue includes platform access and management fees built into project costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hotspring is a managed VFX creative services studio that delivers rotoscoping (roto), paint, compositing, 3D tracking, 3D asset modeling, digital matte painting, and CG asset texturing services for film, television, and advertising productions. It combines expert artistry with AI-assisted workflows (via its sister brand Slapshot AI) to reduce roto outsourcing costs by 30-50%. Projects are bid, managed, and delivered through Hotspring's proprietary web platform (Hotspring 2.0).

Product overview

Hotspring is a VFX creative services studio offering Roto, Paint and Tracking services for Film, TV and Advertising through a platform-plus-AI-tools architecture. The core offering consists of the Hotspring Platform (a web-based VFX outsourcing management system with bidding, project tracking, and delivery features) integrated with proprietary Slapshot AI tools. The platform enables hybrid workflows where Slapshot AI generates initial roto outputs that experienced artists then refine manually, combining AI automation with human expertise to deliver 30-50% cost reductions while maintaining quality. Hotspring 2.0 integrates Slapshot fully into the platform interface.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Slapshot: AI-powered camera tracking and roto tools developed in-house; integrated into the Hotspring 2.0 platform for VFX workflows.
• Hotspring 2.0

Products and services

• Hotspring Platform (Hotspring 2.0) A web-based VFX outsourcing platform (app.thehotspring.com) that centralizes bidding, real-time messaging with coordinators and artists, project dashboards with financials, shot playback with metadata, centralized delivery repository, automated file naming, and invoicing for enterprise VFX studios and post-production houses.
• Slapshot AI Proprietary AI-powered VFX tool providing automated roto and AI camera tracking capabilities. Slapshot AI outputs serve as a base layer for roto work that skilled artists then refine to final quality. Integrated as a sister brand into the Hotspring 2.0 platform.
• Hybrid Workflow VFX Services Managed service offering that integrates expert artistry with AI-assisted workflows, using Slapshot AI outputs as a base layer followed by experienced manual artist finishing to deliver roto, paint, and tracking services at 30-50% reduced cost and faster turnaround for film, TV, and advertising productions.
• Roto, Paint and Tracking Services Foundational VFX support services encompassing rotoscoping, digital paint cleanup, and 3D camera tracking delivered to enterprise creative studios, advertising agencies, and major streaming platforms for film, television, and advertising productions.
• Compositing, 3D Asset Modeling, Digital Matte Painting and CG Texturing Additional VFX production services including compositing, 3D asset modeling, digital matte painting, and CG asset texturing for film, TV, and advertising projects requiring end-to-end VFX support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-50% reduction on roto outsourcing costs through hybrid AI+manual workflows
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• SlapshotcoreTechnology or Integration · 17 April 2026Slapshot is Hotspring's sister brand developing AI-powered VFX tools. The companies share the same development team, with Slapshot's Autopilot system and camera tracking tools fully integrated into Hotspring 2.0. Slapshot AI outputs are used as a base layer for Hotspring's hybrid roto workflow, with skilled artists refining shots to final quality. This integration represents the core technology differentiator for Hotspring's service offering.
• Electric Theatre CollectivemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2025Hotspring collaborated with Electric Theatre Collective on the Argos 2025 Christmas campaign. Hotspring provided compositing, tracking and roto support through Electric Theatre Collective's post-production pipeline, helping manage the scale of work required across broadcast and digital platforms.
• Untold StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUntold Studios is one of Hotspring's key creative studio clients, representing one of the 7 of 10 leading studios using Hotspring 2.0. The companies have a longstanding collaboration with Hotspring serving as a vital extension of Untold's team. Projects include Apple TV's Hijack Season 2 where Hotspring contributed paint, tracking, and roto support.
• Selected WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected Works is one of the 7 of 10 leading creative studios using Hotspring 2.0 platform. The partnership represents Hotspring's penetration into top-tier VFX studio market.
• Time Based ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTime Based Arts is one of the 7 of 10 leading creative studios using Hotspring 2.0 platform, representing Hotspring's enterprise client base in the high-end VFX pipeline market.
• Coffee & TVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee & TV is one of the 7 of 10 leading creative studios using Hotspring 2.0 platform, demonstrating Hotspring's broad adoption within high-end VFX pipelines.
• Amazon StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotspring holds Amazon Tier 0 clearance, the highest security clearance level for Amazon Studios productions, enabling work on the most sensitive and high-profile Amazon content.
• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotspring has Netflix studio clearance enabling VFX support services for Netflix original productions. The clearance is part of Hotspring's portfolio of major streaming platform approvals.
• Apple TVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotspring has Apple TV studio clearance, enabling VFX support services for Apple original content. Work includes contributions to Apple TV's Hijack Season 2.
• ParamountcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotspring has Paramount studio clearance enabling VFX support services for Paramount productions across film and television.
• Warner BroscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotspring has Warner studio clearance enabling VFX support services for Warner Bros productions across film and television.
• TPN (Trusted Partner Network)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotspring holds Gold TPN Certification, the highest level of security certification from the Trusted Partner Network. This certification is essential for working on high-profile studio content and demonstrates Hotspring's commitment to content security standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tweak VFX: UK-based VFX support studio offering roto, cleanup, and compositing services for film and episodic productions. Most directly comparable to Hotspring in service mix, target clients, and use of artist networks to deliver outsourced VFX labor at scale.
• Freefolk: London-based VFX studio specializing in compositing, roto, and cleanup for high-end TV, film, and advertising. Closely aligned with Hotspring's roto/paint/tracking positioning and premium-studio client base, including work for streaming platforms and global brands.
• Munky: UK VFX studio delivering compositing and digital effects for advertising and episodic content. Comparable to Hotspring in focus on advertising-led VFX support and emphasis on tight-turnaround, brand-driven campaigns.
• Luma Pictures: LA-based VFX studio delivering compositing, FX, and look development for film and episodic content. Comparable mid-size, high-end VFX service provider competing for similar studio and streamer mandates.
• The Third Floor: Previsualization and VFX services company serving film, episodic, and games. Comparable in providing artist-driven VFX support services to major studios, with overlap on production pipelines used by Marvel, Disney+, and other Hotspring clients.

Broad incumbents

• Framestore: Global, full-service VFX incumbent serving film, episodic, advertising, and immersive work. Overlaps with Hotspring on compositing and finishing for major studio and brand clients, but Framestore is a top-of-house creative VFX partner rather than a roto/paint/tracking support vendor.
• DNEG: Large VFX and post-production incumbent with global facilities. Comparable as a buyer and producer of the same roto/tracking services Hotspring supplies, and as an adjacent vendor competing for the same Tier 1 studio work.
• Industrial Light & Magic: Lucasfilm-owned, Tier 1 VFX incumbent for franchise and streaming content. Comparable as both a potential client (outsourcing overflow roto/tracking) and a competitive incumbent with internal roto capacity across Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney+ work.
• Cinesite: Multi-location VFX and animation studio serving film, streaming, and advertising. Comparable as a broad VFX vendor whose outsourcing needs overlap with Hotspring's service profile and whose client roster intersects with Hotspring's studio clearances.

Regional players

• Rising Sun Pictures: Adelaide-based VFX studio serving Hollywood and streaming productions from Australia. Comparable service mix (compositing, FX, roto) and reliance on Australian artist pools, with geographic overlap given Hotspring's Australia coverage via Andra Bard.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thehotspring
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hotspring
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehotspring
• Xx.com/HotspringHQ

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hotspring