ESPER

What ESPER does

ESPER (trading as Esper Ltd, with trademarks held by Esper Design Ltd) is a Nottingham, United Kingdom-based manufacturer of multi-camera volumetric scanning equipment and associated camera-control hardware. Founded in 2016, the company designs purpose-built products for synchronized multi-camera capture: the LightCage geodesic scanning rig (capable of holding up to 156 MultiFlash lights and supporting rigs of up to 2.5m mounting 150 DSLR cameras), the TriggerBox 6-output programmable camera shutter controller (2 microsecond latency, programmable sequences), the PowerBox multi-camera regulated 9VDC power supply (up to 6 cameras per wall outlet), and the MultiFlash programmable LED flash (60 microsecond to 30 millisecond flash duration, 11 f-stop range, 92 CRI). These components are sold both as standalone SKUs and as engineered custom LightCage installations specified, built, installed, and supported worldwide.

The company's commercial model operates two streams: a self-serve e-commerce channel (esperhq.com) selling standardized hardware units (TriggerBox at £220, PowerBox at £385, cables at £16) with global DHL Express shipping, and a quote-based custom systems business targeting enterprise clients requiring tailored scanning rigs. Standard pricing is public; custom LightCage engagements follow multi-year contract cadences. Go-to-market is primarily product-led through the company website, with content marketing via a customer gallery, blog, support portal, and a presence on X. The customer base spans major entertainment, gaming, VFX, and AI-training organizations, with disclosed enterprise users including Activision, Disney, EA, Ubisoft, Weta, Warner Bros, Industrial Light & Magic, Oculus, Rocksteady, Avalanche Studios, Crescent Studios, Synthesia, Cygames, NCSoft, and Sony Interactive Entertainment.

ESPER employs between 1 and 10 people, holds no public debt or equity disclosures, has no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or acquisition activity, and is not identified as pursuing any M&A, regulatory, or restructuring event. The business remains a focused, founder/private-owned hardware specialist supporting volumetric capture and AI training data workflows across VFX, gaming, cultural heritage, advertising, film, and research markets in 35+ countries.

Name

ESPER

Legal name

Esper Limited

Website

https://esperhq.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ESPER designs and manufactures multi-camera volumetric scanning rigs (LightCage) and camera-control hardware (TriggerBox, PowerBox, MultiFlash) for VFX, game development, AI training data capture, cultural heritage, and film/broadcast professionals, selling standardized units online and custom systems enterprise-wide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Volumetric Scanning & Multi-Camera Hardware

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)

akta.pro primary industry

Video Camera & Production Gear Retail (Camcorders, Cinema Cameras, Rigs) (CRACAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Lighting & Studio Equipment Retail (Flash, Continuous, Modifiers, Backdrops) (CRACAHAF)

Keywords

• Volumetric scanning systems
• Multi-camera hardware
• Photogrammetry equipment
• 3D scanning rigs
• Programmable camera triggers

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Products: ESPER generates revenue primarily from selling proprietary multi-camera hardware products including LightCage scanning systems, TriggerBox shutter controllers, PowerBox power supplies, MultiFlash lighting units, and associated cables and accessories. Products are sold directly through their e-commerce platform with global shipping.
2. Custom Scanning Systems: ESPER designs and builds customisable 3D and 4D scanning systems tailored to customer needs. These bespoke solutions are specified, designed, installed, and supported worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ESPER designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary multi-camera hardware and 3D/4D volumetric scanning systems used to capture photorealistic geometry, texture, and motion data. Its portfolio includes the LightCage geodesic scanning rig, the TriggerBox programmable camera shutter controller, the PowerBox multi-camera power supply, and the MultiFlash programmable LED flash, sold both as off-the-shelf units via its own e-commerce site and as fully customised systems specified, installed, and supported worldwide for enterprise clients.

Product overview

ESPER designs and manufactures multi-camera technology and 3D scanning systems for AI training, VFX, gaming, academia, and cultural heritage applications. The product portfolio centers on four core hardware products: the LightCage (a volumetric scanning frame with integrated MultiFlash lighting for photogrammetry), the TriggerBox (a 6-output programmable camera shutter controller), the PowerBox (a multi-camera power supply unit), and the MultiFlash (programmable LED flash with independently controlled duration and intensity). These products work together in multi-camera array configurations, supported by bundled software controllers (TriggerBoxController and LightCageController) and a range of specialized cables. The TriggerBox enables synchronized camera firing via wired remotes or USB-connected computers, the PowerBox supplies regulated power to up to 6 cameras from a single outlet, and the LightCage provides a geodesic frame structure for mounting cameras and MultiFlash units for controlled multi-directional lighting. The Bundle option packages the TriggerBox, PowerBox, and cables together for complete multi-camera setups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LightCage: Volumetric scanning system for hi-res geometry and texture capture, available as geodesic dome structures with integrated MultiFlash lighting
• TriggerBox
• PowerBox
• MultiFlash
• Bundle

Products and services

• LightCage Scanning System A customisable geodesic volumetric scanning rig with integrated power distribution designed to hold MultiFlash lighting units for high-resolution 3D geometry and texture capture. Built for photogrammetry, digital twin, and AI training data workflows, with custom designs ranging from small object scanners to 360-degree rigs sold, installed, and supported worldwide.
• TriggerBox A 6-output programmable multi-camera shutter release controller with 2-microsecond latency that fires camera arrays simultaneously or in programmed sequences. Used for photogrammetry, bullet-time VFX, photo booths, and stop-motion applications. Priced at £220.00 excl. VAT.
• PowerBox An all-solid-state multi-camera power supply unit providing regulated, protected 9VDC power for up to 6 cameras from a single 100-250V wall outlet, with automatic fault recovery. Priced at £385.00 excl. VAT.
• MultiFlash A programmable LED flash unit with independently controllable flash duration (60 microseconds to 30 milliseconds) and light intensity, featuring 3 LEDs for cross-polarisation photography. Designed for precise multi-directional photogrammetry lighting; up to 512 units can be controlled per ControllerBox.
• Multi-Camera Bundle A packaged combination of TriggerBox, PowerBox, and the necessary cables and accessories needed to power and trigger multi-camera setups as a single purchase unit.
• USB-C to USB-C 3.0 Cable A 10Gb USB-C 3.1 cable supporting 20V/3A (60W) power delivery, used to power the TriggerBox from the PowerBox via USB-C connection. Available in 15cm and 1m lengths at £16.00 excl. VAT.
• Specialised Cables (Trigger, Couplers, Power, USB) A range of specialised cables including trigger cables to connect cameras to TriggerBox outputs, DC couplers for camera power connections, power cables, and USB cables for ESPER system integration.
• Custom LightCage Design, Build & Installation Service A bespoke service in which ESPER works with enterprise clients to specify, design, build, install, and support a custom LightCage scanning rig tailored to the client's production environment. Sold under quote-based pricing with multi-year contract terms.

Quantifiable outcome

• MultiFlash flash duration programmable from 60 microseconds to 30 milliseconds (equivalent to shutter speeds 1/16000 to 1/30)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• SynthesiamajorTechnology or IntegrationSynthesia uses ESPER equipment for full body AI training data capture systems, specifically for AI video generation applications.
• CygamesmajorTechnology or IntegrationCygames has installed ESPER LightCage 2 systems for game development scanning applications.
• Sony (SIE)majorTechnology or IntegrationSony Interactive Entertainment uses ESPER texture scanning systems in their production pipeline.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Vicon: Vicon is a leading motion capture hardware vendor serving VFX, games, and life sciences. Comparable as a high-end capture hardware incumbent in overlapping production pipelines; ESPER's volumetric rigs serve adjacent use cases to mocap.
• Phase One: Phase One manufactures high-end medium-format camera systems and aerial/cultural heritage imaging solutions. Comparable as a high-end imaging hardware vendor serving professional cultural heritage, art reproduction, and commercial capture customers that overlap with ESPER's cultural heritage segment.
• FARO Technologies: FARO is a larger, established player in 3D measurement, imaging, and reality capture hardware across industrial metrology and AEC. Comparable as a broader 3D capture incumbent with overlapping scanning hardware capabilities, though focused on industrial metrology rather than creative/entertainment verticals.

Direct peers

• Creaform: Creaform manufactures professional 3D scanning hardware and measurement solutions for industrial and creative applications. Comparable as a hardware-focused 3D capture vendor serving professional users requiring precision surface data.
• 4DViews: 4DViews designs volumetric capture systems using multi-camera arrays for performance capture and digital human recording. Directly comparable as a multi-camera volumetric capture hardware provider serving VFX, gaming, and immersive content production.
• Artec 3D: Artec 3D manufactures handheld and structured-light 3D scanners used in professional and industrial capture workflows. Directly comparable as a hardware-first 3D scanning vendor serving professional users with specialized capture equipment.

Emerging players

• PocketWizard: PocketWizard makes wireless multi-camera triggering systems for professional photography. Comparable as a vendor of multi-camera shutter and triggering hardware, though targeting general professional photography rather than volumetric scanning rigs.
• Dimension Studios (Metastage): Dimension Studios / Metastage operates volumetric capture stages and services for VFX, gaming, and immersive content. Comparable as a volumetric capture operator that uses similar multi-camera infrastructure to ESPER's LightCage customers, sometimes partnering with hardware vendors.
• Ten24: Ten24 provides 3D scanning services and operates photogrammetry capture rigs, including ESPER LightCage installations. Comparable as both a service provider using volumetric capture rigs and an adopter/customer that demonstrates the ESPER platform.
• PhotoScribe Technologies: PhotoScribe specializes in structured-light 3D scanning for cultural heritage, medical, and industrial applications. Comparable as a niche 3D scanning hardware vendor serving professional users requiring high-resolution surface capture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/esper_hq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ESPER