Focal Studios
Focal Studios is a UK-based immersive technology studio founded in 2019 that delivers projection mapping and Spatial Augmented Reality installations for cultural organisations, councils, universities, and enterprise brands, generating revenue through bespoke projects, equipment hire, and a co-working space in New Brighton.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNew Brighton, Wirral, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Focal Studios does
Focal Studios Ltd is a privately held immersive technology studio headquartered in New Brighton, Wirral (Merseyside), United Kingdom, founded in 2019 and operating with a team of 5. The company specialises in projection mapping and Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR), using high-lumen laser projectors (up to 35,000 lumens), media servers, DMX lighting, and gesture-based interactive systems to transform buildings, heritage sites, and public spaces into immersive canvases without requiring headsets. Its core offering is bespoke project delivery across projection mapping services, immersive media installations, video production, animation and VFX, and technical consulting, supplemented by a modular product family (Focal Wall, Focal Line, Focal Point, Focal Spot, Focal Piece, Focal Board) and a published equipment hire catalogue covering projectors, media servers, video splitters and vision mixers. Additional revenue lines include a co-working space in New Brighton (monthly and daily desks via Desana) and branded merchandise.
Focal Studios serves cultural organisations, local and regional councils, heritage sites, universities, and enterprise brands across the UK, with documented clients including Liverpool City Council, Wirral Council, Leeds City Council, the National Trust, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cambridge University (St John's College), Porsche, Liverpool FC, S4C and Stena Line. The go-to-market is event-driven and project-based, anchored by signature annual installations such as the Lunar New Year celebrations at St Luke's Bombed Out Church, the Eurovision 2023 Birkenhead Ventilation Tower light show, LightNight Liverpool, and the National Trust Croome Court 'Rapturous Delight' projection, with outcomes such as a 110.14% visitor uplift at Croome Court. In 2025 the company won the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 'Business in the Arts' award and launched Focal Point, a creative tech hub for youth development and community engagement, signalling expansion beyond commercial delivery into education and regeneration. The company is founder/owner-operated (Managing Director Dennis Outten, CTO James Hooton), with no external funding disclosed and operating geographies spanning North West England and the wider United Kingdom.
Focal Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Focal Studios
- Legal name
- Focal Studios Ltd
- Website
- https://focalstudios.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Focal Studios is a UK-based immersive technology studio founded in 2019 that delivers projection mapping and Spatial Augmented Reality installations for cultural organisations, councils, universities, and enterprise brands, generating revenue through bespoke projects, equipment hire, and a co-working space in New Brighton.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Focal Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Brighton, Wirral
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Focal Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Projection Mapping Services: Custom projection mapping projects for events, buildings, museums, and attractions, including content creation, installation, and technical support.
- Equipment Hire: Dry hire and full-service rental of professional video, projector, and audio equipment for events and installations, including optional technician support.
- Co-working Space: Flexible desk space rental in New Brighton including hot desking and dedicated monthly desks.
- Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, and prints sold through the online shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Epson EB-L25000U Laser Projector - £1,125/day, £1,750/week, £1,450/week for 30+ days |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Panasonic RZ31K Laser Projector - £2,000/day |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Panasonic RZ970 - £500/week |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro - £30/day, £20/day for 7+ days, £15/day for 30+ days |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | BrightSign XC2055 8K Media Player - £35/day, £28/day for 7+ days |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | BrightSign 1024 HD Digital Media Player - £22/day, £16/day for 7+ days, £12/day for 30+ days |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Datapath Fx4 Video Wall Controller - £25/day, £18/day for 7+ days, £14/day for 30+ days |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Desk Space - £125/month ex VAT, £150/month inc VAT |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Daily Hot Desk - £15/day ex VAT, £18/day inc VAT |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Focal Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Focal Studios is an award-winning immersive technology studio that designs, produces, and installs projection mapping and Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) experiences for cultural, public, and commercial clients. The company transforms buildings, heritage sites, and unconventional surfaces into interactive canvases using high-lumen laser projectors, media servers, and gesture-based interactive installations, complemented by video production, animation, technical consulting, equipment hire, and a co-working space.
Product overview
Focal Studios is an award-winning immersive technology studio offering a portfolio of spatial augmented reality (SAR) products and professional services. The core offerings include Projection Mapping Services for transforming surfaces into dynamic canvases, and the Focal product line (Focal Wall, Focal Line, Focal Point, Focal Spot, Focal Piece, Focal Board) which are modular immersive display products using gesture recognition, holographic displays, and projection mapping technology. Supporting services include Video Production, Animation & VFX, Technical Consulting, and Equipment Hire for AV hardware including projectors, media servers, and lighting. The company also operates a Co-working Space in New Brighton and provides Guerilla Projection Mapping services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Projection Mapping Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 110.14% increase in visitor numbers to National Trust Croome Court House during projection installation
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Focal Studios
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Focal Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Focal Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Scenegraph StudioscoreCollaborated on Chinese New Year 2022 projections at the Bombed Out Church, Liverpool. Scenegraph Studios worked alongside Focal Studios to create 3D projection-mapped animations.
- Pagoda ArtscoreCommunity arts organization that coordinated local Chinese arts and youth groups for Chinese New Year celebrations, involving local primary schools in creating lanterns.
- DefProc EngineeringcoreCollaborated on LUX interactive projection game projects, specializing in multi-sensory accessible work with movement-based sensors for hands-free control.
- Everyman & Playhouse TheatrescoreSupported LightNight 2021 LUX project, providing venue access and support for the interactive projection game at St Luke's Bombed Out Church.
- Apt CreativecoreCreated content and messaging for the Visible Virals project, which Focal Studios visualized through animation and guerrilla projection mapping.
- Arts Council EnglandcoreFunded the Visible Virals art project, which brought Liverpool's Public Health Annual Report to life through cultural activities and projections.
- Leo & HydecoreLong-standing partnership for immersive theatre and projection projects including Croome Court's 'Rapturous Delight', combining Focal Studios' visual innovation with Leo & Hyde's musical and narrative expertise.
- MC2corePartnership for Manchester Metropolitan University's 200th anniversary projection mapping across three iconic Manchester sites.
- Zest ManagementcoreEvent management partner for Manchester Metropolitan University Open Days, with deep understanding of audience engagement and event operations.
- Playmaker StudiocoreCreative partner for Manchester Met Open Days, bringing creative vision to life through discovery screens and intuitive way-finding design.
- AdlibcoreAudio and lighting specialists collaborated on Eurovision 2023 Birkenhead Ventilation Tower light show project.
- Stena LineminorPort management partner for Eurovision 2023 project, providing site access for crane operations and equipment placement.
- MerseytravelminorTransportation authority partner in the Eurovision 2023 multi-organization collaboration.
- United UtilitiesminorInfrastructure partner in the Eurovision 2023 multi-organization collaboration.
- Zút MediacoreCreative collaboration for Porsche NOW Liverpool immersive pop-up, delivering striking projections on Albert Dock.
- CadwcoreWelsh Government's historic environment service, partnered for S4C 'The Voice' Wales campaign at four heritage sites across Wales.
- Wrexham UniversityminorOne of four Welsh heritage sites used for S4C 'The Voice' campaign projections as part of national campaign promoting Welsh heritage.
- Turntable TheatrecoreTheatre company partnership for 'Made of Stars' immersive projection mapped pyramid, with content projected onto a 30ft structure touring Merseyside.
- Rockpoint LeisurecoreProperty partner providing physical space in New Brighton that enables Focal Studios' operations. Supports regeneration, business development, and education across New Brighton and the Wirral.
- EpsoncorePrimary projector supplier featuring prominently in equipment hire inventory (Epson EB-L25000U 25,000 lumens laser projector).
- PanasoniccoreProjector supplier for high-lumen installations (Panasonic RZ31K 31,000 lumens, RZ970), used in major installations.
- Liverpool John Moores UniversitycoreKnowledge Transfer Partnership university providing student interns (Thom and Kieran) and collaborative research opportunities with industry professionals.
- C ChangeminorEducational partner within the fast-growing local educational ecosystem in the Liverpool City Region.
- Bring The Fire ProjectcoreLong-standing partnership dating back to 2015 for Liverpool Fire Arts Festival, bringing fire performance and circus arts to city spaces.
- St Luke's Bombed Out ChurchcoreVenue partner for multiple annual events including Lunar New Year celebrations and Fire Arts Festival, providing iconic heritage space for projections.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Focal Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Focal Studios social profiles
Digital presenceFocal Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Focal Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Focal Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Focal Studios M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Focal Studios
What does Focal Studios do?
Focal Studios is an award-winning immersive technology studio that designs, produces, and installs projection mapping and Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) experiences for cultural, public, and commercial clients. The company transforms buildings, heritage sites, and unconventional surfaces into interactive canvases using high-lumen laser projectors, media servers, and gesture-based interactive installations, complemented by video production, animation, technical consulting, equipment hire, and a co-working space.
Is Focal Studios a public or private company?
Focal Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Focal Studios founded?
Focal Studios was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Focal Studios based?
Focal Studios is headquartered in New Brighton, Wirral, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Focal Studios make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Projection Mapping Services are the primary driver. The others are equipment Hire, co-working Space and merchandise Sales.
Does Focal Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Focal Studios.