Wildfire Scoops £1M deal!
Bristol Media member, "Wildfire publishing ":http://www.wildfirecomms.co.uk/ has scooped a £1 million funding deal to expand. New investment from the Finance South West Growth Fund, managed by YFM Venture Finance, will see Wildfire launch 10 new niche titles in the next 18 months which combine digital technology with traditional publishing.
Wildfire, based at the Paintworks in Brislington, publishes magazines and develops online blogs for clients. Its customers include Coca-Cola, the BBC, Walkers, Carlsberg and Red Bull. Its current portfolio includes Imagine Animation, Irish Dancing, University Caterer and University Business.
Ashley Howden, Wildfire managing director, said: "Last year saw the mass market arena dominated by the likes of Facebook and Bebo, but this year will see the social networking market fragment into smaller, more niche communities and special interest group.
“We give users and readers the opportunity to create their own online content, the best of which also appears in our magazines, helping them to feel genuinely involved with their community.
“Our sites feature user content in the form of blogs, video, photos and audio plus professional editorial including news, expert advice, video interviews, video and audio podcasts.
“We are also now looking at mobile applications.”
Wildfire Communications has been part of the "E3 Media ":http://www.e3media.co.uk Group for many years and was born out of Franx Publishing, a magazine and directory publisher, and Punch Media, the online student and community specialists. This deal however will see E3 exit from Wildfire and see Mike Bennett and Stuart Avery standdown as directors from the company.
Stuart Avery stated:
“We’ve helped work with the Wildfire team to develop an exciting and innovative business but it’s now time to step back and allow the new board to drive the company forward and to maximise the opprtunities that this level of investment will bring”.
Finance South West, which is part funded by the EU, is an £18m investment fund that can provide commercial finance from £10,000 up to £1m for buying, starting or expanding a business in the South West.
