Bolton-based start-up Digital Training Solutions (DTS) has set out plans to expand to the US, China and Africa after it received £250,000 investment and a start-up loan from The Growth Company.
The Growth Company’s service GC Angels awarded DTS, which uses interactive video technology to create bespoke training courses, the £250,000 joint equity investment with Maven in May.
The investment followed a £25,000 start-up loan awarded by The Growth Company in 2016 and a £20,000 export grant awarded by the Department for International Trade under its ‘Exporting Is Great Campaign’.
DTS co-founder Geseth Garcia said: “We are very excited to embark on the next phase of our business which involves rolling out the Near-Life™ software and technology to a wider user base with the help and support of The Growth Company and the GC Angels network.
“We want to develop a learning ecosystem around our technology so training professionals can license the software to develop and enhance their learning content delivery.”
The company’s vision to grow overseas comes after the business worked alongside the Norwegian Refugee Council, training Syrian aid workers in Arabic to deliver support according to humanitarian guidelines.
Husband and wife team Mike Todd and Geseth Garcia founded DTS in 2014 after working in post-war Kosovo.
The Growth Company, a not-for-profit organisation established in Manchester, is dedicated to economic development, inward investment, skills, employment and enterprise in the region.
The Growth Company group CEO Mark Hughes said: “DTS is a company with enormous potential both in the UK and internationally.
“Its innovative training technology is disrupting the market and the work done by the company is already generating awards and attention from around the globe.”
He continued: “The business is a brilliant example of how The Growth Company and its services interlink to support economic development across the north west.”
The Growth Company said it will continue working with DTS as the provider has been accepted onto its Global Scale-Up Programme, which will support its international expansion.
