Irish-founded Tixserve has announced a significant step forward in its growth journey with a new investment from Maven Capital Partners, delivered through the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund.
The company has developed a modular digital ticketing platform used by some of the biggest names in global sport. Its white-label technology allows rights holders and event organisers to deliver secure digital tickets, manage the match-day and event experience, and analyse data to strengthen fan engagement.
Tixserve’s tailored approach has already been adopted by a host of high-profile clients, including England Rugby, Welsh Rugby, Scottish Rugby, Celtic FC, FA Wales, Glamorgan Cricket, Hong Kong China Rugby and Rugby Australia, with its solutions also being deployed on the recent British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia.
The timing of the investment coincides with the acceleration of digital ticketing across global sports. Attendance at UK sporting events reached 78 million in 2024, and with the Premier League requiring all clubs to adopt digital ticketing by the 2026/27 season, the addressable market for Tixserve’s platform is expanding rapidly.
Backed by the SWIF funding, Tixserve will now embark on an ambitious period of expansion. The company plans to strengthen its team through recruitment, scale up its sales and marketing capabilities, open a new base in Bristol, and extend its footprint into new sporting verticals and international markets.
“Digital ticket management is a growth market and Tixserve operates in a relatively underserved segment of the ticketing ecosystem, already supporting a number of blue-chip customers with its platform,” said Maven Partner Luke Matthews.
“We’re delighted to support Patrick and the team at this point in the company’s growth journey and look forward to working with them to drive the business forward.”
Tixserve Co-founder and CEO Patrick Kirby described the investment as a springboard to global leadership.
“This investment by Maven Capital Partners through the South West Investment Fund will enable Tixserve to fast-track its progress to becoming the leading independent mobile distribution and engagement platform in the global live event ticketing market.”
We will continue to be market-led as we deepen our relationships with existing blue-chip clients in the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, and Australia, and engage with new clients. The detailed understanding that Maven developed of our value proposition augurs well for a successful and enjoyable period of collaboration and profitable growth ahead.”*
The transaction involved the establishment of a new holding company in England, with corporate finance advisory support from Dr. Alistair Armstrong-Brown and Adam Morris at Strata Technology Partners.
Lizzy Upton, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said:
“This investment will help Tixserve scale a proven platform at a pivotal moment for digital ticketing, while building a Bristol base and creating high-value jobs to support the company’s next phase of national and international growth.”
For Tixserve, a member of the Sport for Business community, the investment highlights both the strength of its business model and the central role that digital innovation now plays in the business of sport. The company was present out the Sport for ~Business future Proofing Irish sport event this week.
Image Credit Martin Fallon and Eva Nolan
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