Apollo3D lands £100K loan to fund seven new hires
What's the deal? Apollo3D, an Otley-based immersive technology and digital twin specialist, has secured a £100,000 commercial loan under the British Business Bank's Growth Guarantee Scheme. The funding will back a recruitment drive and an upgrade to the firm's scanning equipment.
Why now? The loan follows a 30% surge in annual inbound enquiries, driven by the launch of the firm's Infinity Virtual Tours platform. Founded in 2017 by Mark Shepherd, Apollo3D builds 3D digital replicas of buildings for retail, healthcare, hospitality, and facilities management clients, including Primark, Marks & SpencerDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Greene KingDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and the NHS.
The numbers: The capital arrives after a record year in which Apollo3D delivered £550,000 in revenue, up 20% year-on-year. It is now targeting a £1 million turnover within 18 months.
What's the endgame? The money will fund seven new hires over the next 12 months, expanding the current 12-strong workforce and building a dedicated commercial team. The remaining funds go towards new 3D camera hardware to boost onsite scanning capacity and R&D.
"This growth-backed funding gives us the financial footing to scale our business development operation properly," Shepherd said. "Bringing in new talent allows us to actively pursue major corporate contracts and build a permanent presence in new sectors."
Co-director Rob Wilyman said the platform has generated commercial interest from operators across Ireland, Europe, and the United States. "This loan means we can hire specialised sales staff immediately rather than pacing our recruitment over a longer period," he added.
The signal: The Growth Guarantee Scheme, which offers accredited lenders a 70% government-backed guarantee, is designed to unlock finance for smaller businesses that meet stricter traditional lending criteria. Apollo3D's use of it reflects a wider shift in which digital twins move from a marketing tool to an operational necessity for organisations cutting travel costs and managing estates remotely.
Read more: Business in the News
