People’s Champion Finalist: Accent Media

Start-up name: Accent Media Ltd
Founders: Steve Machin and Gary Fisher
Started in: 2012 (launched 2015)
Based in: London
Business description: Dot tickets domain name provider

Shortlisted category:

Rising Star of the Year

The Accent Media story:

Having spotted a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity, in April 2012 tech entrepreneurs Steve Machin and Gary Fisher attempted to win the licence to own and operate the .tickets top-level-domain.

Three years later, after competing against multi-billion dollar companies and with a spectacular $9.3m investment raised from a portfolio of international investors, the dynamic duo succeeded in securing the rights and now operate the niche top-level-domain for the ticketing world.

Already, Accent Media has sold to hundreds of major blue-chip brands including football teams such as Manchester United, Emirates Airlines, tech giants Google and Amazon, and even to the likes of U2, Adele and Britney Spears. The business has also taken off overseas – 80% of its sales have been to clients in the US, Asia and Europe, including the landmark sale of broadway.tickets itself worth potentially millions of dollars.

While the business boasts ex-head of Ticketmaster Europe, Tommy Higgins, as chairman, it has remained lean with just three employees and its fast-growth looks set to escalate. Machin and Fisher aren’t modest in their ambitions: “We want to become the biggest ticket brand on the planet without selling a ticket.”

Why Accent Media made our 60:

Machin and Fisher spotted a lucrative business opportunity and have exploited it in such a way that their plan to become the industry world-leader looks well within reach. It already has the makings to be a UK start-up success but its desire to grow internationally with sales in leading export markets is doubly impressive.

Where to find out more about Accent Media:

Website: www.tickets.tickets
Twitter: twitter.com/dot_tickets
Facebook: facebook.com/dotTICKETS