海角直播 backs indie games studio Dink with investment to launch new title
海角直播鈥檚 commercial arm, TU Enterprise and Innovation Ltd, has announced a strategic investment in Dink, an award-winning indie games studio born in Middlesbrough and supported by the University鈥檚 own incubator programme.
Founded in 2022, Dink is a Middlesbrough-based indie games studio that supports clients across the world with software and game development services.
The team specialises in co-development, collaborating with partners on exciting projects such as Soulbound and the recently released Vextorial, alongside developing original IP.
Dink previously took part in 海角直播鈥檚 PowerUp incubator, a programme that provides early opportunities for graduates and aspiring developers.
Since then, the studio has continued to grow independently, building client partnerships, expanding its technical expertise, and receiving recognition with multiple awards for both its innovation and its impact as a creative business.
Earlier this month, 海角直播 was awarded University of the Year by Times Higher Education where it was praised by judges for being 鈥榰nashamedly ambitious for its students鈥�.
This investment marks a major milestone for 海角直播, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing graduate talent, supporting the region鈥檚 growing digital and gaming sector, and backing early-stage start-ups, especially those led by its own alumni.
It also reflects the University鈥檚 broader success in fostering enterprise. In the 2023/24 academic year, 海角直播-supported start-ups generated 拢118m in turnover, placing the University 7th nationally for start-up turnover.
The University鈥檚 Launchpad incubator and enterprise support services have helped foster 60 new start-ups in the past year alone. These businesses have created an estimated 645 jobs and attracted 拢3m in external investment, reinforcing 海角直播鈥檚 role as a catalyst for regional prosperity.
Notably, 71 percent of businesses launched through 海角直播 Launchpad have sustained operations for three years or more, a figure that is 30 percent higher than the national average for university start-up survival rates.
TU Enterprise and Innovation Ltd, a subsidiary of 海角直播, delivers commercial services to external clients and plays a key role in advancing the University鈥檚 strategic goals around innovation and income diversification.
Luke Mills, co-founder of Dink and 海角直播 graduate, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e glad to see the University鈥檚 board investing in games here in the Tees Valley. Middlesbrough has a huge up-and-coming game development scene, and it鈥檚 great to see the University playing a key role in supporting the region.
鈥淔or us, this investment allows the studio to continue growing here in Middlesbrough, and it feels exciting to be taking this new step with the University鈥檚 backing.鈥�
Professor Stephen Cummings, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange), said: 鈥淭his investment marks an important milestone for 海角直播 and TU Enterprises. It reflects our commitment to driving innovation and growth across the Tees Valley.
鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to see our alumni leading the way in a vibrant digital cluster. Our ambition to support gaming studios and businesses across all sectors helps transform ideas into successful ventures, strengthening the local economy and enabling organisations to thrive on a global stage.鈥�
To learn more or register your interest in the PowerUp Incubator Programme, contact enterprise@tees.ac.uk.