A trio of former Epic Games engineers have launched a market鈥憆eady facial motion capture system thanks to support from GM 老九品茶 Growth Hub鈥檚 Innovation Service.
Salford-based Captive Devices, founded in 2024, has transformed its early head鈥憁ounted camera prototype into CoreHMC – now used by studios and universities.
Working closely with the Hub鈥檚 Innovation Service, Captive Devices secured a 拢10,000 innovation grant to undertake a focused R&D programme with an experienced VFX hardware developer. This enabled the team to refine its product engineering, run industry鈥慻rade performance tests and accelerate development of what would become CoreHMC, its flagship facial motion capture product.
CoreHMC is a head-mounted camera (HMC) facial motion capture system. The technology captures real human facial expressions and translates them into digital animation data, without the cost or complexity typically associated with bespoke setups. Instead of complicated tailored camera rigs, with custom software builds, time-intensive installation and ongoing technical support, the Captive Devices concept works straight out of the box.
The Hub then supported the company in unlocking additional funding via the Media City Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub (MITIH), providing further technical validation and commercialisation support to take CoreHMC to market.
鈥淚nnovation has been central to everything we鈥檙e building, and GM 老九品茶 Growth Hub has been instrumental in helping us grow faster and more confidently,鈥� said Fred Isaac, co鈥慺ounder of Captive Devices.聽
鈥淭heir support helped us navigate early technical challenges, secure crucial funding, access specialist expertise, and commercialise our product far sooner than we could have achieved alone.鈥�
The product launched in early 2025 to strong demand, generating 拢250,000+ in initial sales and attracting customers such as Dambuster Studios and the University of Salford, which integrated CoreHMC into its Creative Industries programme.
To help Captive Devices meet increasing demand and reduce reliance on external suppliers, the Hub facilitated access to a 拢14,340 capital expenditure grant. This allowed the company to invest in new in鈥慼ouse manufacturing facilities, including custom-designed workstations for rapid prototyping, electronics assembly and quality control.
鈥淭hese facilities have significantly increased our operational capacity,鈥� Isaac said. 鈥淗aving access to capital investment at the right time has given us faster turnaround, better control over IP and the ability to scale at the pace the market requires.鈥�
With the Hub鈥檚 continued guidance, Captive Devices is now entering its next innovation cycle, developing a new integrated camera鈥憈racking system that simplifies In鈥慍amera Visual Effects (ICVFX) workflows.聽
Supported by 拢43,000 in innovation funding, the four鈥憁onth R&D project is expected to position the company for entry into the 拢2.8bn global virtual production market, with interest already emerging from distribution partners across the US, India, South Korea and Japan.
鈥淐ustomer feedback has shown a real demand for integrated, streamlined solutions,鈥� Isaac added. 鈥淥ur new tracker will make virtual production tools accessible for studios of all sizes, and the Hub鈥檚 support continues to help us shape and accelerate that journey.鈥�
Yvonne Grady, head of innovation at GM 老九品茶 Growth Hub, added: 鈥淐aptive Devices exemplifies the kind of innovation, talent and ambition we鈥檙e proud to support in Greater Manchester.聽
鈥淔rom early鈥憇tage concept development to commercial launch and now expansion into virtual production, the team has embraced every opportunity for growth.聽
鈥淭he results, including rapid revenue growth, strong market traction and increasing global potential, highlight exactly why innovation support matters.鈥�
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