London-based indie distributor DRG has secured a partnership with digital incubator Wildseed Studios (Counterfeit Cat, pictured) to invest and distribute its scripted content internationally.

The deal will see Nice Entertainment Group-owned DRG provide uncapped backing for a new round of pilots for Wildseed in Q1. The content categories span kids ages six to 11, animated and live-action adult comedy, and genre fiction.

It will also become Wildseed’s distributor to help expand the company’s global reach and business opportunities.

Founded in 2013 by former BBC Children’s exec Jesse Cleverly and ex-Aardman Animations exec Miles Bullough, Wildseed enables emerging talent to create new entertainment properties that the company can either grow itself post-pilot (after initial investments of up to US$12,000) or develop further with premium platform and brand partners.

For its first round of pilots in 2014, Wildseed received more than 3,000 project ideas, picked up 30, published 20 pilots and had a 60% pickup rate from premium partners.

Its recent successes include BAFTA-nominated 52 x 11-minute animated series Counterfeit Cat for Disney XD and Teletoon Canada, 2016 Children’s BAFTA-winning short Good as Goaled/Lottie Bearshout, also for Disney XD, and animation incubator/digital talent show Startoon with Canadian partner Shaw Rocket Fund.