Stage Analytics is an Edinburgh-based technology startup focused on driving forward data science innovation in the arts. Initially focused on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, they are combining cutting edge data science techniques (NLP, sentiment analysis, AI/ML integration, network modelling) to analyse the data landscape of festival performances and provide data insights into the key drivers of success for performers, venues, and companies.

They were selected to respond to a Creative Informatics Challenge Project set by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. The project proposal focused on some of the core challenges they’d been thinking about in relation to the Fringe’s post-pandemic transition to a more digitally-blended medium. It also dovetailed closely with work they’ve already done as Fringebiscuit in 2018-19 to better understand the drivers of success for Fringe artists in the social media space.

Stage Analytics was formed as a result of this successful Challenge application. In addition to the formation of the company, they are also actively pursuing other opportunities for development, and were recently awarded additional funding through our Resident Entrepreneur programme.