Copper Candle - pioneering the future of live entertainment by bringing real-world events into the Metaverse

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Today we're excited to meet James Simpson of Copper Candle

So James, tell us more about Copper Candle

Copper Candle is pioneering the future of live entertainment by bringing real-world events into the Metaverse, starting with Fortnite. With a strong foundation in theatre and music, we leverage decades of experience in commercial productions, festivals, and large-scale broadcast events to create immersive, XR, and VR experiences.

Our mission is to establish the world’s largest Metaverse entertainment venue by launching User Generated Content (UGC) tools that enable indie bands to seamlessly create and publish their music in Fortnite using our proprietary production pipeline.

Additionally, we offer a B2B model, providing a white-labeled version of our platform for producers seeking to create their own branded Fortnite islands.

Our innovative tech stack includes patented plugins for Unreal Engine that enable low-latency streaming of DMX lighting control and motion capture data via the cloud, allowing real-time integration of existing venue content into Unreal from anywhere in the world.

This unique capability makes us the only company able to deliver true live-streamed experiences to a metaverse platform using the same equipment that controls lights, sound, and performance in a physical venue.

How did you come up with the business idea and what problem are you looking to solve?

Traditional live events face several limitations that restrict audience access and engagement. In the UK alone, nearly 1 million people suffer from disabilities that prevent them from attending in-person events, including those with social anxiety, medical conditions, and physical disabilities.

Beyond this, many people face regional and financial barriers that limit their ability to experience live entertainment. Additionally, there is currently no straightforward, scalable solution for artists and producers to create their own productions in the Metaverse, particularly within platforms like Fortnite.

Existing methods lack the efficiency and live-events-friendly nature that producers need to replicate the immersive, engaging experiences of real-world events.

What made you want to start your own business?

In 2001 I created the worlds first LED stage light and introduced it to the market - I was 17. It didn't go down well with the other manufacturers of traditional lights when a 17 year old turns up to their trade show with a crazy vision to put LEDs into their lights and it didn't take long for the motivation to burn out and I became focused on my career in lighting instead.

Fast forward to today and LED stage lighting is the norm, and it constantly teaches me an important lesson; "stick with it". When you are introducing a disruptive and game-changing idea to an established market you have to persevere, fearless to the criticism and believe in your vision more than anyone else.

More than anything, I want to leave a legacy to the theatre and events industry that can save it from it's own commercial challenges and to make it better for everyone by bringing it forwards for today's audiences.

I tried to do this from "the inside" when I worked at the Royal Opera House and Royal Shakespeare Company but realised that the only way to truly make a difference is to remove myself from the institutional restrictions of a funded arts organisation and make it work on my own.

It's been a challenging and expensive journey so far but as we come into 2025 I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Artists are signing up, investors are taking an interest and audiences are asking for more.

What stage is your business currently at?

The product has launched, people are attending our gigs and artists are in a queue to be part of our Fortnite music venue. It's an exciting moment but we are still in an early stage.

Financially, we are in our pre-seed stage with an MVP launched. Our priority now is growth, both of the platform and our pipeline. We need to create more content to keep up with the demand of the artists and the audiences and for that we need to front-load our production costs with additional artists and developers.

What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?

I could say all of the cheesy stuff about being an entrepreneur like how it's great being your own boss and making a difference - it's all true and this challenge has been the most fun I've had in my professional life, despite the hardships.

But what I really love most about it is the excitement my children have about what I do. They love Copper Candle, not just because I build things in Fortnite and we all get to play together and test it, but they seem genuinely as passionate about the success of my vision as I am.

To paint this picture, I'll share a really nice father moment. We have a logo of a flame character who we call Flint and have had him made into a 3D character to dance and do demos for us. Last year I managed to find someone who could make plushies for me of Flint.

I brought three of them home with the intention of putting them on trade show stands as a fun talking point, but my two youngest have adopted them as their bed time snuggle.

I go to check on them before I go to bed and in the room they share, they are both asleep with Flint cuddled into them. At some level, Flint and the Copper Candle vision is our families security, but they also know that it is fragile and must be looked after.

When I travel for work, they look after Flint as if that might help protect the company and the vision. I'm not sure if they are manifesting their passion for what I do through their plushies or maybe they just really like the character! But it motivates me to be the best entrepreneur I can to make them proud of me.

What is the number one business tip you've learned that you'd like to share with fellow budding entrepreneurs?

Don't do it on your own! As a solo founder I've really come to rely on my colleague Andy who is wiser, smarter and more patient than I am.

It's tough, there are lots of heartbreaks and stresses that you need someone to talk things through with that isn't suffering with you at home. But you also need someone to celebrate the successes with, to make them feel meaningful.

I'm extremely grateful for Andy sticking with me through the highs and the lows even though he didn't have to.

Who are your startup heroes?

I used to admire Elon, the way he used passion to push new ideas into an established industry is very relatable for me. But it's hard to admire him at the moment and actually I don't think I've ever seen him as a hero or someone I aspire to be, just someone who probably had the same problems once that I face now.

My startup hero in truth isn't a very good entrepreneur at all, but has all the characteristics and personality traits that I think are laudable - and ironically whose name Elon used for his own company - Nikola Tesla.

He died penniless and without credit for any of his inventions, but he fearlessly invented to bring society forwards and has had a lasting impact of every person in the world without some of them even realising. I don't want to die penniless like he did, but I certainly would prefer to be remembered as a Tesla instead of a Musk.

Is there a favourite podcast, book or series you'd like to share with the world?

My favourite book of all time is Creativity Inc, written by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace.

Catmull founded and runs Pixar and the book takes you through the journey to creating Pixar, but more importantly discusses the way that a creative business should run to make itself a success.

As soon as you start reading it and he describes the challenge of the board room table in the prologue, you start to see what this book can bring to any future leader.

But if nothing else, just read the top tips at the end - follow this and you will be an incredible leader and manager.

Anything else you'd like to share?

We are living in a disruptive world where borders and ideology cause disputes and conflict. The metaverse is a borderless world, there are no barriers between geographies and being on the other side of the world from someone doesn't mean they can't be your friend and neighbour.

Whilst the idea of the metaverse seems to upset some people as a destruction of our existing social society, I try to bring some context to this digital evolution by pointing out all of the things that are wrong with the world we live in right now that the metaverse avoids; access, differential wealth, identity and territory.

I don't want to live my life purely in a digital world, but I also don't want to live in a world of conflict and hate. At a time when the entire world is using every financial and political tool available to create and stop these dynamics in the real-world, is it a particularly big risk to human-kind for us to put a bit of time and attention into a digital reality that can remove us from the issues civilisation has created in the 21st century?

If we moved some of our economy, entertainment and social systems into a metaverse, it's just possible it could save the real-world.

Where can people find you online?

Let's connect on LinkedIn

It's been really great to chat today James! Good luck in the future with your business and we look forward to catching up with you soon.

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