Boutique creative agency Etch’d, which provides bespoke marketing services across the investment, financial services and property development sectors, has received a six-figure investment from Balashev Investment Group – a family office whose founder, Thomas Balashev, is a client of the agency.

The cash injection from client-turned-investor Balashev Investment Group will aid the expansion of the agency’s headquarters in central London, the onboarding of new departments and the hiring of more staff as Etch’d looks to expand into new international markets across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Etch’d has been working with Balashev over the past 12 months to help raise both his personal profile and the profiles of his businesses, which along with Balashev Investment Group includes real estate firm Montague Real Estate.

Taking inspiration from the US estate agent market – where estate agents have a much more visible personal brand than their British counterparts – Etch’d has engaged with Balashev to put a more visible and trustworthy human face on the Montague Real Estate brand, including through video interviews, podcasts and social media.

Balashev says, “This investment will be the first of many strategic moves into the media space for Balashev Investment Group. Our long term strategy is to invest into disruptive businesses and brands shaking up established industries. Lewis’ aspirations for international expansion across Europe, Asia and the Middle East similarly mirror mine. I am therefore hugely excited about the value I can bring as an investor, helping Lewis and Etch’d to fulfil their next stage of growth.”