planarTECH is an engineering company founded in 2014 as a provider of process equipment for the growth and characterisation of graphene and other emerging 2D materials. Its core product line is the planarGROW Chemical Vapor (CVD) system. The company has the ability to deliver scalable production systems that allow lower-cost production of graphene in comparison to other options currently available in the market. Moreover, from 2014 to 2019, the company’s cumulative revenues exceeded £5 million. The company's products have been installed and used by faculties and students at prestigious universities like Stanford University (USA), IIT- Bombay (India), Deakin University (Australia), and many others. From the investment, the company will utilise 45% as working capital, 30% in Capital Expenditures (CAPEX), 15% in R&D and 10% in hiring additional staff.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£425,061
Argento Labs, a UK-based biotech company, is dedicated to converting waste into valuable resources, leading the way in sustainable innovation. They utilize patented bioprocessing technology to extract sugars, proteins, and fats from agricultural, forestry, and municipal waste. Their product range includes alternative proteins, biogenic CO2, and bio-fertilizers, contributing to environmental sustainability and decarbonization efforts. Argento Labs focuses on scalability for industrial production to support a sustainable future and envisions waste as a transformative solution for preserving the planet. Their patent currently applies in the US jurisdiction.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£415,233
Solivus is a solar technology company that aims to enable mega-buildings, homes and communities to lower their carbon footprint and generate local green energy through the company's proprietary solar solutions. Its patent-pending innovation, Solivus Arc, utilises thin-film solar technology to power homes and electric vehicles. The company asserts that Solivus Arc provides an alternative to rooftop solar and has incredible low-carbon credentials. Solivus aims to also enter the commercial and agricultural markets with its products. It will use 50% of the investment in product development and R&D, 40% in growing its team, and 10% towards legal and marketing costs.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,619,048
Cornish Lithium intends to set up an environmentally-responsible and unique lithium extraction industry in the UK. The company has acquired exploration rights for lithium and other battery metals across Cornwall. Extensive mineral rights agreements have given the company a first-mover advantage in Cornwall. The funds raised will be used to support research over the next 12 months, which includes sample collection, in order to completely understand the battery metal potential of Cornwall.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,430,640
Ecologi is dedicated to motivating and enabling businesses to expedite global climate action. Through Ecologi Zero, their carbon footprinting tool with Xero, customers can calculate emission and establish reduction objectives, while also funding tree planting and high quality carbon avoidance and removal projects.
They can share their impact dashboard encourage and inspiring others, and all of this is made possible through monthly Climate Action subscriptions, PAYG Impact shop, and Ecommerce API.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£549,363
INSPHERE uses image sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to guide and correct robot positioning during the manufacturing process, ensuring right-first-time production. The company argues that industrial robots are not completely accurate and can experience unplanned downtime that can cost up to £10,000 per minute. INSPHERE asserts that its solution allows factory operators to operate safely with less downtime, and with multiple robot and human operators. The company has developed three products since 2013 which have received recognition in the aerospace and industrial automation sectors. INSPHERE is now launching IONA, a network of sensors that can be permanently deployed in a manufacturing environment to monitor and control industrial robots. IONA, the company points out, uses both hardware and software to correct errors taking into account the robot and its relationship to the workpiece. INSPHERE will use the investment to diversify the reach of IONA across markets.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,149,999
Carnot is developing hydrogen engines with key components manufactured from ceramics able to withstand fuel combustion temperatures, eliminating the need for cooling systems and doubling the efficiencies of modern engines. The company argues that modern engines waste on average one-third of fuel energy to cool systems that stop metallic components from melting. Carnot claims that its engines eliminate this waste doubling efficiency, halve fuel costs and CO2 and achieve net-zero operation by operating on biofuels and hydrogen benefiting the long haul transport, marine and primary off-grid power markets. Carnot has raised over £600,000 including a pre-seed round in 2020 for £357,000 at a pre-money valuation of £2 million, a £300,000 Innovate UK grant and another £300,000 Eureka Eurostar’s grant. Carnot has a 5-year, 3-phase exit strategy and will begin licensing its IP at the end of 2023 at which point it will begin generating revenue. It will eventually look for acquisition from one of its manufacturing partners in 2025 after demonstrating industry acceptance of its technology.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£262,500
Sol-Gel Materials and Application (SGMA) is a sustainable technology company that is using its new sol-gels to create sustainable solutions to plastic environmental waste. The company has researched and developed a non-plastic, non-toxic coating for products, from food packaging to electronics, that is water and oil resistant yet recyclable. Its product is the world’s only biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable (BCR) solution. The company's founder and CEO, Dr Fanya Ismail, has won the award 'Women in Innovation 2019' by Innovate UK and the company's work has been covered by BBC South East Today. The company plans to function as an IP management company, sub-contract manufacturing to chemical firms moving from bulk to advanced materials, and outsource distribution to partners, whose packaging customers serve brand owners.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£611,040
SpaceX is an aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk that aims to reduce space transportation costs and eventually enable the colonisation of Mars. The company has developed several launch vehicles, rocket engines and Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS) landing platforms. Its project, Falcon 9, became the first rocket to accomplish a propulsive vertical landing in December 2015. As of March 2018, SpaceX had over 100 launches on its manifest representing about $12 billion (£9.24 billion) in contract revenue. The company has also ventured into providing satellite internet access by launching its Starlink project. As of 13th June 2020, it has launched 540 Starlink satellites. It will soon launch its Interplanetary Transport System (ITS), Starship, to further inter-planetary travel and colonisation. They will use the investment to grow its projects across various verticals.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£8,752,000
Central Plains Group (CPG) is a farming company with a vision to build an integrated zero-waste farming and processing operation to supply the rapidly expanding starch, bioplastics and plant protein markets globally. It aims to be a contender in the aforementioned markets that are expected to be worth more than $30 billion by 2026. CPG previously built and ran a large-scale farming operation in Eastern Europe for over 25 years, over 200,000 hectares of land and earning more than $250 million in profits. It aspires to take things further by promoting sustainable farming and contributing to the zero-waste bio-economy. CPG established its core feedstock farming platform in Ukraine achieving over £3 million worth of revenue with a net profit of £300,000 having supplied 11,000 tonnes of crisping potatoes to Pepsico and Ukraine Supermarkets. CPG will use the investment to actualise the construction of a 15 tonne/hour starch production facility powered by a green energy source.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£3,031,685
