Sphere Fluidics – Parkwalk closes further funding round
We have closed a follow-on investment in Sphere Fluidics for the Opportunities Fund. This follows the UCEFs investing previously.
Sphere Fluidics is an established Life Sciences company which has developed unique products for use in single cell analysis and characterisation and provides collaborative R&D services in this area.
The company was founded on IP generated by the University of Cambridge and has in-licensed 7 patent families from the University and other leading institutions. The core technology is now protected by 54 patents and has been developed with equity and over £8m of grants.
Surrey NanoSystems and SBIR agree Vantablack exclusivity
Exclusive rights to the use of ultra-black Vantablack S-VIS surface coating in blackbody calibration sources has been agreed between Surrey NanoSystems and Santa Barbara Infrared (SBIR).
The unparalleled broadband absorption of Vantablack S-VIS makes it ideally suited to enhancing the performance and utility of Santa Barbara Infrared’s (SBIR) precision electro-optical instrumentation, reinforcing its leadership position in military, aerospace IR/FLIR testing and simulation markets. Initially, SBIR is using Surrey NanoSystems’ UK facility to apply the Vantablack coating, while it establishes a local facility to serve the North American defence, aerospace and electro-optical markets.
Commenting on the agreement, SBIR’s President Steve McHugh notes: “The superb broad band absorption of Vantablack coatings, and the highly uniform deposition layer, helps us to create blackbody sources offering extremely high radiometric performance without caveats – greatly enhancing ease of use.”
Surrey NanoSystems’ CEO David Wong adds: “We’re really pleased to have Vantablack recognised by SBIR, who have a reputation built on performance and precision. We’re also delighted to have a partner to simplify procurement and provide local support for Vantablack coatings in North America. We see this as crucial to serving such an important market.”
Surrey NanoSystems’ Vantablack is the world’s blackest surface coating material for the UV to FIR spectrum. It employs an innovative nanomaterial structure that absorbs virtually all incident light. Vantablack was developed for space-borne imaging applications and offers exceptional IR absorption and excellent thermal, mechanical and environmental stability – attributes which uniquely qualify it for the most demanding applications. The material has already achieved space heritage with its recent deployment on an Earth observation satellite.
The S-VIS version of Vantablack traps over 99.8% of near- and mid-infrared wavelengths hitting its surface. It is applied using a simple spraying technique before being post-processed to achieve its exceptional broad band absorption characteristics and near-perfect Lambertian performance. This absorption is maintained over a wide range of wavelengths and viewing angles, far outstripping conventional black paints and other vacuum-deposited coatings. These characteristics are critical for SBIR’s specialised equipment, where compliance with rigourous US defence standards, long-term stability and traceable precision are essential attributes.
The active element of Vantablack S-VIS is a functionalised carbon nanotube matrix. The coating is applied using a proprietary process that includes a number of pre- and post-application steps to achieve its ultra-low reflectance. The process is scalable and suitable for high-volume production on both small and large substrates, and on complex 3D surfaces. Vantablack S-VIS can be applied to a variety of substrates, with the only major constraint being the ability of the substrate to withstand process temperatures of 100-150 degrees Centigrade, making the coating suitable for application onto many popular types of engineering-grade polymers and composite materials.
Since its launch in spring 2016, well over 100 Vantablack S-VIS projects have already been completed, including in space-borne instrumentation and military optical systems.
The agreement with SBIR provides the next platform for the further adoption of the technology.
Fluidic Analytics – University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund IV and Parkwalk investment
Parkwalk have recently closed an investment in Fluidic Analytics for the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund IV and Parkwalk Funds.
Fluidic Analytics is developing a line of tools for the rapid, accurate, cost-effective analysis of proteins and other biomolecular species. By combining a powerful microfluidics platform developed at the University of Cambridge with efficient manufacturing and design principles, the Company is striving to be a leading provider of products that enable breakthrough advances in fundamental protein science, drug development and diagnostics.
By developing products that make protein characterisation faster, more precise, more convenient, more cost-effective and more accurate, Fluidic Analytics is striving to help scientists, healthcare providers and people everywhere to understand the world around them better.
More detail can be seen on the company’s website here.
Sphere Fluidics – University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund III closes further funding round
We have closed an investment, in a $7m funding round, in Sphere Fluidics for the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund III. This follows the UCEFs I and II investing previously. The investment round has been led by an Asian corporate investor
Sphere Fluidics is an established Life Sciences company which has developed unique products for use in single cell analysis and characterisation and provides collaborative R&D services in this area.
The company was founded on IP generated by the University of Cambridge and has in-licensed 10 patent families from the University and other leading institutions. The core technology is now protected by 51 patents and has been developed with equity and over £7m of grants.
Animal Dynamics – Parkwalk closes University of Oxford Isis Fund investment
We are delighted to announce that the University of Oxford Isis Fund II has completed an investment in Animal Dynamics Limited, who are developing a portfolio of products derived from research into evolutionary adaptations in flight, swimming, walking, and stealth, where nature has arrived at significant performance optimizations which can be applied to commercial products.
Spun-out of Oxford University’s Zoology Department, Animal Dynamics’ technology is derived from optimisations that nature has arrived at delivering increased performance, mainly relating to movement. In propulsion technology, this is based on Body and Caudal Fin (BCF) undulations, and for flight technology it’s based on insect flight optimisations. These systems provide significant efficiency gains over existing methods, enabling greater speed and efficiency, and (in the case of flight) flight duration.
FT: Fluidic Analytics develops tools to warn of diseases
Imagine if a simple pinprick blood test could tell if you were in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or heart disease. This is the vision behind Fluidic Analytics, spun out of Cambridge university, which is developing tools to help identify the “protein fingerprints” of illnesses….
Read the full article here (paywall).
Surrey NanoSystems – Follow on investment
Parkwalk are pleased to announce a follow on investment into Surrey NanoSystems by the Parkwalk Opportunities EIS Fund and a Parkwalk Syndicate.
Spun-out of the University of Surrey in 2006, Surrey NanoSystems has raised around £8m in equity funding to date as well as substantial non-dilutive grant funding. Parkwalk made its first investment in 2012.
Surrey NanoSystems produces nanostructured materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene using its proprietary low-temperature synthesis technology. This low-temperature synthesis capability, realised using specialised, custom-built equipment, enables these “wonder materials” to be used in real-world applications, where conventional synthesis temperatures would otherwise be too high.
Using this technology, the Company developed Vantablack®, launched at the Farnborough International Air Show in the summer of 2014. Vantablack® is revolutionary in its ability to be applied to light-weight, temperature-sensitive structures such as aluminium whilst absorbing 99.96% of incident radiation, believed to be the highest-ever recorded.
The company’s website can be viewed here.
Fluidic Analytics – University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund II and Parkwalk investment
Parkwalk have recently closed an investment in Fluidic Analytics for the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund II and Parkwalk Funds.
Fluidic Analytics is developing a line of tools for the rapid, accurate, cost-effective analysis of proteins and other biomolecular species. By combining a powerful microfluidics platform developed at the University of Cambridge with efficient manufacturing and design principles, the Company is striving to be a leading provider of products that enable breakthrough advances in fundamental protein science, drug development and diagnostics.
By developing products that make protein characterisation faster, more precise, more convenient, more cost-effective and more accurate, Fluidic Analytics is striving to help scientists, healthcare providers and people everywhere to understand the world around them better.
More detail can be seen on the company’s website here.
Surrey NanoSystems – NYT: Into the Void
New York Times article: Gazing Into the Void – What You Can Do With Vantablack, the Darkest Material Ever Made
Read the article here.
Surrey NanoSystems – BBC – Vantablack
How black can black be? See the BBC video here
Surrey Nano: UK engineers create world’s darkest material
None more black: UK engineers create world’s darkest material
A radiation-absorbing material developed for space-based applications is finding new applications closer to home.
Vantablack, a so-called ‘super black’ coating from Surrey Nanosystems, combines exceptionally low mass, thermal stability and an ability to absorb 99.96 per cent of incident radiation. Consequently, the coating is suited to applications including apertures, baffles, cold shields and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)–type optical sensors.
The material also overcomes limitations encountered in the manufacture of super-black carbon nanotube-based materials, where high temperatures precluded direct application to sensitive electronics or materials with relatively low melting points. This, along with poor adhesion, prevented their application to space and airborne instrumentation.
Read the full article here.
Vantablack has the highest thermal conductivity and lowest mass-volume of any material that can be used in high-emissivity applications. It has virtually undetectable levels of outgassing and particle fallout, thus eliminating a key source of contamination in sensitive imaging systems. It withstands launch shock, staging and long-term vibration, and is suitable for coating internal components, such as apertures, baffles, cold shields and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) –type optical sensors.
Read the full article here.
Sphere Fluidics – Parkwalk closes further funding round
We have closed an investment, in the first tranche of a financing round of up to £2m, in Sphere Fluidics for the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund II and the final investment for Parkwalk Fund IV. This follows the UoCEF I investing in February 2013.
Sphere Fluidics is an established, Life Sciences company which has developed unique products for use in single cell analysis and characterisation and provides collaborative R&D services in this area.
The company was founded on IP generated by the University of Cambridge and has in-licensed 10 patent families from the University and other leading institutions. The core technology is now protected by 51 patents and has been developed with £2.3m of equity and over £7m of grants.
Surrey NanoSystems
‘Super black’ coating to revolutionise aerospace industry?
UK firm Surrey NanoSystems has utilised its know-how in nanotechnology processing to deposit the world’s blackest material on lightweight, temperature-sensitive substrates.
Sphere Fluidics
Wins ACES award for academic spin-outs
University of Cambridge spin-out Sphere Fluidics was among the winners at the ACES awards – the only pan-European awards for academic spin-outs – held earlier this week in Brussels.
AQDOT
Wins RSC Emerging Technologies Competition
AQDOT, a spinout company from the Department of Chemistry, has won the first RSC Emerging Technologies Competition for 2013…..
Sphere Fluidics
Parkwalk closes Sphere Fluidics investment for the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund I
Sphere Fluidics has developed unique products for use in single cell analysis and characterisation and provides collaborative R&D services.
A novel technology platform (called Cyto-MineTM) enables ultra-high throughput analysis of single cells and generation of their genetic, transcriptomic and proteomic profiles in miniaturised (pl to nl) volumes called picodroplets.
Surrey NanoSystems
Scientists researching the ‘darkest material known to man’ are hoping a new manufacturing process will enable them to create more accurate space instruments.
The British companies developing the production method say it could make NanoBlack — a coating based on carbon nanotubes — more flexible and widely used, following a new research project match-funded by the government…..
Surrey NanoSystems
Parkwalk closes Surrey Nano Systems investment for the UK Tech Fund II
Surrey NanoSystems has developed a leading technology portfolio addressing the needs of the global nanoelectronics sector.
Its proven technologies deliver precise, ordered nanomaterial structures for advanced CMOS manufacturing processes.
