Microsaic Systems – appointment of Broker
Microsaic Systems plc (AIM: MSYS), the developer of chip-based mass spectrometry instruments, is pleased to announce that Nplus 1 Singer Advisory LLP (“N+1 Singer”) has been appointed as Nominated Adviser and Broker to the Company with immediate effect.
Microsaic Systems plc is a high technology company developing and marketing next generation mass spectrometry (MS) instruments for the analysis of liquid samples. Microsaic has successfully miniaturised mass spectrometry into a desktop instrument by integrating the key MS components onto patented chip technologies (called ionchip®, spraychip® and vac-chip™). Microsaic’s MS products retain the functionality of larger, conventional MS systems but are substantially smaller, lighter, consume less energy and have lower running costs. The Microsaic 4000 MiD® is the world’s smallest MS system. MS is a ‘gold-standard’ analytical technique used across many industry sectors, including pharmaceutical, diagnostics and healthcare, government, energy, utilities, environmental, food and drink, security and defence, and industrial chemicals. Microsaic Systems was established in 2001 by a team including founders from Imperial College London, and was admitted to AIM in April 2011 under the symbol MSYS.
Xeros: Successfully Completes Tannery Trials
Full scale trial of Xeros’ technology in leather processing completed
Xeros Technology Group plc (AIM: XSG, ‘Xeros’ or ‘the Group’), the innovative developer of patented polymer bead systems with multiple identified commercial applications, has successfully completed a full scale trial of its technology within a leading tannery.
The trial was part of a multi-phase joint development agreement with LANXESS Deutschland GmbH to advance the application of Xeros’ patented polymer bead technology in the leather processing industry.
The full scale trial which was conducted by a leading independent tannery has shown that material reductions in water, chemistry and effluent are achievable by using Xeros’ technology in the retanning and dyeing phase of leather processing. When Xeros’ technology was applied to this phase of the process, the water used and the effluent generated were reduced by over 50%. The leather produced was judged to be of excellent quality in terms of look, feel, and handle.
The Group intends to continue further trials to determine the maximum potential of its technology in this field whilst simultaneously progressing its commercialisation plan.
Mark Nichols, Chief Executive of Xeros, said:
“This is an important development which hails a step change in the sustainability of the leather processing industry.
“This successful trial provides encouraging evidence of the momentum building across the Group’s activities and demonstrates another application of our platform technology.”
Note:
Leather processing involves four phases: beamhouse, tanning, retanning & dyeing and finishing. The trial just concluded focussed on the third phase in the process.
YASA Motors – Parkwalk closes follow-on investment
We are delighted to announce that the Parkwalk Opportunities Fund and the UK Tech Fund VII have led a funding round in YASA Motors, a spin-out from the University of Oxford. The company aims to commercialise its patented technology in electric motors and generators across a range of product areas.
YASA Motors (YASA) was incorporated in 2009 to commercialise the unique motor topology developed by founder and CTO Dr Woolmer at the University of Oxford. The Yokeless And Segmented Armature design – hence YASA – allows more efficient use of key magnetic and structural materials.
The technology allows YASA to manufacture a range of standard electric motors and generators with superior performance characteristics. In particular the motors are smaller and lighter, are easier to manufacture and produce exceptionally high power and torque. YASA’s standard products are typically integrated into customers’ products for low volume applications whilst the company also carries out bespoke design and development work for OEM customers with high volume applications where the volumes can justify the cost of customisation.
Inflowmatix – Parkwalk closes investment
We are delighted to announce that the Parkwalk Opportunities Fund has participated £1.2m of a £3m funding round in Inflowmatix, an Imperial College spin-out company providing high-resolution sensors and associated analytics initially to the water industry. Their technology will enable clients to actively manage their asset base through risk-based preventative maintenance and ultimately dynamic network optimisation. Parkwalk invested alongside Imperial Innovations
DefiniGEN – Parkwalk closes follow on investment
Parkwalk closes DefiniGen investment for the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund IV and Parkwalk Funds
DefiniGEN, a spin-out from the University of Cambridge Regenerative Medicine Department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, have created a stem cell technology to provide human cells to the drug discovery sector for use in lead optimisation and toxicity programmes.
The Company’s proprietary production platform OptiDIFF robustly generates human cell types including using hIPSC human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell technology. DefiniGEN has utilised the OptiDIFF platform to produce validated libraries of disease modelled human liver and pancreatic cells for a range of Inherited Metabolic Diseases (IMDs).
The phenotype and pathology of the diseases has been confirmed in the cells and the resulting products are available for utilisation in drug discovery lead optimization studies.
Cambridge Touch Technologies – University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund III investment
We have recently made an investment in Cambridge Touch Technologies for the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund III in a seed financing round.
Cambridge Touch Technologies (CTT), a University of Cambridge start-up poised to make 3D touch technology a standard feature on smart devices, has received seed investment by Cambridge Enterprise, the commercialisation arm of the University.
The details of the investment have not been disclosed.
CTT’s next generation 3D touch technology enables mobile devices to sense both the location and force of multi-touch inputs. CTT’s technology improves on the first generation of 3D technologies recently introduced to mass markets, which allow users to press a phone’s touch screen – exerting force – to access useful new interactions such as ‘peek and pop’ and ‘left-click’ functionality. Unlike this first generation technology, CTT has developed a sensitive multi-touch technology that can sense ‘multi finger’ force, is more scalable and cost-effective without any decrease in battery life. As a result, force-sensing technology, which currently offers limited functionality and is only available in smartphone-sized devices, can potentially be expanded and deployed on any touch screen – from smartphones to tablets to those in automobiles and beyond.
Since 2011, CTT has been developing its leading and patent pending analogue circuitry and digital algorithms, which leverage the existing manufacturing processes and standard architectures of conventional projected capacitive touch. CTT’s technology will lead to more immersive apps, better gaming experiences and higher everyday user satisfaction and productivity.
“We’ve added in improved performance and taken out the complexity,” said Corbin Church, CEO of CTT. “The technology can now be adapted in more formats and deployed in a larger part of the market at a lower cost.”
Dr Arokia Nathan, CTO and co-founder of CTT, and Professor of Photonic Systems and Displays at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, said “the elegance of this new 3D touch technology lies in the simplicity of signal acquisition, signal processing and digital noise reduction, and it really opens the door for 3D touch to a new generation of applications.”
3D touch-enabled devices are expected to grow to more than 900 million units annually in 2020, according to IHS Technology.
Xeros: Interim Results: Progress on all fronts
Highlights
- Accelerating roll out in Commercial Laundry
- Group earned income increased to £744,000 in the five months ended 31 December 2015 (prior period 2014: £95,000)
- Delivering on strategy laid out at fundraising in November 2015
- 56 commercial washing machine installations for the five months ended 31 December 2015
- 94 for the seven months ended 29 February 2016
- Installed fleet totalled 200 at end of February 2016
- Developing Leather Processing
- Full scale leather processing trials continuing in leading European leather tannery, as part of joint development agreement with LANXESS
- Increasing scope and scale of polymer science platform
- Detailed studies underway to analyse potential further applications of our polymer science in global industries
Mark Nichols, Chief Executive of Xeros, said:
“Our business development activities have continued in line with the plans laid out during our £40m fundraising in November last year.
“The roll out of Commercial Laundry continues at a good pace. We are now installing machines at an approximate rate of one per working day and expect this rate to progressively increase.
“In Leather Processing, our full scale trials are on track and are scheduled to be completed around the middle of the year. We anticipate that these trials will show that our polymer beads, which were specifically designed for this application, deliver economic, operational and sustainability improvements.
“Studies to identify new potential applications are also progressing on schedule and are providing further evidence that we possess a platform technology.”
Notes to Editors
Xeros Technology Group plc (LN: XSG) is a platform technology company that is reinventing water intensive industrial and commercial processes by replacing water with polymer bead technologies. Its patented technologies have the capacity to provide material economic, operational and sustainability improvements that are unachievable with traditional processes. The Group is well established in the commercial laundry market where immediate opportunities exist for substantial growth and is currently in various stages of development to apply its technology across a range of water intensive industrial and commercial markets. The Group joined AIM in 2014 and in November 2015 raised gross proceeds of £40m by way of a placing to accelerate the commercialisation of its innovative technology across global laundry markets and to further develop its patented technology for other identified industrial and domestic processes.
For more information, please visit – http://www.xeroscleaning.com/
Operational review: progress and plans
We continue to implement successfully the strategy we set out at the time of our fundraising in November 2015: to build and apply our polymer bead science platform to reduce dramatically the consumption of both water and energy in major global industrial and consumer processes, whilst simultaneously improving the quality and sustainability of their outcomes. In so doing, we seek to derive high quality earnings for the Group based upon the savings and performance improvements delivered.
The fundraising is enabling us to accelerate the execution of this strategy, in building out our Commercial Laundry business, in driving progress towards commercialisation in the leather processing business and in rapidly progressing the development of additional attractive applications.
Commercial Laundry
Growth in the machine installation rate continued at a good pace. We are now installing machines at an approximate rate of one per working day, with sales and service margins in line with our expectations. We expect the installation rate to increase progressively. We anticipate broadly equal demand between “Perform” (machine sale) and “Complete” (machine lease) over time, but currently weighted towards “Complete”
We continue to increase the numbers and the accreditation level of our Forward Channel Partners (‘FCPs’) in the US whilst simultaneously increasing customer satisfaction levels, which have consistently exceeded 90% in 2016 to date. FCPs have also generated 50% of our sales since the beginning of the year.
We are also making progress on the strengthening of our supply chain. Our second source manufacturer for 25kg washing machines is now producing and shipping units. 16kg machines, which allow us to address a larger share of the commercial laundry market as a whole, are now also being produced for field trials as a complement to our 25kg machines.
Our Sbeadycare® integrated customer proposition covering polymer beads, chemistry and service is now being supplemented with our industry changing information technology systems, “Pulse 3.0” and “Connect”. These systems which are now being introduced to all of our customer sites, monitor and help manage machines in customers’ laundries and provide information on cleaning performance, energy/water saving and maintenance requirements. The information received is highly valuable in enhancing laundry operations and their sustainability and also enables us to improve the performance of the entire value chain including our FCPs.
Domestic Laundry
Discussions continue with major machine OEMs, who have shown an encouraging level of interest in working with Xeros. Alongside such discussions, we are developing a washing machine for the US market with which to conduct consumer field trials in due course.
In addition, we are studying potential models whereby Xeros could share appropriately in the ongoing benefits which would accrue to end consumers from the use of our technology in the form of reduced utilities and detergent.
Leather Processing
Full scale trials as provided for in our Joint Development Agreement with LANXESS, are proceeding within a leading European leather tannery and are scheduled for completion around the middle of the year.
Results so far have been encouraging and we anticipate that these trials will show that our polymer beads, which were specifically designed for this application, deliver economic, operational and sustainability improvements. We are actively working to optimise a number of dependent variables in these trials to produce the best results from both a quality and an economic perspective.
Bead management systems for use within the industry are now being engineered in our Technology Centre in Sheffield with a view to selecting and producing an optimised system toward the end of the year.
Further applications development
Studies to identify future potential applications are now close to completion and we are about to commence detailed reviews of areas which we have identified as being potentially high in opportunity.
Our expectation is that, over the medium term, we will increase our intellectual property estate and ultimately create additional revenue opportunities.
Organisation
We have continued to build capability in our Commercial Laundry organisation to support its future growth. Our Science and Engineering teams have also been increased and are aligned to opportunity areas in multi-disciplinary teams.
We are in the process of integrating all Commercial Laundry engineering in the US into our new Engineering Centre in Seekonk, Massachusetts. This integration will both speed up the development of our washing machine platforms and also create capacity in our Technology Centre in Sheffield to undertake applications engineering in Leather Processing and beyond.
Summary
It has been a busy four months since we raised £40 million to accelerate our strategy, and we are making good progress on all fronts.
Looking ahead: in Commercial Laundry we are on course to grow from our current installation rate of one machine per working day. In Leather Processing, our full scale trials are also progressing on track and are scheduled to be completed around the middle of the year. Studies to identify new potential applications are on schedule and early signs indicate that we possess a platform technology which can be successfully applied to a number of global industries.
We look forward to the future with confidence.
Spectral Edge – Parkwalk closes Opportunities EIS Fund investment
We are delighted to announce that the Parkwalk Opportunities EIS Fund has closed an investment in Spectral Edge, a spin-out from the University of East Anglia’s Colour Group. Spectral Edge’s technology enhances images and video by using information outside the normal visible spectrum or applying transformations to that within it.
The company’s technology enhances images and video by using information outside the normal visible spectrum – notably from the infra-red range – or applying transformations to that within it. Applications range from accessibility for TV content, computational photography to enhance camera images, and surveillance.
Mirriad – Secures $15m in financing
Mirriad Advertising Ltd, a technology company reshaping the future of video advertising, today announced it has closed $15 million in financing as of January 2016, led by IP Group PLC, alongside Parkwalk Funds, with a minority investment from Unilever Ventures, the venture capital and private equity arm of Unilever.
It is estimated that over $95 billion will be lost to ad skipping by 2019. According to the 2015 Ad blocking Report by PageFair and Adobe, as of June 2015, there were 198 million active adblock users around the world, a 41% year on year growth. Added to that, viewers are migrating from linear television with traditional commercials to on-demand, DVRs and digital platforms like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube. Traditional ads can now be skipped, blocked, avoided or just tuned out. As a result, video advertising inventory is shrinking, revenues are down and the value of remaining traditional commercial spots is in question. Advertisers and content owners are at a crossroads and looking for solutions as the traditional advertising model continues to shift.
As evidenced by its latest round of financing, Mirriad is well-positioned to create unique new advertising inventory for content owners, deliver content for advertisers that won’t fall victim to ad skipping and ad blocking, and maintain the concerns of viewers by reducing reliance on traditional commercials that detract from the viewing experience.
“The traditional advertising model is changing rapidly,” said Mark Popkiewicz, CEO, Mirriad. “The combination of ad blocking, the live pause function, on-demand, and a range of subscription and streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu are costing the industry millions. Now more than ever, advertisers and content owners alike need solutions to help them navigate the changing landscape. This round of financing further demonstrates Mirriad’s leadership in the new world of advertising.”
Mirriad is investing the capital into further technology designed to increase the scale of its native in-video advertising (NIVA) offer and build sales and content partnerships with leading content owners and distributors in major markets.
Mirriad’s proprietary technology provides brands an integrated approach to reach audiences while creating additional revenue opportunities to content owners and distributors. Where consumers often skip ads that interrupt their shows and videos, Mirriad digitally integrates brands directly into premium video content by embedding products, signage and even video. And, where broadcast and digital networks often struggle to open up premium content to fulfill advertising demand, Mirriad creates new advertising inventory and generates more revenue in the process. Mirriad’s NIVA can generate up to 10% more top line revenues for major distribution platforms without disrupting the audience experience.
Mirriad is helping brands and advertisers reach consumers in new and different ways. With Mirriad delivering relevant brand mentions, brands can maintain the authenticity of the program by guaranteeing a relevant viewer experience, while opening up unused appropriate advertising real estate. And, while traditional product placement is a one-off opportunity, Mirriad can further monetize multi-title content across multiple platforms and geographies for years to come, offering brands a way to amplify the proven product placement concept.
About Mirriad
Launched in 2008 with a mission to revolutionize video advertising, Mirriad’s patented technologies create a new standard in advertising where a brand integration is transformed into an affordable, scalable ad unit running across multi title content. The resulting ads are seamless, authentic, and work across all three screens and can be traded in the same way as other mainstream advertising inventory.
Mirriad has deals with major US content producers and has worked with top broadcasters in over 20 countries. It’s also the chosen native ad solution for Youku, China’s leading entertainment platform, who with over 500m unique visitors per month is already almost half the size of YouTube. Mirriad has offices in London, New York, Mumbai, Singapore, and new offices opening in Shanghai. Mirriad’s investors include IP Group PLC, Parkwalk Funds, Unilever Ventures and Edge Investment Management.
Contact:
Marya Pongrace
Peppercomm
212-931-6106
mpongrace@peppercomm.com
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.
University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund IV launched
Parkwalk are delighted to announce the launch of the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund IV.
Launched in conjunction with Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s Technology Transfer and academic consulting subsidiary, the University of Cambridge Enterprise Funds offer alumni and investors the opportunity to invest in companies formed to develop and commercialise technology and intellectual property developed at the University of Cambridge in a tax efficient manner.
Please click here to email the funds team to request the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund IV prospectus.
Parkwalk cleans up at EISA Awards
On February 11th 2016, Parkwalk was recognised by the judges of the EISA awards in both the ‘Best Investment Exit’ and ‘Best EIS Fund Manager’ categories. The awards recognised an extremely strong 2015 for Parkwalk. The Awards were presented at the House of Lords to firms, advisers, companies and individuals that achieved outstanding performance in the context of the EIS/SEIS schemes during 2015. This year attracted a record number of high-calibre entrants.
This follows on from the 2015 awards, when Parkwalk won the ‘Best EIS Investment Exit’ and was again recognised in the ‘Best EIS Fund Manager’ category.
Zegami – Parkwalk closes University of Oxford Isis Fund II investment
We are delighted to announce that the University of Oxford Isis Fund II has completed its final investment into Zegami.
Spun-out of the University of Oxford Computational Biology Research Group in February 2016, Zegami allows users to view large collections of images and associated metadata in a single field of view and to perform intuitive data analysis.
With the ability to display tens of thousands of images, documents, video, 3D objects and dashboards in a single field of view, Zegami lets users search, sort, filter and group in real time. The software can be integrated into existing database management and business intelligence reporting software or can sit above it as a separate component layer.
Mind Foundry – Parkwalk closes University of Oxford Isis Fund II investment
We are delighted to announce that the University of Oxford Isis Fund II has completed an investment in Mind Foundry, an Oxford Spin-out company with technology that uses advanced machine learning algorithms to help organisations solve problems by unlocking insights hidden deep within their big data.
Mind Foundry is the result of collaboration between two prominent members of Oxford’s Machine Learning Group. The company intends to productise its extensive knowledge in the application of machine learning and advanced algorithmic modelling techniques to help solve some of the greatest challenges faced by organisations today as data becomes critical to ongoing performance and business success.
Perpetuum – Parkwalk closes follow on investment
We have recently closed a follow-on investment in Perpetuum for the Opportunities EIS Fund, alongside existing investors IP Group and ETF.
Perpetuum engineered, produced and commercialised the world’s first practical electromagnetic vibration harvesting micro-generator delivering the power required to transmit large amounts of autonomous wireless sensor data reliably from remotely monitored assets.
Perpetuum’s technology provides self-powered wireless conditioning monitoring solutions for rail applications and perpetual power for wireless industrial automation applications.
Perpetuum’s sensors are simple to install with no batteries and no wires, condition data is sent to the cloud where Perpetuum’s algorithms read the data and provide information management systems to customers online.
The company’s website can be viewed here.
Silicon Microgravity – University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund III investment
We have recently made an investment in Silicon Microgravity for the University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund III.
Spun-out of the University of Cambridge Nanoscience Centre, Silicon Microgravity is commercializing a sensor technology which provides a breakthrough in the management of oil and gas reservoirs.
The company’s breakthrough sensing technology combines the recording of gravity data at very high sensitivities and seismic data at low frequencies. Both sensing methodologies provide an improved means for oilfield reservoir surveillance.
University of Oxford Isis Fund III launched
Parkwalk are delighted to announce the launch of the University of Oxford Isis EIS Fund III.
Launched in conjunction with Isis Innovation, the University’s Technology Transfer and academic consulting subsidiary, the University of Oxford Isis Funds offer alumni and investors the opportunity to invest in companies formed to develop and commercialise technology and intellectual property developed at the University of Oxford in a tax efficient manner.
Please click here to email the funds team to request the University of Oxford Isis Fund III prospectus.
Symetrica – RadSeeker success for US Department of Homeland Security
Symetrica has announced that its patented radiation detection and identification technology will be deployed in the latest Handheld Radioisotope Identification Devices (RIIDs) that Smiths Detection Inc. has agreed to supply to the U.S. as part of a contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Symetrica’s Discovery Technology is at the heart of the Smiths Detection RadSeeker handheld radiation detectors for which the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) recently awarded an IDIQ (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) contract with a maximum value of $143 million for the technology, its maintenance and associated training.
– See more here
Revolymer – renews and expands contracts to supply nicotine gum in Canada
Revolymer is pleased to announce that it has renewed and expanded the contract to supply its nicotine gum to a Canadian retailer which was first announced in July 2013. During the two and a
half years since the initial contract was signed, the Company has seen continuous growth in its revenue stream from this business.
Read more here.
OxReach – a new philanthropic platform
We are delighted to support a new initiative from the University of Oxford, OxReach. OxReach plans to launch various projects over the next 12 months – the first of which is LIFE, who are developing ways for healthcare workers in Africa to correctly use the latest WHO care pathways in emergencies and save lives to help tackle newborn and child survival rates.
Prof Mike English is leading an Oxford team currently crowdfunding to raise at least £60,000 to build a “serious game” for saving lives. The team has reached 75% of the total with a week to go. Pledges of different sizes will receive rewards including a personal experience of the new HTC Vive with the HTC team themselves, and dinner at Oxford’s Green Templeton College
Prof English explained the importance of the campaign in the LANCET Global Health Blog this week:
“Medical emergencies are major causes of death globally, but any one health-care worker, especially in primary care or community settings, will rarely provide an emergency response.”
“At present, frequent face-to-face training for health-care workers is prohibitively expensive and difficult to access, meaning that many in remote settings are not using up to date practices. An online simulation called Life-saving Instruction For Emergencies (LIFE) may provide some of the solutions to combat these issues.”
“In Africa, 470,000 babies die each year on the day they are born, and this figure increases to 1 million deaths within the first 28 days, the neonatal period. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over two-thirds of these newborn deaths could be avoided through existing maternal and child healthcare programmes, if they were taught and implemented effectively.”
“We think we can help – LIFE is a serious game that will train health-care workers in Africa to act correctly in emergency scenarios and save lives.”
“We are raising £100,000 through crowdfunding to develop our first scenario, focusing on neonatal resuscitation for low-resource settings, and conduct extensive user testing in Oxford and Kenya.”
To find our more or donate please visit the campaign page at OxReach, Oxford’s crowdfunding platform – small or large donations are welcome, and you can follow them on Twitter @OxLIFEproject
Posted on March 31, 2016
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