Investor profile
UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund
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UKI2S is a national seed investment fund that invests in innovations emerging from the UK's publicly funded science and knowledge base. The fund specializes in engineering biology, defence & security, fusion energy, and space to facilitate sustainable growth, enhance the health and security of society, improve productivity, and deliver economic gains. As an impact-first fund, UKI2S provides long-term, patient capital to technology start-ups that spin-out of publicly funded research institutes, are based on a partner's campus, or are involved in very early stage commercialisation. The fund bridges public sector research and private capital, nurturing new businesses arising from world-class science undertaken in the UK. UKI2S invests at the pre-seed and seed stage and is often the first investor, with entry cheques typically between £100k and £500k, aiming to follow-on in subsequent rounds in the best-performing companies up to £1.5m.
Notable quotes
“Midven's exceptional 30-year track record, its strong capital base and the UKI2S Fund's close relationship with some of Britain's top research establishments will offer our investors, stakeholders and our portfolio companies greater opportunities. By incorporating Midven, Future Planet Capital will become an important player in the UK's impact and university venture industry, with more reach, more investors and more capital to invest in companies working to tackle global challenges.”
“We are proud to back Aquark as they address critical challenges in the Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) market. Their dual-use technology represents a significant leap forward in both commercial and defence applications. We are excited to support the team through this crucial commercialisation phase, ensuring they not only thrive but contribute to securing this vital sovereign capability.”
“Through our participation in the UKI2S Space Fund, we've been able to support Spaceflux and help them attract additional investment to accelerate development of their innovative capabilities.”
Recent investments
| Company | Round | Size | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquark Technologies | Seed | $6m | 2024-09 |
| Optera Solutions | Seed | $4m | 2024 |
| Spaceflux | Seed | $7m | 2024 |
| Adamo Foods | Grant/Funding | — | 2024 |
| Oxford Space Systems | Seed | — | — |
| Messium | Seed | — | — |
| QuberTech Limited | Seed | — | — |
| Cytotrait | Seed | — | — |
| Honuworx | Seed | — | — |
| Silicon Microgravity | Seed | — | — |
Frequent co-investors
| VC firm | Deals together |
|---|---|
| NATO Innovation Fund | 1 |
| Future Planet Capital | 1 |
| Blackfinch Ventures | 1 |
| Foresight Group | 1 |
| National Security Strategic Investment Fund | 1 |
| Empirical Ventures | 1 |
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