A university spin-out which makes testing technology for the drinks industry has secured 拢180,000 in seed funding.
Figura Analytics was recently set up at Loughborough University from a chemistry research project backed by Innovate 海角视频.
Mark Platt and Rhush Maugi, Figura鈥檚 academic founders, originally set out to develop rapid testing technology to help the drinks industry improve the quality and consistency of its ingredients and products.
They have spent years developing the technology that is low cost and easy to use.
It was fast-tracked through Innovate 海角视频鈥檚 Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) programme in 2020 and Figura was formed in January 2021.
They are now working with national and international drinks companies to further develop their technology and processes, along with The Manufacturing Technology Centre (The MTC), as they get ready to start commercial production in 2022.
The company鈥檚 technology uses microfluidics, sensors and software to identify any particle suspended in a solution.
Its rapid analysis technology has a number of uses in drinks manufacturing, from analysing flavours and filters, through to replacing traditional microbiological tests.
The new funding has come from private investors and the 海角视频鈥檚 leading early-stage investor SFC Capital.
Company chief executive Nick Whitehurst said: 鈥淲e are delighted to welcome SFC and our new private investors to Figura Analytics.
鈥淲e have had great initial feedback from the drinks industry to a completely new way for them to rapidly analyse their products and ingredients, and we look forward to building our business as we further develop our technology platform and manufacturing capability.鈥
Professor Claudia Eberlein, Dean of Loughborough University鈥檚 School of Science, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that research ideas of our Chemistry academics have been commercialised with the support of the University and Innovate 海角视频 and our valued partner, The MTC.
鈥淭he seed funding will accelerate the impact potential of this exciting new platform technology and I look forward to hearing of their continued success as they grow from their base in the incubator, LU Inc. on LUSEP, the University鈥檚 Science and Enterprise Park.鈥
