Aqdot announces £5 million Series A funding round

A University of Cambridge spin-out, Aqdot operates in the rapidly growing encapsulation market, currently valued at £4bn.  Its proprietary technologies encapsulate and protect valuable active materials (cargos) in a variety of settings. Uniquely, using a variety of triggers, this enables the release of cargos when and where the customer requires.

 Aqdot is now engaged with customers across a number of sectors. Initially the company is focusing on household products, fragrances and niche industrial applications. Future potential applications include agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Tim Wright, CEO of Aqdot said: “With such a fantastic platform, technology focus is key.  Over recent months, working with our investors, the team has developed a strategic plan, tailored our technology and completed our first agreements with target customers.  We are delighted to have completed this round of funding, which enables us to progress our products to market.”

Kelsey Lynn Skinner, Director Technology Ventures at Imperial Innovations said: “Aqdot has taken significant steps forward since the last funding round in particular in customer engagement and application-specific technology development. Aqdot has a strong team in place, and we are proud to lead this Series A round alongside other leading co-investors to enable the continued execution of the strategy”.



About Aqdot

Aqdot is a specialist chemical company based in Cambridge (UK).  The Company specialises in developing and commercialising disruptive encapsulation technologies that enable valuable actives (cargos) to be protected, delivered and released when required.

In this modern age we interact with encapsulated products throughout our day, be it the materials and fuels in our transportation, flavourings in our food, fragrances in our toiletries or the pharmaceuticals we may take. To date the challenge has been in triggering encapsulation systems to release their cargo when the customer needs them. For example, the release of enzymes in a biological detergent when they enter the wash so they can take away stains. It is this unique proprietary capability that Aqdot’s platform technology delivers.

This approach enables Aqdot’s customers to increase product effectiveness, introduce novel and differentiated brands, reduce manufacturing costs and positively impact the environment.Originally spun out of Cambridge University, Aqdot is currently focused in developing products in the household, fragrance and niche industrial sectors.  Future potential applications include agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals

For further information, please visit www.aqdot.com

 

About Imperial Innovations

Imperial Innovations Group plc (“Innovations”) creates, builds and invests in pioneering technology companies and licensing opportunities developed from outstanding scientific research from the ‘Golden Triangle’, the geographical region broadly bounded by London, Cambridge and Oxford. This area has an unrivalled cluster of outstanding academic research and technology businesses, and is home to four of the world’s top 10 universities, as well as leading research institutions, the cream of the UK’s science and technology businesses and many of its leading investors.

Innovations supports scientists and entrepreneurs in the commercialisation of their ideas, through the licensing of intellectual property, by leading the formation of new companies, by recruiting high-calibre management teams and by providing investment and encouraging co-investment. Innovations remains an active investor over the life of its portfolio companies, with the majority of Innovations’ investment going into businesses in which it is already a shareholder.

Since becoming a public company in 2006, Innovations has raised more than £346.0 million of equity from investors, which has enabled it to invest in some of the most exciting spin-outs to come out of UK academic research. In addition, the Group has agreed £80.0 million in loan facilities from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Between Innovations’ admission to AIM (August 2006) and 31 July 2015, Innovations has invested a total of £236.8 million across its portfolio companies, which have raised collectively investment of £1.3 billion.

More information can be found at http://www.imperialinnovations.co.uk

 

About Parkwalk Advisors

Parkwalk is an independent investment firm dedicated to providing clients with access to some of the most exciting deal-flow emanating from British R&D intensive institutions and Universities. Parkwalk invests in, and raises capital for, innovative UK technology companies. The Funds are investment-driven venture capital funds, seeking capital appreciation. Parkwalk portfolio companies all have deeply-embedded IP and commercial potential, and range from early stage seed capital, through development and commercial capital to AIM-listed investments.

More information can be found at www.parkwalkadvisors.com

 

About Cambridge Enterprise

Cambridge Enterprise Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Cambridge, responsible for the commercialisation of University intellectual property. Activities include management and licensing of intellectual property and patents, proof of concept funding and support for University staff and research groups wishing to provide expert advice or facilities to public and private sector organisations. Cambridge Enterprise provides access to angel and early stage capital through Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds, University of Cambridge Enterprise Funds, Cambridge Innovation Capital and Cambridge Enterprise Venture Partners, and offers business planning, mentoring, and other related programmes.

More information can be found at http://www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk

*******
For further information, please contact:
Aqdot  Ltd
Tim Wright, CEO
Tel: 01223 928000
_____________________________________________________