The investment, led by Foresight Ventures with participation from Cambridge Enterprise, is designed to commercialise Illumion’s advanced optical microscopy technique known as ‘Charge Photometry’ which could transform battery research and development, ultimately accelerating the global energy transition.
Founded in 2022 by CEO Dr Christoph Schnedermann together with Lead Scientist Dr Alice Merryweather at the University of Cambridge, Illumion builds on research undertaken by co-founders Professor Dame Clare Grey at the Yusuf Hamied department and Professor Akshay Rao at the Cavendish Laboratory.
Battery material development methods have not fundamentally changed in 50 years and the process of developing a new battery material into a commercial product may take a decade. Illumion has pioneered an optical imaging technique named Charge Photometry, offering accessible and fast insights into how battery materials behave during the charge/discharge cycle, whilst avoiding destructive testing.
With electrochemical energy storage becoming a vital storage tool to facilitate the energy transition from fossil fuels to emission-free electrification, and industry increasingly demanding more diversified battery chemistries, Illumion’s technology could be a key solution for the industry.
Foresight’s Ventures team, which is part of Foresight Group, led the £2.1m round with support from Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Parkwalk Advisors and Cambridge Angels. As part of the investment, Andy Bloxam, Managing Director of Foresight Ventures, will join the board as a non-executive Director.
Dr Christoph Schnedermann, founder/CEO of Illumion, said: “Our team has developed an extremely useful technology with the potential to transform the battery R&D sector. Through Charge Photometry, labs and companies will be able to develop better batteries faster. We are tremendously excited to embark on the next phase with the Foresight team, bringing the power of Charge Photometry to every battery R&D lab in the world.”
Katharine Robinson, Principal Associate in the Venture Capital Investment at Mills & Reeve who led the team advising Illumion, said: “Illumion’s technology has the potential to revolutionise the global energy market as we increasingly move towards greener energy production. The team at Illumion is among the best in the world and it’s a pleasure to advise on this seed funding round as they commercialise their pioneering work.”
