Albotherm raise £1.6M to further develop their low carbon cooling technology

Albotherm’s coating is transparent at low temperatures and opaque in high sun, creating the optimum environment for crop growth.

Albotherm, a Spin Up Science Ventures portfolio company, today announce their £1.6M seed investment round to further develop their low carbon cooling technology for the greenhouse and building sectors.

The effects of global warming are becoming increasingly apparent with countries experiencing their hottest summers on record, presenting significant implications for human health. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need to develop sustainable cooling solutions to avoid using energy-intensive air conditioning systems which further exacerbate the problem. This issue is particularly pertinent in commercial buildings where there is high demand for cooling systems, as well as in commercial greenhouses, where growers are seeing reduced crop yields due to unpredictable weather and hotter conditions.

Albotherm’s solution is a smart coating for low carbon cooling. The proprietry technology can be applied to windows and greenhouses, reversibly transitioning from opaque to transparent, providing shade in high heat and allowing sunlight through at lower temperatures. Albotherm’s technology has significant implications first in the farming sector, improving crop yield by 34% and increasing food productivity, as well as providing a much-need sustainable solution to temperature regulation of commercial buildings.

The £1.6M investment round was led by Green Angel Syndicate and supported by Oxford Innovation Finance, Bristol Private Equity Club, Cambridge Angels, Cambridge Agritech, and Science Angels Syndicate, along with a £500k Innovate UK grant. The funding will enable Albotherm to further develop their smart polymer technology, scale up their manufacturing capabilities, and complete large scale commercial pilots, allowing them to bring their first products to the greenhouse market within the next two years.

Molly Allington, CEO of Albotherm said: “We are delighted to have received investment to propel our technology development into large scale commercial pilots. The continued support we have received as part of Spin Up Science Ventures has been instrumental in Albotherm’s success both up to this point and beyond”

Dr Ben Miles, CEO of Spin Up Science said: “It’s been a pleasure seeing Molly and Sian steer Albotherm from success to success. Their relentless dedication, combined with a unique blend of visionary thinking and pragmatic execution, has propelled Albotherm into a remarkable phase of growth. We are excited to see them continuing to drive transformative changes, foster innovation, and deliver sustainable solutions that will make a profound impact in their industry.”

Albotherm is a Spin Up Science Ventures portfolio company, where the SUSV team have worked closely with Molly and Sian providing support and mentorship since the company was incorporated in 2020, through spinning out, launching their venture and securing a total of almost £2M in investment.

SUSV is a venture studio designed to support academic teams to spinout technologies with the potential to improve the health and security of people and the planet.  SUSV works alongside founders from initial idea to first investment, to develop entrepreneurial skills, discover market need, and launch spinout ventures.

Find out more about Albotherm on their website or follow them on LinkedIn.

You can find out more about Spin Up Science Ventures here.