Matter Machine, a University of Liverpool spin-out company, has closed a £4m pre-series A funding round to accelerate its AI-powered materials discovery platform. The round was led by IP Group plc and supported by Northern Gritstone, the University of Liverpool Enterprise Fund, Norrsken Evolve, LYVA Labs and the Northern Universities Venture Fund managed by Parkwalk.
The funding is the largest investment secured by a newly formed University of Liverpool spin-out. It will support expansion of Matter Machine's technical and commercial team, further development of its AI-powered discovery platform and engagement with commercial partners across multiple sectors.
What the company does
Matter Machine combines materials chemistry, automated experimentation and machine learning to develop AI-powered technologies that accelerate the identification and optimisation of novel inorganic crystalline materials. The company aims to reduce the time and cost of innovation across industries including energy, manufacturing and electronics.
Professor Matt Rosseinsky OBE FRS, founder of Matter Machine, said: "The combination of advanced materials science and artificial intelligence creates a powerful opportunity to transform how new materials are discovered. Matter Machine has been established to unlock that potential, enabling faster innovation and delivering materials that can support advances across a wide range of industries."
Leadership and growth strategy
Dr Gordon Sanghera CBE, co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, has joined Matter Machine to lead its commercialisation strategy. Dr Sanghera helped build Oxford Nanopore from inception through to its £3.4bn London Stock Exchange listing.
Dr Sanghera said: "Materials innovation underpins progress across multiple sectors from energy to manufacturing and electronics. Matter Machine brings together exceptional scientific expertise, unique technology capabilities and a highly scalable commercial opportunity. I am excited to lead the company's development and growth."
Location and partnerships
Matter Machine is headquartered at the University of Liverpool's Materials Innovation Factory, a centre for materials research and industrial collaboration. The company contributes to the AI Materials Hub for Innovation (AIM-HI) programme, which supports the Liverpool City Region and the UK as a global leader in AI-enabled materials research and innovation.
The University of Liverpool has a multi-year partnership agreement with Northern Gritstone. Matter Machine marks the first investment under this partnership.
Greg Smith, Chief Executive of IP Group, said: "Matter Machine brings together two exceptional forces in British innovation. The University of Liverpool's inorganic materials group's AI-powered discovery work could dramatically shorten the time required to develop new materials, accelerating innovation across batteries, catalysts and advanced manufacturing."
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: "University spin-outs play a vital role in translating world-class research and innovation into economic opportunities, industrial growth and societal benefit. Matter Machine builds on the University's strength in AI and materials science and creates an important route for taking that expertise into new markets, supporting innovation and high-value economic growth."