University of Manchester spinout PhovIR has closed a £4 million seed funding round led by Northern Gritstone and deeptech specialist SCVC. The investment will accelerate commercialization of the company’s breakthrough Near Infra-Red optical sensor technology that can detect the molecular composition of materials through portable devices.
Breakthrough Silicon-Based Sensor Technology
PhovIR’s core innovation centers on capturing near-infrared wavelengths that reveal the “optical fingerprint” of various substances. While human vision processes only a narrow spectrum of light, the startup’s technology accesses longer wavelengths containing detailed information about material composition.
The company manufactures its sensors on silicon chips using MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology, enabling integration into compact devices like smartphones and smartwatches. This approach addresses limitations of existing NIR sensors, which tend to be bulky and expensive to produce.
Dr. Tim Echtermeyer, who founded PhovIR at the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, serves as the company’s CTO. The startup operates under the executive leadership of Dr. Steve Turley, who brings over 25 years of experience scaling complex technologies into high-growth businesses.
Wide-Ranging Applications Across Industries
The platform technology targets multiple sectors, from healthcare applications like drink tampering detection to industrial safety monitoring and agricultural functions. PhovIR’s configurable software can perform the work of multiple traditional sensors while maintaining cost-effectiveness for mass production.
“I am exhilarated to enter the next part of PhovIR’s journey and turn our vision into reality” ~ Dr Tim Echtermeyer, acknowledging the contributions of his engineering team including William Wren and Minh Vu.
The versatility of the technology stems from its ability to identify contaminants and analyze material composition in real-time. This capability extends from pollution monitoring in environmental applications to quality control in manufacturing processes.
Strategic Investment and Growth Plans
Northern Gritstone, chaired by Lord Jim O’Neill, has invested in 37 early-stage businesses across Northern England since beginning operations in May 2022. The firm’s NG Studios accelerator program provided pre-seed support to PhovIR, helping refine the company’s commercial strategy.
“Northern Gritstone is delighted to back Dr Tim Echtermeyer and Dr Steve Turley knowing that PhovIR’s technology has the potential to create a global company” ~ Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone.
SCVC General Partner John Williams emphasized the multi-technology nature of the breakthrough “PhovIR represents the future of deep tech: advanced hardware, unlocked by AI.”
University Partnership and Regional Innovation
The University of Manchester’s Innovation Factory supported PhovIR’s development, highlighting the institution’s role in commercializing academic research. Professor Duncan Ivison praised the collaboration as exemplifying how world-class research translates into practical applications.
“It’s exciting to see this deeptech breakthrough moving towards real-world application” ~ Professor Ivison, emphasizing the potential impact across the university and broader region.
Chair Steve Turley expressed enthusiasm for demonstrating UK capabilities in transforming innovative technology into global success stories. The funding will support team expansion, product development, and market entry as PhovIR advances toward commercial deployment.
The investment reflects growing interest in deeptech startups that combine advanced hardware with artificial intelligence capabilities.