Led · Equity · Aug 2013

Blu Wireless Technology has developed a wireless mmWave solution designed to deliver high bandwidth, large capacity and low latency connections. The technology operates in the unlicensed 57–71 GHz frequency band. The company’s product enables high-throughput links and is being targeted at railway communications through a newly announced partnership. Ependion’s business unit Westermo has entered a strategic collaboration with Blu Wireless to use the company’s mmWave technology in the rail market. As part of the agreement Westermo will take a seat on Blu Wireless’s board. The deal positions Blu Wireless to pursue deployments in the rail sector alongside an established onboard-networking player. Blu Wireless develops low-cost 60 GHz wireless applications and baseband IP optimized for multi-gigabit communications, advanced Wi-Fi and 4G small cell deployments. Its baseband technology uses a flexible parallel processing architecture and is currently being optimized for 802.11ad (WiGig CERTIFIED) and 4G mobile network backhaul use cases. The company plans to offer its HYDRA baseband IP under licence agreements to chipset manufacturers. Led by CEO Henry Nurser and based in Bristol, UK, Blu Wireless targets the emerging multi-gigabit market with silicon IP products. The firm raised capital to accelerate product completion and expand the team.

Led · Equity · Jan 2013

Vantage Power manufactures hybrid powertrains for buses, supplying systems for new vehicles and retrofitting existing diesel buses. Its retrofit systems can convert four traditional diesel buses into fuel-efficient hybrids for the cost of one new bus. All hybrid systems include advanced remote control and telemetry to help operators streamline fleet management, maintenance, fuel economy and emissions. The company plans to use the new funds to further develop its technology and to hire engineering, manufacturing, sales and C-level professionals to scale the business. Founded in 2011 by Alexander Schey and Toby Schulz, Vantage Power is headquartered in Greenford, West London and employs about 40 team members. The company has raised £6.5m of equity investment and over £1m of grant funding to date. Vantage Power has developed the B320 hybrid powertrain system designed to be retrofitted into the UK’s most popular double-decker buses, enabling operators to hybridise existing fleets. The system includes an exhaust gas energy recovery subsystem, which the company says is a novel fuel-saving approach for hybrid-electric powertrains. Vantage Power claims the B320 can cut bus fuel consumption by about 40%, reduce fuel bills by 50%, and lower upfront and through-life costs by up to 55% and 40% respectively. The company plans to develop and commercialise the drivetrain and test it on double-decker buses across the UK, working with partners such as the Ensign Bus Company. Founders Alexander Schey and Toby Schulz bring prior EV experience, including the Racing Green Endurance electric supercar project. Vantage Power is a graduate of the Qi3 Accelerator High Value Manufacturing bootcamp and has industry investors and technical partners supporting its launch.

Participated · Equity · Jun 2012

LumeJet develops a photonics imaging platform originally acquired from a Warwick University spin‑out, engineered to enable high‑precision printed services. Its technology targets photographic media and a range of applications including repro printing, inkless printing, packaging, PCB/photoresist patterning, printed logic and large‑area organic electronics. The company was formed in 2010 and is led by CEO Paul Anson and chairman Christopher McCann. In June 2012 it completed an angel fundraising tranche, part of a larger £4.5m angel round, raising an additional £1.87m. LumeJet says it will use the new capital to expand operations and create 100 new jobs within 2014. The funding and product focus position the company to scale manufacturing and commercial deployments in its target verticals.