Matter Machine, a University of Liverpool spin-out focused on AI-enabled materials discovery, raised £4 million in an oversubscribed pre-Series A funding round. The round was led by IP Group 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 financing represents the largest investment secured by a newly formed University of Liverpool spin-out.
Matter Machine plans to use the capital to expand its technical and commercial teams, advance development of its AI-powered materials discovery platform, and deepen engagement with commercial partners across multiple industries.
The company is developing technology for discovering and optimizing inorganic crystalline materials by combining experimental materials science, advanced characterization, automated experimentation, and artificial intelligence.
Matter Machine said its approach is intended to reduce the time and cost involved in identifying high-performance materials for industries including energy, manufacturing, electronics, batteries, and catalysts.
The company is headquartered at the University of Liverpool’s Materials Innovation Factory, a center focused on materials research and industrial collaboration.
Matter Machine also contributes to the AI Materials Hub for Innovation program, which is supporting AI-enabled materials research and commercialization in the Liverpool City Region and across the UK.
As part of its growth strategy, Dr. Gordon Sanghera CBE joined Matter Machine to lead its commercialization strategy.
Sanghera is the co-founder and former CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, which he helped build from inception through its £3.4 billion London Stock Exchange listing.
Matter Machine was founded by Professor Matt Rosseinsky OBE FRS of the University of Liverpool’s Department of Chemistry.
The University of Liverpool’s Enterprise Team supported the formation of the spin-out.
The investment also marks the first transaction completed since the University of Liverpool entered a multi-year partnership with Northern Gritstone.
KEY QUOTES:
“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.”
Dr. Gordon Sanghera CBE
“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.”
Professor Matt Rosseinsky OBE FRS, Founder of Matter Machine
“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. Gordon Sanghera has already demonstrated his ability to build a globally significant deeptech company with Oxford Nanopore, a journey that IP Group was proud to support. Matter Machine exemplifies the kind of ambitious science-led company that IP Group was established to support, and we are delighted to lead this round.”
Greg Smith, Chief Executive of IP Group
“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.”
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool
