Pitch for Investment

Silicon Microgravity

UKI2S > Our Impact > Silicon Microgravity

Introduction

Military teams on battlefields across the globe rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS to execute their missions. There’s a rise in GNSS-denied environments though, which means that electronic warfare has become one of the most significant threats to military operations today.

Researchers all over the world are investing in solutions to mitigate and overcome these challenges, ensuring allies can operate effectively in a given environment. Silicon Microgravity has developed one such solution — a unique micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) technology which will provide one of the most accurate Inertial and Gravity sensors available.

Developed by Professor Ashwin Seshia, Silicon Microgravity was spun-out from the University of Cambridge to enable the commercialisation of its proprietary resonant MEMS technology. With further potential applications in civil engineering and mining, this disruptive tech company is set to move MEMS sensors into the high-end $4 billion Inertial Sensing market.

The Science

With a growing technology IP portfolio of over 20 granted patents, Silicon Microgravity’s offering includes MEMS gravity and inertial sensors with large dynamic range 3-axis accelerometer and high performance gyroscopes.

MEMs sensors are miniature devices designed to measure physical quantities (pressure, temperature, acceleration and magnetic fields) with high level precision. They detect changes in capacitance (the capacity of a material object or device to store electric charge) or resistance when exposed to force on their surface from the earth’s gravitational pull or acceleration.

Simply put, a MEMs sensor features a small weight (mass) on two thin arms (capacitive plates). The mass responds to tiny changes in gravity (Microgravity) — for example when in tension it will create one frequency and when in compression another — which are transformed into readings.

UKI2S Impact

£500,000

UKI2S investment to date

£4.7 million

capital (equity and grants) raised to date

£1 million

equity round in Feb 2023 led by UKI2S

Francis Neill, CEO of Silicon Microgravity said:

“This new investment provides us with the funding to take our game changing technology to commercialisation, helping deliver the UK government’s semiconductor and technology strategy. Our Inertial sensors are already gaining strong industry interest globally with a major aerospace and defence contractor having already placed contracts. In fact, we’ve already sold one revolutionary gravity sensor! We’re further motivated by our acceptance into Europe’s largest infrastructure accelerator program and the award of funding from the Department for Business and Trade railway construction innovation competition. We are very excited for this next stage in SMG’s journey.”

Silicon Microgravity’s innovative tech will soon “enable commercial applications in inertial navigation not currently addressable by existing MEMS technology”. UKI2S is proud to back Silicon Microgravity through our dual-use fund dedicated to early-stage companies which can positively impact defence and security. We led the £1 million equity round in February 2023, investing alongside the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund and Oxford Innovation Finance’s Angel Network (OION). We also supported the team in securing a £750,000 Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) loan and a £1.23 million investment from Westhill Capital, and a further £2.43 million just landed.

As strong supporters of Silicon Microgravity and active participants on the board, we have facilitated further links into the Ministry of Defence, made fundraising introductions, promoted the company extensively online, in-person and during co-investor and commercials calls.

UKI2S is dedicated to backing innovative companies that are forging ahead with providing impactful solutions across key markets. With a noble purpose — to solve complex challenges and create value through the application of gravity and motion detection, responsibly — we’re excited to support Silicon Microgravity in the defence industry, whilst exploring a number of beneficial use cases in other areas, such as civil engineering, mineral mapping and carbon capture storage.

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