Future Thinking: Unlocking Innovation Through Partnership

Future Thinking: The Power of Collaboration - Unlocking Innovation Through Partnership
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The Power of Collaboration:

Unlocking Innovation Through Partnership

At Future Planet Capital, we believe that solving the world's biggest challenges—from climate change to global health—requires more than capital. It takes collaboration.


Our mission has always been to invest in the future by backing visionary entrepreneurs from the world’s top universities and innovation ecosystems. But equally important is how we partner—with institutions, investors, and changemakers who share our commitment to impact and long-term value.


In this edition, we share just some examples of the power of  our partnerships: how strategic alliances amplify innovation, accelerate progress, and create opportunities to scale solutions for a better world.


From advisory and co-investment networks to academic collaborations, partnerships are at the heart of everything we do—and will continue to shape the path forward to a better Future Planet 🌎

The Good Times in PE/VC Are Back

Last week a number of our team attended the BVCA Secondaries Conference 2025. We are pleased to be an active member of the British Venture Capital Association and Alex

Leigh our Investment Director’s top takeaways from the conference were:


💹 Valuations bounced back in 2024—sensible, sustainable, not frothy

💼 $216bn in dry powder = major confidence for the next 5 years

🔁 Secondaries hit record highs, with LP-led deals dominating

🧠 AI & ML now assist with deal screening and forecasting

🪙 Tokenisation is coming—promising a more seamless, digitised private market


The secondaries market is evolving rapidly—and may be one of the best risk-adjusted asset classes of the last 25 years.


🎯 Retail capital could be the next major wave.


Watch Alex’s video discussing the conference here or click on the image above.

Earlier this month Future Planet Capital - UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund [UKI2S] hosted the first national event of the year - Deep Tech Showcase in Edinburgh.


The event featured innovative pitches, meaningful networking, and insightful conversations that opened the door to new opportunities. This showcase was more than just an exchange of ideas; it was a platform for building the future of technology. Industry leaders and innovators came together to connect and lay the groundwork for partnerships with the potential to transform the deep tech landscape.


A very big thank you to all speakers for their expert talks, Steven Gray from Honuworx, Peter Orrell from MycoNourish, Neil Rogers from Smart Green Shipping, Samantha Perona (Westgate) from Spotlight Pathology and John Clinkenbeard from Roslin Technologies.


We look forward to the continued advancement of innovation, the future of deep tech is bright!


The Ditchley Foundation: "AI and National Security,"

The Ditchley Foundation brings together global experts to discuss key issues at the intersection of policy, technology and Anglo American relations.


Recently they hosted a timely conversation on "AI and National Security," surrounded by experts from government, national security, science, and investment. It was a ‘once-in-a-generation’ moment to engage in such dialogue.


There were many apocalyptic threats discussed from the advancement of AI, but our Executive Chairman Douglas Hansen-Luke was pleased to say that the meeting ended on a note of optimism as the group also identified the many positives that AI can bring.


Douglas' contribution? To request that we focus on ‘AI for peace’.


"The depth of the conversation was both enlightening, inspiring and occasionally horrifying. There was a very thorough exploration of the intersection of cutting-edge technology and national security in an age of rapid innovation. A significant step forward in ensuring the safe and responsible development of AI in this new era."

Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: The Ultimate Deep Tech Frontiers

Future Thinking: Space and Defence - The Ultimate Deep Tech Frontiers
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Space and Defence:

The Ultimate Deep Tech Frontiers

From hypersonics to quantum navigation, the space and defence industries drive cutting-edge innovation that shapes the future of security, sustainability, and resilience. But groundbreaking tech doesn’t scale without strategic investment.


At Future Planet Capital we're backing the next generation of deep tech companies - those pushing boundaries in aerospace, defence, and critical infrastructure.


Why this matters:

✅ Strategic advantage - Investing in deep tech is a national security imperative.

✅ Dual-use potential - Defence-backed innovation fuels commercial breakthroughs.

✅ Scaling innovation - Bridging the gap between R&D and market adoption.


As threats evolve and global competition intensifies, we need to ensure these game-changing technologies get the right support to thrive.


💡 The future of defence and space depends on bold investment

🎥 Watch the video to see how we're making it happen.


Together, we can connect the Biggest Investors with the Brightest Minds to help Solve Global Challenges, profitably.

Oxford Space Systems

UK Government earth observation mission

UK Ministry of Defence has announced that the Oberon earth observation synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite mission has been awarded to Airbus Defence and Space, with portfolio company Oxford Space Systems as a key supplier.


Sean Sutcliffe, Chief Executive at Oxford Space Systems commented’:


“We are delighted to be part of the consortium selected to deliver the next generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance radar spacecraft for the UK.”


The antenna, part of the family of Wrapped Rib Antenna being used to provide SAR capabilities, will be able to capture day and night-time images of the Earth’s surface, which have both government and commercial use capabilities covering radar, communications and frequency monitoring applications over a range of radio frequencies.


🔗For full details, read Oxford Space Systems news article here

🔗MoD announcement here


The below image illustrates the 3-metre version of the Wrapped Rib Antenna which is being incorporated into an in-orbit demonstration mission (separate from the Oberon mission) due for launch in 2025 as a collaboration between Oxford Space Systems, SSTL and NSSIF, with additional support from Innovate UK and Airbus Defence and Space.

Deep Tech Showcase

Later this week we will be in Edinburgh where we are hosting a Deep Tech Showcase. The afternoon will feature Future Planet Capital - UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund [UKI2S]’s portfolio companies alongside industry partners and ecosystem leaders.


The event will be a great opportunity to network as well as gain insight into the latest developments of the British Co-Investment Fund. We would be delighted to hear from you if you are interested in attending.


➜ Register your interest here

Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Space Innovations Driving Impact on Earth and Beyond

Future Thinking: Space Innovations Driving Impact on Earth and Beyond
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Strategic Technologies:

Space Innovations Driving Impact on Earth and Beyond


The most significant benefit of space exploration is not just what we discover in the stars, but how space technologies are transforming life on Earth. From revolutionising agriculture to improving weather forecasting, innovations like geospatial data are already solving critical challenges—monitoring energy grids, predicting crop infestations, and modelling natural disasters to enhance supply chain resilience.


For the United Kingdom and the United States, deepening cooperation in space technologies offers an unparalleled opportunity to lead in exploration while delivering transformative solutions to Earth-bound problems. By co-ordinating on satellite communications, climate monitoring, and remote sensing, both nations can drive economic resilience and global stability.


At Future Planet Capital, we connect the world’s biggest investors with the brightest minds to solve global challenges profitably. We proudly support companies like Oxford Space Systems and Geospatial Insights — UK-based pioneers using space technologies for Earth-bound solutions. These companies are shaping industries such as agriculture and environmental monitoring, showing how space innovations can create scalable, impactful results.


The intersection of space and AI is an exciting frontier. Following President Trump’s announcement of a $550 billion investment in AI, we’re increasingly interested in how space technologies—such as Starlink and surveillance satellites—are enhancing life on Earth. These innovations provide global internet connectivity, improve security, and enable real-time data gathering and monitoring. In many ways, space technology today is becoming as essential as the internet once was—ubiquitous, with so much of what happens on Earth directly connected to the insights we gain from space.


Transatlantic collaboration in space technologies is key to advancing these innovations. By combining the US’s investment scale and the UK’s research excellence, the two nations can lead the way in space exploration while benefiting industries on Earth. Together, the UK and US can establish global standards in space policy, security, and sustainability, ensuring the continued impact of space technologies for generations to come.


Douglas Hansen-Luke

Executive Chair, Future Planet Capital



Stay updated  - UKSA | "Supporting UK leadership in delivering, sustaining and making use of climate data acquired from space.": https://space4climate.com/


UKSA Investment Day

Our Space Investment Lead, Shruti Iyengar moderated the Investor Panel: "How do you get started with investing in Space Tech?" at the UK Space Agency's Investment Day last month.

Investors busted various myths about Space Tech investing, including many misconceptions such as:

🚀 "Space Tech companies are always capex heavy and highly risky"
🚀 "Market opportunities are limited"
🚀 "Conducting diligence on Space Tech companies requires specialist skills"

They also highlighted key opportunity areas for example:

⭐Space debris monitoring & collision control
⭐Near space testing
⭐Autonomous space operations
⭐Powering data centre operations

Overall, the panel's message was clear - space today is what the internet was many years ago and there is no better time than now to be investing in and empowering entrepreneurs in this domain.

We are pleased to see 4 portfolio companies featured within the "Sunday Times Top 100 Fastest Growing Tech Companies".

Not only does this present Britain’s fastest-growing private tech companies, but it also showcases the tech entrepreneurs commercialising innovation across the UK.

Congratulations to
BibliU, Alloyed, Beam and Oxford Space Systems! We're proud to be part of their journey and excited to see how they’ll continue to lead the way in their respective sectors.

Together, we can connect the Biggest Investors with the Brightest Minds, to Solve Global Challenges profitably.

Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Strategic Technologies

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Future Thinking: Happy New Year & Focus on Strategic Technologies

Happy New Year from Future Planet Capital.

We are incredibly proud of all the team's achievements over 2024.

In particular:

  • We announced our plan to launch our British Co-Investment Fund, working with NatWest Cushon, with a view to the Cushon Master Trust potentially making an investment in the British Co-Investment Fund (BCF)

  • Formed new innovative partnerships for example with Google Cloud

  • Recognised for Gold Standard Internship Host 2024, University of Oxford


We look forward to another year of success in 2025 - and thank our team and partners for a great year of growth.


Strategic Technologies:

Unlocking the Next Frontier for Economic Resilience


Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and renewable energy are reshaping global markets and redefining economic resilience. For the United Kingdom and the United States, a deeper partnership in these strategic areas offers an unparalleled opportunity to lead innovation, secure national interests, and deliver transformative global impact.


At Future Planet Capital, our mission is to connect the world’s biggest investors with its brightest minds to address global challenges profitably. We benchmark against the world’s leading centres of innovation, align investments with the Sustainable Development Goals, and leverage advanced data analytics to ensure objectivity, breadth and speed of execution. Strategic technologies are central to this approach, offering scalable solutions to challenges in health, energy, and sustainability.


Yet greater transatlantic collaboration would unlock new frontiers for economic resilience. By combining the UK's world-class research and the US's investment scale, we can catalyse shared platforms for innovation, foster coordinated public-private partnerships, and accelerate the commercialisation of breakthrough technologies. These efforts not only safeguard supply chains and national security but also create robust opportunities for investors.


The ripple effects are profound: advancing AI to optimize systems across industries, deploying quantum computing to solve complex problems in real time, and harnessing renewable energy to power the global economy sustainably. Together, the UK and US can set global standards for innovation, demonstrating how emerging technologies drive economic resilience while tackling humanity’s greatest challenges.


In this era of transformation, transatlantic cooperation isn’t just an opportunity—it’s a necessity to unlock the next frontier for investment strategies, sustainable development, and long-term prosperity.


Douglas Hansen-Luke
Executive Chair, Future Planet Capital

Economist Space Summit

Shruti Iyengar, Investment Manager at UKI2S, ended the year by attending the Economist Space Summit in Lisbon.

Whilst discussing the investment landscape in space technologies, she touched on the key areas that start-ups need to consider when pitching for investment:

👉 Spend time understanding customer needs
👉 Develop a comprehensive value proposition
👉 Understand how to effectively articulate your business model
👉 Demonstrate scaleability from the get-go

Are you a space start-up or spinout looking for early stage investment? Get in touch.

Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: DC to VC

Future Thinking: DC to VC

DC to VC

NatWest Cushon and Future Planet Capital Lead the Charge in UK Pension Access to British Innovation

Future Planet Capital (FPC) is delighted to be working with NatWest Cushon, with a view to the Cushon Master Trust potentially making an investment in the British Co-Investment Fund (BCF). Any future investment will be subject to commercial terms, due diligence, and Trustee approval. If approved, NatWest Cushon’s participation would signify a major step forward, creating new avenues for British pension funds to access high-growth, private technology companies at scale. In partnership with pension solutions provider Mobius Life, the Fund will channel pension investment into the UK’s most innovative and impactful businesses.  


The BCF closely aligns with the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s vision under the Mansion House Reforms, aiming to unlock large-scale investment in key British industries. It emphasises the private sector’s pivotal role in accelerating innovation and economic growth, through supporting the UK’s most promising and high-impact technology businesses.


Historically, British pension funds have had limited access to high-growth investment opportunities within the UK, meaning that overseas investors have been the primary beneficiaries of the nation’s flourishing innovation economy. Indeed, according to the BVCA, 86% of venture capital investment comes from overseas investors.  To redress the balance, the BCF will be one of the first funds designed specifically for UK regular savings pension funds. It will offer direct and ongoing access to investments in the strategic technologies of the future.


Examples of companies likely to benefit from the Fund’s investments include Tokamak Energy, a world-record holder in nuclear fusion technology. The government-backed UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, was the first investor in Tokamak Energy, which has since gone on to raise over $250m. This demonstrates the role of public-private partnership in supporting British technology to drive both economic growth and environmental impact. With the support of mainstream British capital, much more can now be done.


Lord Norman Foster, Chair of Future Planet Capital’s Advisory Board shared: “One of our most important tasks is to anticipate the future and find ways to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people and the planet. We will need intellectual and financial capital to make that happen. This partnership supports the excellent work that is being done to invest in ground-breaking technologies which offer incredible potential.”  


Douglas Hansen-Luke, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Future Planet Capital, commented: “This collaboration enables British pension savers to support the next generation of British innovation, ensuring that UK capital not only backs but also benefits from the country’s technological and sustainable advancements.”


Julius Pursaill, Pensions expert and advisor to the Cushon Master Trust, said:

“There are a number of good reasons to support the UK Growth agenda. Innovations like the British Co-Investment Fund play an important role in delivering on this objective by driving financial growth whilst also offering access to innovative, impact-focused sectors such as climate technology and artificial intelligence, which can help secure the future for pension savers and broader society."


Example companies that may benefit from BCF:

Tropic Biosciences, founded in 2016 with an initial investment from Future Planet Capital’s UKI2S fund, is reshaping agriculture to improve resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in food production.


Roslin Technologies, spun out of the University of Edinburgh, pioneers the development of pluripotent stem cells for cultivated meat. Their technology addresses the global protein gap by enabling scalable, sustainable meat production without raising animals. By providing genetically stable, self-replicating stem cells, Roslin delivers solutions that reduce production costs to less than $15/kg, positioning itself as a leader in a $2BN cell market by 2035.


Beam (formally known as Rovco) is a growth-stage autonomous robotics company specialising in subsea services for the offshore wind sector. With £19 million in 2023 revenue, the company is rapidly scaling, leveraging cutting-edge AI and computer vision to lead the way in subsea autonomy.

Support for the announcement:


Lord Wei of Shoreditch, Member of the Future Planet Capital Advisory Board

‘Changing the world and making an impact at scale is really tough and at times can be a lonely place. Future Planet Capital has managed to pull together globally an immense network of investors, founders, and experts to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. It is truly a fellowship, and a font of innovation, as well as being a premier fund platform. In these fast changing times it is so reassuring to know that there are innovators working on making the world a safer, cooler, and better place, whose chances of success are being supercharged through the FPC community.’


Jim Wilkinson, Chief Financial Officer, Oxford Science Enterprises

‘Future Planet Capital’s investment strategy offers not only something different, but something that has been lacking in this space. Its approach as well as its scope -involving a remarkable series of partnerships with leading universities and university venture funds – make it a very valuable strategic partner for anyone active in this field.’


Paul Abberley, Investment Governance Board Chair

CEO at Charles Stanley, one of the oldest firms on the London Stock Exchange. Previously the CEO / CIO of Aviva Investors

‘Successful innovations deliver superior investment returns. When those innovations have a positive impact on broader society, the capital investments which makes them possible benefit all stakeholders. Responsible investing of this type is easy to envisage but harder to implement, because identification of suitable opportunities is so challenging. The Future Planet approach bridges that gap.’


Priya Guha MBE, Member of the Future Planet Capital Investment Governance Board

‘With the Chancellor firing the starting gun on this Government’s pension reforms in yesterday’s Mansion House Speech, I am delighted Future Planet Capital are able to announce they are in discussion with NatWest Cushon for an investment into the British Co-Investment Fund.  With their strong reputation for investing in high-growth high-impact companies in the technology sector, Future Planet Capital’s BCF is exactly the right vehicle through which pension funds can back the scaling companies of the future; a win-win for British scale-ups and for British pensioners.’


Matthew Hurn OBE, Deputy Chair of Future Planet Capital’s Advisory Board

'The UK Growth agenda presents an exciting opportunity and it is vital that we have in place the tools needed to fulfil this potential. I strongly welcome this partnership which signals an important step forward - helping to pave the way to greater financial growth while offering savers access to world leading, impactful innovation.'


Professor Jerry Engel, Investment Governance Board Member

An internationally recognized expert on innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, lecturing and advising business and government leaders around the world.

‘I have personally seen the extensive network of fantastic individuals and unique partnerships that FPC has brought together. With the evolving investment landscape, the successful strategies of today need to be implemented by agile teams, as markets, technologies and opportunities shift. Future Planet is positioned to take advantage of the diversity of opportunities presented by its connections to global clusters of innovation.’


Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Geopolitics and Global Survival

Future Thinking: Geopolitics and Global Survival

Geopolitics and Global Survival

COP29 started earlier this week and the global focus on climate change is paramount.


The recent election in the United States raises critical questions about its impact on geopolitics, global survival, and, for us at Future Planet Capital, how we best adapt our mission to address these pressing challenges.


We are  pleased to share the article below from Douglas Hansen-Luke, Executive Chairman at Future Planet Capital.


You can also read a full copy here.

The world’s most powerful nation, home to one of its wealthiest populations, has recently elected their new president.


This shift raises critical questions about the impact on geopolitics, global survival, and, for us at Future Planet Capital, on how best to adapt our mission to address urgent global challenges.


Global Survival


Climate change is our most pressing global challenge, threatening life on Earth as we know it. A global temperature rise of 4°C would make many regions uninhabitable due to the deadly combination of heat and humidity, which prevents the human body from cooling itself. Even a 3-4°C increase would severely disrupt ecosystems, place coastal cities at risk, and impact agriculture, leading to mass displacement and resource shortages. Extended extreme heat could make outdoor activity in certain regions dangerous or even fatal.


These threats are already unfolding, underscoring why Future Planet Capital remains committed to addressing climate change and why action is more urgent than ever. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecast warns that we are on track for a 3-4°C temperature increase, with the potential to surpass 4°C within our children’s—and almost certainly our grandchildren’s—lifetimes.


This makes clear that climate change is not merely an environmental concern; it is a matter of survival for humanity and countless species with whom we share the planet.


Geopolitics


In light of the recent election, we must consider how the political change may impede essential progress in the field of climate change. How will this political shift influence the ability to mitigate the climate crisis, in time to protect our future?


Based on his campaign rhetoric, the new president has highlighted three key changes:

  1. Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement

  2. Promotion of fossil fuels

  3. Reversal of clean energy initiatives, including mandates for electric vehicles and renewable energy


These developments present a notable challenge. However, we believe they will not prevent global progress on climate action. While the U.S. plays a major role in global policy, it does not act alone. The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act has spurred a global race to lead in the emerging clean energy economy.


The European Union, China, and capital-rich nations like the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, Norway, Singapore, and the U.K. have responded with substantial investments in sustainable initiatives, establishing profitable industries in the process. This momentum is difficult to reverse, as the transition to clean energy presents substantial economic opportunities that many countries are eager to capitalise on.


Future Planet Capital


In our view the way to best respond to this shift in U.S. leadership is to reconcile current consumer and production patterns with a profitable path to a sustainable way of life. Trump and his prime backer, Elon Musk, have demonstrated the significant economic potential of green technologies. With 70% Musk’s wealth derived from companies like Tesla, which are advancing the clean-tech sector, it is clear that private investment and innovation will play a vital role in accelerating the transition to a sustainable future.


It is private capital and technology-driven investment will be instrumental in accelerating this transition. By focusing on profitable, scalable solutions, FPC aim to drive positive change that benefits both the planet and investors.


Our approach is already gaining traction. As a member of the trans-Atlantic Strategic Technologies Investment Council (STIC), we support initiatives that showcase successful models for sustainable security and survival. We co-invest with major energy companies like Aramco, BP, and Equinor, recognising the reality that we are all reliant on hydrocarbons. For most people, particularly in urban areas, life would be nearly impossible without them, highlighting the complex challenge of transitioning to a more sustainable future.


Our portfolio includes companies that are driving the next generation of climate solutions, with a clear focus on scalability, profitability, and impact.


Short Term: Beam, currently scaling up


Beam (formally known as Rovco) is a growth-stage autonomous robotics company specialising in subsea services for the offshore wind sector. With £20 million in revenue in 2023, the company is rapidly scaling, leveraging cutting-edge AI and computer vision to lead the way in subsea autonomy. As global priorities shift towards energy and homeland security—particularly in Europe—Beam’s advanced technology is poised to play a pivotal role in enhancing offshore energy efficiency. By reducing operational costs, Beam’s innovations directly support the clean energy transition, contributing significantly to global efforts to mitigate climate change and manage our carbon footprint.

Medium Term: REGENT Craft poised for growth soon


REGENT Craft is pioneering electric, wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicles designed to transform short-haul maritime transport on coastal routes. By combining hydro-foiling with electric aviation technologies, these seagliders offer a cleaner, more efficient alternative for coastal transport. With over $9 billion in pre-orders, REGENT Craft is strategically positioned to capitalise on the global push towards sustainable transport, while its dual-use applications in the defence and security sectors add further value. As high-performance, low-profile technologies become increasingly essential in a geopolitically fragmented world, REGENT Craft solutions are well-placed to meet emerging demands for sustainable, strategic mobility.

Long Term: Tokamak Energy, leading in energy innovation


Tokamak Energy is at the forefront of energy innovation, developing high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets crucial for the commercialisation of fusion energy. Beyond energy generation, these magnets hold significant potential for applications in scientific discovery, energy storage, and advanced propulsion systems. With strong financial backing and technical expertise, Tokamak Energy is poised to contribute to the global transition to sustainable energy solutions. As a leader in fusion technology, the company is helping to shape the future of clean energy, positioning itself as a key player in the long-term fight against climate change and in securing a sustainable energy future for the planet.

As we look to the future, we at Future Planet Capital are committed to investing in the next generation of climate solutions—those that are profitable, scalable, and capable of making a substantial impact.

Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Launch of the BCF

Future Thinking: Launch of the BCF & Invite to FPC & Google Cambridge Tech Week Event

Launch of the

British Co-Investment Fund “BCF”

Future Planet Capital is pleased to announce the launch of the British Co-Investment Fund (BCF) with a targeted first close in Q1 2025. The Fund will provide a new and innovative route for British pension savers to invest in the UK’s leading privately held, high-growth companies.

The BCF will allow pension scheme managers to allocate capital to UK venture investment across the whole of the UK, with the potential for higher long-term returns for savers. This will deliver one of the few routes for pensions investment into some of the UK’s fastest growing private businesses, aligning with government efforts to unlock pension capital for UK private markets and supporting the Mansion House Compact.

Pensions managers currently face significant barriers to venture investment in UK businesses, including fee and liquidity restrictions, and resource and time constraints. This new and effective route, developed with Mobius Life, will provide a way to overcome those challenges, via a blended feeder fund structure that will mix venture capital investment alongside liquid assets.

With a targeted £150mn launch in Q1 2025, the BCF aims to channel up to £1bn of pension investments into UK high growth, private businesses, with deal opportunities sourced via leading universities and government research centres across the UK, targeting breakthrough sectors like artificial intelligence, engineering biology, quantum computing and semiconductors, as well as climate technologies and wider impact-led areas.

The Fund is backed by an experienced advisory board chaired by Future Planet Capital’s co-founder, Lord Norman Foster of Thames Bank.


The announcement has received widespread press coverage this week with our Executive Chairman, Douglas Hansen-Luke, appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme to discuss the launch. Douglas’ article on how change is coming to our pensions has also featured in the FT Advisor and is well worth a read here.  


Do not hesitate to reach out if further information about the BCF would be helpful.

FPC & Google

Cambridge Tech Week Event

We are pleased to share that we are hosting an event in partnership with Google during Cambridge Tech Week - Cambridge Tech Week Startup Connect.


The invite only event will bring together founders, investors, and key players from the Cambridge startup scene for a night of networking, insightful conversations, and potential partnerships.


Date: Wednesday, 11 September

Time: 6-9 pm

Where: Cambridge (the exact location will be provided after registration)


We would be delighted if you were able to attend. You can use this link to Register and use this access code: KKJK50VR


Alternatively, do let us know if further information about the event would be helpful.


Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Unlocking Funding for Defence & Security

Future Thinking: Unlocking Funding for Defence and Security + Insights from Xfund’s Patrick Chung

Unlocking Funding:

Defence & Security

The defence sector is fast becoming an important aspect of the government’s economic growth strategy, and the commitment to increasing defence spending is a step in the right direction.


However, the true marker of success will be our ability to unlock larger amounts of capital for growth stage investment through public and private sector collaboration.

Over the coming quarter, our focus will be on Defence and Security. A number of the UK’s most promising scaleups exist in the defence and security ecosystem. We’re proud that some of these sit within the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund, managed by Future Planet Capital:

🌊 As the Blue Economy continues to grow, HonuWorx is driving the future of subsea installation, inspection and maintenance processes through marine robotics, making it easier to sustainably commercialise and defend our ocean’s resources, and accelerate the journey towards net-zero.

🛰️ In its mission to become the global leader in deployable antennas for use in space, Oxford Space Systems offers a portfolio of antennas for a range of satellite services, aimed at improving performance, maximising stowage efficiency, and minimising mass.

🔐 Catering to a wide range of sectors and application areas, HALO X-ray Technologies Ltd is developing next generation X-ray platform capabilities that will enhance passenger security and experience in aviation, revolutionise infrastructure protection, facilitate new medical systems, and more.

Representing just a handful of exciting defence and security startups, these businesses demonstrate the potential that sits in the UK’s innovation ecosystem.


At Future Planet Capital, we look forward to engaging the government and private sector, to crowd together the funding needed to nurture and grow these businesses to not only make the UK a safer place, but also contribute to a more prosperous economic reality.


Do not hesitate to get in touch if further information about our work or portfolio would be of interest.

SecureX Insights: Q5D

Listen in as Steve Bennington, CEO & Co-Founder of Q5D, discusses the funding and support they have received.

It is vital that businesses receive more support than just financial, and we're thrilled to be able to support Q5D in creating connections and developing networks in the defence sector.

Amazing to see their continued success 👇

Spotting Potential and Commercialising Academic Discovery

Two questions facing venture capital firms in today’s investment landscape are: how do you spot potential in a sea of AI startups? And how do you build a university and enterprise system that really can create the next Google?

Patrick S. Chung, co-founder and managing general partner of Xfund and the investor who wrote OpenAI founder Sam Altman’s first cheque, is well qualified to answer both. And on his recent visit to the UK, where Xfund is a partner to Future Planet Capital, Patrick did just that.

Patrick identifies three core qualities that drive entrepreneurial success on campus:

🔵 Fostering a culture that celebrates transforming academic discovery into commercial success
🔵 Ensuring university departments and academic administrators are informed on venturing and business
🔵 Allowing professors and investigators the flexibility to jump back and forth between business and academia

Read more about Patrick’s thoughts on commercialising academic discovery on our website here.

Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Defence and Security Portfolio Highlights

Future Thinking: Unlocking Capital for Defence and Security & Blue Economy Podcast

Unlocking Capital for Defence and Security

The defence sector is fast becoming an important aspect of the government’s economic growth strategy, and the commitment to increasing defence spending is a step in the right direction. However, the true marker of success will be our ability to unlock larger amounts of capital for growth stage investment through public and private sector collaboration.

A number of the UK’s most promising scaleups exist in the defence and security ecosystem. We’re proud that some of these sit within the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund, managed by Future Planet Capital:

🌊 As the Blue Economy continues to grow, HonuWorx is driving the future of subsea installation, inspection and maintenance processes through marine robotics, making it easier to sustainably commercialise and defend our ocean’s resources, and accelerate the journey towards net-zero.

🛰️ In its mission to become the global leader in deployable antennas for use in space, Oxford Space Systems offers a portfolio of antennas for a range of satellite services, aimed at improving performance, maximising stowage efficiency, and minimising mass.

🔐 Catering to a wide range of sectors and application areas, HALO X-ray Technologies Ltd is developing next generation X-ray platform capabilities that will enhance passenger security and experience in aviation, revolutionise infrastructure protection, facilitate new medical systems, and more.


We’re gearing up to our flagship invite-only defence and security event, SecureX 2.0 tomorrow hosted by Foresight Group.

This event gathers leaders, investors, and innovators from the defence and security sectors to explore the future of funding and innovation. We’re expecting dynamic pitches from pioneering companies in quantum tech and portable cooling solutions, alongside insights from experts on the role of private capital in strengthening national defence capabilities amid a shifting landscape.

Stay tuned for post-event highlights and insights! You can watch a recap from last year's event below.


Our exciting defence and security startups demonstrate the potential that sits in the UK’s innovation ecosystem. At Future Planet Capital, we look forward to engaging the government and private sector, to crowd together the funding needed to nurture and grow these businesses to not only make the UK a safer place, but also contribute to a more prosperous economic reality.


SecureX Highlights

Seaze Podcast: Blue Economy

Our Head of Global Venture, Ed Phillips recently joined Antonia Nicholls for an episode of the Seaze podcast, to discuss the Blue Economy and its importance in solving some of the world’s greatest challenges – from climate management to food security.

Ed touches on transferring his early interest in nature and science to the world of impact investing and venture capital. He also discusses the solutions transforming the Blue Economy, and the exciting work Future Planet Capital is carrying out to support innovation and impact in the sector.

Check out the full conversation 👇


Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Spotting potential and commercialising academic discovery - in discussion with Patrick Chung

Here are two questions for venture capital: how do you spot potential in a sea of AI start-ups? And how do you build a university and enterprise system that really can create the next Google?

Patrick Chung, co-founder and managing general partner of Xfund, is well qualified to answer both. Patrick wrote Open AI founder Sam Altman’s first cheque and established Xfund – a VC firm that backs founders from US universities. His previous investments include personal genomics company 23andMe and AI pioneer Kensho.

On a flying visit to the UK – where Xfund is a partner to Future Planet Capital – he has straightforward answers when asked how he identifies value. “We chase the talent,” he says. “We let the talent decide where to go.”

He has helpful insight for investors and, perhaps, for a new UK government that arrives in office having pledged to work with universities to support spinouts.

Because for years, talent-spotting has been Xfund’s approach, finding fresh ideas among the students and alumni of institutions like Harvard and Stanford.

There are plenty of successful new AI-driven companies to come, Patrick says, even if another Open AI won’t burst onto the market any time soon. No one is going to compete with the established large language models (LLMs). They’re simply too expensive to build and operate. But start-ups can licence proprietary data to develop better trained LLMs.

Take Open Evidence, an Xfund portfolio company, which has secured data from the Mayo Clinic. Its AI – trained on resources from this world-famous medical research centre – will be better able to understand medical conditions than any LLM relying on information it can find freely-available online.

Or consider Delphi, another Xfund investment, which is creating digital clones. If – with your permission – an AI engine could read all your messages and observe all your work decisions it could eventually make the same decisions that you would. This digital clone could not only record a meeting you missed, but draw the same conclusions that you would have done.

There’s a reason, Patrick explains, that some US universities do so well at incubating businesses like these. It stems from a mix of culture, understanding and knowhow and it’s an approach the UK – and some institutions across the US - could yet copy.

He identifies three core qualities that drive entrepreneurial success on campus.

The first is cultural. Turning academic discovery into commercial success is celebrated in West Coast learning. That’s still not the case in every university where – for all the excitement about spin-outs – making money can still be seen as unworthy of an academic.

“We need a culture change so this commercialisation and mass distribution is an acceptable manifestation of your discovery if you’re a lead investigator,” says Patrick.

Secondly, universities need informed, sophisticated departments to licence their intellectual property for academics who want to build start-ups. Some academic administrators can still seem baffled by business.

In one case, Patrick says, a founder wanted to gift equity from his company to his university. It was an act of gratitude towards the institution that had inspired him and trained his first staff. That founder wasn’t thanked; instead, the university demanded a payment for accepting the gift. Its administrators simply confused equity with liability.

An understanding gap remains.

Finally, universities need to be places where you can get involved in a new business, but also get back out of it again.

Tenured professors would be much more likely to make the leap from academia to business if they knew they could leap back the other way afterwards. Investors should be able to invest in businesses that have strong leadership already in place and not have to piece executive teams together for themselves, then hang around forever to run their companies.

It all means that we can still do better at commercialising academic work. For now great ideas still languish in labs for want of the right structures and leaders to set them free, Patrick says. For the VCs though, that means there are still new ideas, and more Sam Altmans, to fund.

Douglas Hansen-Luke, Executive Chairman at Future Planet Capital in Les Echos

Our Executive Chairman, Douglas Hansen-Luke recently featured as a signatory in support of an article published by the French publication Les Echos, demonstrating his and Future Planet Capital’s commitment to protecting and investing in our planet’s Ocean.  

Noting the disparity between ocean-based investment and current investment levels in novel technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the article focuses on the importance of our Ocean in tackling climate change – in the immediate and long-term.  

Despite being Earth’s largest entity, covering 71% of its surface, the Ocean’s depths remain lesser known and understood than the face of the Moon. And let's not forget that the seas produce between 50-80% of the world’s oxygen and absorb 9.2 gigatons of carbon dioxide annually – almost 30% of total carbon emissions. No doubt, the Ocean is essential for all life on Earth. 

Scientists have long emphasised the importance of protecting our Ocean and, indeed, the need for collective action to do so effectively. But recent planetary and biological developments have served as a shock to the system for many.  

Not least, Ocean temperatures are rising at an unprecedented rate. While this can be put down to the likes of El Niño in part, human activity is half to blame. At the same time, ocean acidification has spiked as a direct result of human-induced CO2 emissions reaching their peak in 2023. This serves as a direct threat to ocean life and biodiversity – the most important enabler in the Ocean’s capacity as both a carbon sink and oxygen pump. 

Should we fail to act in reversing this damage as a matter of urgency, the repercussions will be monumental. Not just for the three billion people that live in coastal areas and rely directly on the Ocean’s resources, but for the planet as a whole.  

To encourage action, engaging state and political actors in committing to addressing these issues is key. The United Nations Global Ocean Conference in a year’s time serves as a landmark moment on this journey, and will – we hope – set us on a path towards a blue-focused COP.  

More than this, though: we need endorsement from the private sector and, specifically, from investors and the finance space. It is paramount that sustainable, blue solution investments become central to any investment and fund strategy, so that we are able to direct capital towards the sectors and innovations that need it most. 

Find out more in the full article: https://www.lesechos.fr/idees-debats/cercle/opinion-climat-investisseurs-noubliez-pas-locean-2101005  

Future Planet Capital | Partner Day – May ‘24 | Thoughts and reflections

Future Planet Capital recently hosted its inaugural Partner Day at the spectacular Institute of Directors in London. The day provided an excellent opportunity to engage with our network and the investment ecosystem, sparking conversations around how we might better position the UK as a global hub for innovation, and reap greater rewards from our most promising high growth businesses and best-in-class research and development facilities.

Our Executive Chairman, Douglas Hansen-Luke, set the tone for the day: "We do not only need to have great ideas. We need to accelerate and scale up companies. Those that raise money most regularly are the ones that succeed and win.”

At Future Planet Capital, we have frequently engaged with entrepreneurs, investors and asset managers in the UK and further afield, as well as those in the pensions and insurance industry. From this, we know there is consensus amongst all parties on the need to both improve the UK’s funding environment, and to do so with urgency.

With that, our Partner Day also served to progress these discussions while unearthing answers to the following questions: how do we build a supportive investment ecosystem in Britain? And what can we do now to help the UK accelerate its journey towards unlocking venture capital investment into its most promising scaleups?

The first step is relatively straightforward. We need to stop talking about impact investment and start doing it. At Future Planet Capital, we are led by impact, backing growth companies that are solving the world’s greatest challenges.

But it so happens that these impactful companies are often able to create the best returns. Integrating impact and societal value into investor business models and portfolio strategies is, therefore, crucial. As one of our insightful panelists, Katie Fulford-Smith, succinctly summarised, by ensuring effective collaboration between LPs and GPs we can better implement the frameworks needed for the efficient allocation for impact.

This is something we have worked hard to do here at Future Planet Capital, as our Impact Lead, Alex Shadbolt set out in the first of four panel discussions on the day: Impact Investing: Future Planet Capital’s inaugural Impact Report.

We’re striving to push the industry forward, by adopting new impact frameworks, collaborating with other investors and sharing our insights, and showing commitment to novel initiatives in impact, such as 1000 Ocean Startups’ Ocean Impact Navigator tool.

However, even with a firm commitment to impact in place, it is important that investors are directing capital to where it’s most needed. The world faces countless challenges – disease and pandemics, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and food security are but a few.

But while all these areas deserve investment, climate change is thought to be the greatest global threat facing the world this century. As such, it is essential we move fast to find a solution to the climate crisis.

This topic was centre stage during the second panel discussion of the day, which focused on The Blue Economy: the state of our oceans, challenges, and opportunities, and was led by Future Planet Capital’s Head of Global Ventures, Ed Phillips.

As Ed made clear, if protected, our oceans hold great potential for curbing the repercussions of climate change, purely through their natural capabilities. They already produce 50% of the world’s oxygen, and absorb 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions, for example. And if leveraged, ocean-based climate solutions have the potential to reduce the emissions gap by up to 35%.

But if we are to truly unlock the potential of our oceans in the climate race, we must focus our investment on innovation in the blue economy – which, at present, sees only a fraction of all climate finance. In the UK, blue investment opportunities already exist. One of Future Planet Capital’s most exciting portfolio companies, Rovco, is already making waves in the offshore wind sector through its advanced subsea robotics and integrated survey solutions.

Of course, looking beyond the ocean economy, opportunity in the UK can be found across all industries and sectors. The third panel discussion of the day focused on Scaling Britain: supporting our most promising science and technology scaleups.

The UK is steeped in science and technological innovation – from building the steam engine to developing the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which was aided by Barinthus Biotherapeutics (formerly Vaccitech), one of Future Planet Capital’s portfolio companies.

We punch well above our weight. And yet, at present, many of our most promising science and technology companies are pushed abroad or held back by a lack of funding.

As Haas School of Business’ Jerome Engel argued, we mustn’t neglect our previous successes. This is a lesson the UK can take from Silicon Valley in the US, where the lifeblood is not magic – as many might believe – but a history of entrepreneurialism, perseverance, and commitment to innovation and growth.

The UK’s investors and entrepreneurs alike should look to apply this same attitude, which we at Future Planet Capital know exists, to work together in creating a solutions-based platform that encourages investors to invest, and innovators to innovate.

The UK’s approach – in particular, from its pension funds – to venture capital and private markets has a crucial role to play here. This theme was discussed in the fourth and final panel discussion: Venture Capital in the UK economy with the BVCA’s Chris Elphick.

We know that pension funds need to invest more in venture capital if we are to accelerate growth and scale as a matter of urgency. We’ve seen some progress over the past 12 months, stemming from the Chancellor’s Mansion House reforms last July – some of our largest pension funds pledged to invest 5% of portfolios into venture. However, many pension funds appear unable to step beyond an outlook of caution. 

A necessary step is to bring the conversation around venture capital and private markets to the fore, whether that be through industry events, government pledges, or media. To some degree, the industry is still deemed cloudy, filled with risk and uncertainty, and it is crucial to reverse this narrative.

More than this, to further abate these feelings of caution amongst pension funds, we must leverage the abundant expertise of early-stage investors, both based in the UK and beyond, that is at our disposal.

In creating working partnerships between venture specialists and pension funds in the UK, we will be able to funnel the necessary capital towards the scaleups with the greatest potential, not just to deliver returns for individuals, businesses and the economy, but also to drive positive change through impact.

We’d like to thank everyone who attended our Partner Day. In particular, a special thanks to those who shared their expertise and insight at each panel discussion.

The conversations that were had throughout the day were hugely productive, and shed light on what we as an investment community must do next.

Most importantly, though, we need to move faster in putting these words into action. Future Planet Capital looks forward to continuing its work in supporting businesses create impact through solving the world’s greatest challenges, and driving the UK’s journey towards becoming a global hub for innovation.

Sam Altman Talks AI and Fusion (amongst other things)

By Lyle Pentith, Portfolio Manager

Last week, I had the privilege of attending an exclusive event with OpenAI's founder, Sam Altman at Harvard University, hosted by our partners at Xfund.

Beyond talk of Barbie vs Oppenheimer, discussions mostly revolved around Mr Altman’s views on AI and its profound and unavoidable implications for humanity. Perhaps what stood out most for me was Altman’s firm belief that, ultimately, the price of computational power would come to match the price of energy directly.

Altman discussed a need to focus our efforts on advancements in sustainable energy generation alongside the growth of AI. As indispensable pillars of technological advancement and environmental sustainability in today's world, the symbiotic relationship between AI and renewable energy cannot be overstated.

Altman showed enthusiasm for fusion and solar-plus-storage technologies, championing their potential to revolutionise our energy landscape. He also talked to fusion energy as one notable solution to the AI energy problem, an area in which Future Planet Capital has a stake as a founding investor in the Oxford spinout Tokamak Energy.

Nuclear fusion, which powers the sun and stars, promises to provide limitless, clean energy for humanity. However, achieving the pinnacle of fusion energy production – ignition – remains a significant challenge. Ignition occurs when enough fusion reactions take place to become self-sustaining, producing more energy than is required to initiate the reaction. This milestone is crucial for making fusion energy economically viable and capable of providing infinite energy.

The hurdles to achieving ignition include controlling and sustaining the extremely high temperatures and pressures required for fusion reactions. This is where AI plays a crucial role. Complex simulations and experiments are conducted to better understand the behaviour of plasma, the superheated gas where fusion reactions occur, produced in fusion reactors like those developed by Tokamak Energy and its US competitors. These simulations involve vast amounts of data and require precise control over various parameters to optimise reactor performance.

AI algorithms are being used to automate and optimise these simulations, allowing researchers to explore a wider range of scenarios and identify the most promising approaches to achieving ignition. Machine learning techniques can analyse large datasets generated from experiments and simulations to identify patterns and insights that may not be apparent to traditional researchers.

However, the immediate environmental impact of AI's energy consumption cannot be ignored. While AI offers unprecedented opportunities for innovation, it also comes with significant energy demands, which have been the topic of much negative news flow. As AI models become larger and more complex, their energy consumption is poised to contribute significantly to global carbon emissions. 

Yet, as Altman pointed out, the cost of compute will be dictated by the cost of energy. The dual success of AI and renewable energy is critical to addressing some of humanity's most pressing challenges. As we have seen, AI is revolutionising how we generate, distribute, and manage renewable energy, while renewable energy sources provide the sustainable power needed to support the growth of AI technologies.

By leveraging AI, renewable energy technologies become more efficient, reliable, and accessible. AI-driven optimisation algorithms can enhance the performance of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems, maximising their energy output and minimising waste. Additionally, AI-powered predictive analytics enable better forecasting of energy demand and generation, improving grid stability and enabling more effective integration of renewable energy into the power grid.

In contrast, renewable energy is essential for supporting the energy-intensive nature of AI. As AI models become larger and more complex, the demand for computational power increases. By powering AI infrastructure with renewable energy sources, we can mitigate the environmental impact of AI's energy consumption and move towards a more sustainable future.

Ultimately, the success of AI and renewable energy is intertwined. As we advance in both fields, we unlock new opportunities for sustainable development, economic growth, and combating climate change. This relationship offers a pathway to a future where clean, abundant energy is driven by and fuels innovation through Artificial Intelligence.

We at Future Planet Capital are committed to supporting innovation across both spaces.   

 

Unlocking the potential of the UK’s best, fast-growing businesses.

When it comes to science and technology scale-up investment, Britain has reached a crossroads.

Great potential rests in the UK’s high growth businesses – both those that already exist, and those bound to emerge from our best-in-class research and development ecosystem. At present, though, much of this potential lies dormant.

If the private sector moves quickly – with the support of the government, politicians, and the public sector – we can unlock the capital needed to nurture, retain, and develop our most promising startups and spinouts.

Not only will these companies thrive as a result, but Britain’s economy will reap the rewards.

Failing this, the consequences are stark. We risk losing our best businesses to overseas markets. It’s likely we also surrender the chance of significant and imminent economic growth.

And we almost certainly resign ourselves to the role of follower in the fast-accelerating scientific and technological revolution, rather than leader.

It’s a positive sign, then, that there is consensus across much of the financial services industry on the need to improve the funding environment for these high growth companies. So, too, is it encouraging that unlocking pension fund capital is considered key.

Most importantly, though, there is acknowledgement of the need to act now, to make Britain the best and most accessible location for major investment – both domestic and overseas.

At Future Planet Capital, we’re able to say this with confidence, having consulted with leading entrepreneurs, major investors and asset managers in the UK and beyond, and key figures in the insurance and pensions industry.

As a result, we’re able to set out a clear five-step plan of action for realising these shared goals:

  1. Managers of insurance and pension assets should work closely with the wider investment industry, to ensure they have the necessary skills, expertise, and partnerships to direct capital towards the UK’s high growth businesses.

  2. Insurers and pension funds should look to move quicker than set out in last year’s Mansion House reforms, aiming to outperform the current goal of nine funds allocating 5% of capital into unlisted and early-stage companies by 2030.

  3. Investors should look to deploy capital in every region of the UK, with LEPs and local and combined authorities offering investors a single point of contact for investing in their areas.

  4. Ministers should make investing in the UK more straightforward by implementing in full the recommendations of the recent Foreign Direct Investment Review by the end of the current year.

  5. Politicians should set clear and consistent priority sectors for investment and provide long-term support for these sectors including public sector co-investment.

If Britain is to support its high growth scaleups – and see the results from doing so – we must take these steps. Our industry-wide conversations have provided confidence in the appetite to do so. It’s time to act on these discussions and get much-needed capital moving in the right direction.

Engineering Biology: High Impact, High Growth

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Engineering Biology:

High Impact, High Growth

“Engineering biology is a powerful underlying technology that enables new products and manufacturing approaches in numerous vertical sectors. It drives a more sustainable approach to manufacturing, offering high impact replacement products as well as those with truly novel functionality. It is as transformative as AI’ explains Oliver Sexton, Investment Director from the UKI2S Fund. “We back companies using engineering biology as a core part of our investment thesis as it strongly selects high impact, high growth entities competing with robust IP in very large markets with ground breaking solutions.”


FPC is a global impact-led venture capital firm headquartered in London. It manages the £102M UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) which has £33m of capital dedicated to engineering biology investments. FPC is focused on investing in these and other high-growth businesses that contribute positively to societal and environmental issues as well as aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.


With a portfolio of 140 companies notable exits include 23andMe, a genetic testing company, and OxfordVR, specialising in virtual reality therapy for mental health and Quethera, an eng bio biotech.


UKI2S is an early-stage investment fund that nurtures innovative businesses from great UK science to leverage private investment and grow jobs. The fund is backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and other public bodies, including UKRI UKAEA and MOD. This fund has supported a wide array of companies in sectors ranging from therapeutics and agritech to clean biotech.


Technology development using engineering biology is potentially high return. Whilst biology is complex, by applying engineering principles and breaking down pathways to key steps, it can be de-risked and also enhanced. Whilst this complexity means investors may face some worrying moments as technology develops it means the end solution is novel, highly functional and very differentiated. An engineering biology company isn’t going after incremental improvements, it will replace a product with a superior solution.  


FPC has a dedicated team to aid in the evaluation of technical innovation. “In the UK team, there are individuals with PhD and masters qualifications in STEM subjects to carry out due diligence. We also utilise external consultants to help understand the science behind a company’s product. We couple this with discussions with potential customers to understand a product’s viability,” says Sexton.


Delivering such complex R&D efficiently and quickly means learning from others. Accelerator programmes can provide companies with useful exposure to investors and opportunities to secure investment and as importantly, training in planning, budgeting and managing companies. FPC has co invested alongside accelerator programmes and Sexton explains, “There are some programmes with very good reputations and have produced great things. We may invest in parallel whilst a business is participating in an accelerator programme. Often, the amount of equity provided by the accelerator is not sufficient, especially in biology,” says Sexton.


Sexton explains how businesses benefit from FPC investment, “We have a rich network and dedicate time to helping teams focus the plans and business model. We really try hard to introduce companies to other funds, to executives and board members. It is also not uncommon for us to provide connections and then invest in a business at a later stage as plans develop. FPC is also well connected to corporates. This allows us to help portfolio companies find corporate customers or corporate investment.”


Sexton highlights the importance of compatibility between entrepreneurs and investors: “Investing is more than equity. You need your investor to be supportive and helpful throughout. As you will be working together over time its fundamental to make a good team.”


EngBio has a huge potency and potential to be beneficial to society: The BBSRC shares how UKI2S is doing this

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has invested £33m in UKI2S’ EngBio fund, acting as a pathway in research and commercialisation in the EngBio sector.


EngBio has a huge potency and potential to be beneficial to society; driving economic growth and importantly, protecting the planet.


Click on the video above to hear Nick Bassett, Associate Director of Innovation for BBSRC sharing what makes UKI2S special

How Start-Ups Can Boost Online Visibility with Venture Capitalists


Peter Mitchell, our very own Head of Origination - and a data scientist, whose job it is to find start-ups online - this month gives his advice on how start-ups can boost their online presence.


Peter says: The venture capital industry is increasingly data-driven, and it’s essential for CEOs to adapt to this trend to enhance your visibility and appeal. Here are some practical tips to increase your online presence with venture capitalists, from a data scientist whose job it is to find start-ups online!


Learn more by reading Peter’s piece here.


Improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability with Productive Machines


NetZero by 2030. Responsible investment. Environmental action. Social inclusion. Impact-first – that’s the mission. The driving force behind UKI2S, managed by Future Planet Capital.


In line with COP28, it’s time to show you how we’re working with innovative startups to facilitate the change we all want, and need, to see.


Productive Machines is on a mission to revolutionise the productivity of machine tools. It uses digital twin technology to simulate millions of different machine settings in order to find the most optimal combinations that minimise waste and energy consumption.


Chatter, a longstanding issue in machining, has plagued manufacturers for decades.

It disrupts operations, resulting in slower cycle times, increased waste, surface irregularities, and dimensional inaccuracies.


In order to minimise vibrations, human trial and error has long been the only solution.


Until now. Productive Machines’ advanced technology can eliminate chatter in machining, leading to key sustainability benefits including waste reduction, resource efficiency, energy conservation, enhanced product quality, equipment lifespan, and safer workplaces.


Read more about FPC, UKI2S and Productive Machines.

Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Dinner is Served

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Dinner is Served

As we step into 2024 we wanted to reflect on what’s been going on here at FPC and, in this edition, particularly in the context of our early stage innovation-focussed fund UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S).


We’ve spent a lot of time discussing, exploring and working out how best to support the multitude of innovative ideas that our great founders of today are eager to bring to market. Because that’s my biggest finding thus far; your innovations are only as good as your ability to commercialise them.


So what happened in 2023?


At the end of 2022, cash inflow within the venture capital industry had dropped by 90%. Inflation was rapidly rising and interest rates were going up with it.


There was a profound sense of pessimism within the industry and so 2023 was spent working on existing portfolio companies – just trying to keep them alive.


Organisations needed to generate enough revenue to cover costs and break even with bridge rounds. Incredibly, many companies achieved that. I think it’s fair to say that the bleak clarity everyone had coming into 2023 set them up to over-achieve; the forecast under-promised, many ended up over-delivering.


It was a good year here at FPC – we grew our assets by 20% – mainly driven by investment from the government in their determination to commercialise and scale up… As for 2024… we will be very busy again but one issue will be top of mind.


Climate change is no longer an existential threat for the decades ahead – it’s evidenced in the geopolitical realities we face today.


As we witnessed during COP28, Abu Dhabi and the UAE were willing to lead the charge to voluntarily act to reduce fossil fuel usage.  Their role and diplomatic skill in including fossil fuels for the very first time at a COP meeting was notable.  And yet it really shouldn’t have been.  The negative impact of continued fossil-fuel-driven climate change is undeniable – countries across the globe are facing water shortages, high levels of air pollution, financial poverty, loss of biodiversity and insufficient food security.


As a result, we’re facing crises of both environmental and human health. And it won’t stop there unless we focus on making drastic changes in one particular industry currently dependent on hydrocarbons: food.  


We must create sustainable food systems and work towards ensuring global food security. Over 2024 we’ll be looking to focus on food and related life sciences as one of our top priorities.


How can we do that?  Click here to read the rest of Douglas' piece and learn more.  


EngBioX

EngBioX Highlight Film

Thank you to everyone who attended EngBioX


We learnt so much about the industry from the fantastic speakers - CellCentric, twig, Pencil Biosciences Limited, and Antiverse.


The atmosphere was amazing. Watch the video above to learn more.

Norman Foster named Domus Guest Editor for 2024


Future Planet Capital Advisory Board Chairman, Lord Norman Foster, has been announced as the Guest Editor of architectural magazine Domus.  


Last month, Lord Foster was interviewed for Domus, which resulted in a fascinating article which is highly recommended reading. This month, Lord Foster has released his first editorial which outlines his plans for Domus and opens his exploration of the theme “Futures”.


“The state of our cities, the state of our architecture, is the state of our civilisation. The art of building is about the human spirit, about spiritual as well as material needs.”


“To embrace the future in the master plan of a city or in the design of a building is an act of forward-thinking optimism.”


Read a copy of the editorial here.


We can’t wait to read the future editions!


Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Securing Food for the Future

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Securing Food for the Future

Food security is when all people are able to access enough safe and nutritious food to meet their requirements for a healthy life, in ways the planet can sustain into the future.


In recent years, global acute food insecurity has reached alarming levels due to factors such as conflict, climate shocks, and the impact of COVID-19. This has exacerbated the global hunger crisis, pushing millions into extreme poverty.


Almost 800 million people face hunger on a daily basis and more than two billion people lack vital micronutrients, affecting their health and life expectancy. Nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition.


Climate change will only make things worse as elevated levels of CO2 reduce the nutritional content of grains, tubers and legumes. A growing population also means more mouths to feed and with the expanding global population getting wealthier, there will be more pressure on resource intensive produce, particularly meat and dairy.


It has been estimated that by 2050 we'll need to feed two billion more people. However, there is by good approximation no new land for agriculture, with increasing competition from urbanisation, sea level rise reducing land availability, and the growing need for land for bioenergy, carbon capture and storage.


A major challenge is understanding how can we re-design the food system to be healthy, sustainable, and more resilient to climate change.


It is clear that we will need to use every technology available, alongside best practice farming, to sustainably increase production. This also has to be accompanied by changes to food demand including measures on both consumption and waste.

The state of the world’s land and water resources for food and agriculture

Innovative Solutions

Case Study - Tropic Biosciences

Tropic Biosciences Case Study

FPC portfolio company Tropic Biosciences is using  cutting edge technologies, including CRISPR gene editing, to increase crop resistance to critical diseases and reduce waste in the supply chain.


Tropic are using science to accelerate the development of crop varieties and make them better suited to the growing environment. This allows farmers to produce more food, and have greater flexibility to overcome the increase of crop diseases brought on by climate change. In doing so, we can successfully close the gap between food scarcity and food waste.


Tropic are rewriting the system so farmers gain more worth for their work and we have enough food to go round. Watch the video above to learn more!


Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Defence & Security

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UK Innovation Science and Seed Fund is unleashing support for Defence and Security Startups

The £102m UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), independently managed by Future Planet Capital, is unleashing support for Defence and Security Investment into UK-based startups.


The £18m pioneering Defence and Security Seed portfolio (D2S), part of UKI2S’s national fund, will focus on cybersecurity, hardware, IoT, robotics, sensors, with a primary emphasis on dual-use technologies that have commercial applications and specific defence or military applications.


Since being launched in 2022, D2S has already invested £2m across five Defence & Security start-ups, and is actively looking to deploy the remaining £16m. The fund is positioned to provide much-needed funding to early-stage startups and spinouts. The overarching aim of the fund is not just to provide investment, but to enable these organisations to increase scalability and continue to innovate new ideas that could fundamentally alter the industry’s landscape.


While defence and security investment has increased exponentially in recent years, it notably lags behind other industries.


This portfolio serves to rectify this imbalance, empowering early-stage organisations in the industry to be able to research, develop and manufacture nationally important defence and security technologies.


Previous opportunities provided by UKI2S have been extremely successful, delivering a return of £25 in private sector investment for every £1 invested by UKI2S public partners. The impact that the D2S could have, following this trend, may mean a total return of £450 million, drastically boosting the industry.


Whilst the focus of this portfolio is defence, the D2S aims to bridge the gap between the public and private sector, facilitating the innovation of ‘dual-use’ technologies - innovations that serve both commercial, and specific defence and military applications. The fund aims to serve a dual purpose: it seeks to foster growth in key security technologies, while simultaneously boosting the UK’s economy. This bridging of the gap between the public and private sectors underscores the holistic approach being taken to fuel growth and innovation.


The impact of the D2S is already visible, with several companies having received funding already.


Silicon Microgravity (SMG), a spinout from the University of Cambridge, recently received £500k D2S funding from UKI2S. The initial investment has acted as a gateway for further financial backing, allowing them to gain access to the Defence Innovation Loan from the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).

“UKI2S have been more than just an investor to us. The team were fundamental in helping to get our Seed funding round away and have continued to provide valuable input and support particularly with links into the defence ecosystem and strategic advice.”


- Francis Neill, CEO of SMG

Other organisations like Halo’s X-Ray in Nottingham, Honuworx in Aberdeen, and Qdot from Oxford’s Thermofluids Institute have also gained from this crucial fund.


The D2S portfolio will persist as a cornerstone in the strategy to bolster national security through innovation.


UK-Based businesses who are leveraging their existing science and knowledge base to look into further strategic applications, such as defence and security, will continue to be supported through the fund.


This seed fund benefits from the backing of several prestigious public bodies, including the Ministry of Defence, UK Research and Innovation and others. These organisations are not only financial sponsors, but are committed to nurturing UK businesses to expand the UK’s technological capabilities.


Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: Supply Chain Security

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Supply Chain Security: Strengthening Global Economies

Supply chains, the intricate networks connecting individuals, organisations, resources, and technologies in creating and selling products, play a vital role in our interconnected world. Beyond offering a wide array of goods and services, supply chains pave the way for local economies to engage in global expansion, making them integral to economic growth.


The global supply chain is valued at a staggering $15.85 billion, encompassing an extensive array of components and interactions. Governments are taking a closer look at supply chain resilience, recognising it as a matter of national security. This shift might lead to more active involvement in sourcing and trade, potentially leading to new challenges in the import-export landscape.


Notably, the cost of supply chain disruption averages $1.5 million daily. With this in mind, supply chain visibility is becoming a strategic concern for industry professionals. The World Economic Forum projects that global supply chain disruptions could wipe out $1.5 trillion in value during 2023.


Even nations and businesses prepared for such scenarios face vulnerabilities. The top 5 countries with the most resilient supply chains in 2023 were Germany, Japan, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and South Korea. Whilst these countries have managed to establish resilience, they are not immune to challenges. For instance, Germany faced substantial disruptions during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Japan encountered difficulties during the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.


Anticipating the future, supply chain innovation hinges on technology adoption. Technologies like AI, blockchain, IoT, 3D printing, and robotics will shape the landscape. Notably, 50% of businesses have increased their supply chain technology investment in 2023, signalling a growing recognition of its transformative potential.


Inevitably, supply chain security presents a pressing challenge ripe for innovation and investment.


What are the key challenges?

Why Global Supply Chains May Never Be the Same


WSJ Documentary

Why Global Supply Chains May Never Be the Same | WSJ Documentary

Every day, millions of sailors, truck drivers, longshoremen, warehouse workers and delivery drivers keep mountains of goods moving into stores and homes to meet consumers’ increasing expectations of convenience.


But this complex movement of goods underpinning the global economy is far more vulnerable than many imagined.

Find out more about Future Planet Capital by visiting our website.

Future Thinking: What lessons can we learn from COVID-19?

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June 2023    |    View this email in your browser
What lessons can we learn from COVID-19?
Welcome to the latest edition of Future Thinking. 

Last month Future Planet Capital hosted a dinner and discussion with Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute in Oxford who helped create the AstraZeneca COVID-19 drug. The event brought together leading voices from academia, industry and the investment world to discuss learnings from the pandemic.

Together we also explored what is required to prepare for future pandemics, and the role that funding & research is playing in unleashing innovation. The evening was incredibly inspiring.

In a fireside chat, it was fascinating to hear first-hand from Adrian about his role in the development and deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine in 2020, and his thoughts on what we can be doing to mitigate future pandemics.
Douglas Hansen-Luke, Executive Chairman of Future Planet Capital, stressed the importance of science and innovation coming together to create a lasting impact. Here’s what he had to say
Portfolio Spotlight: Vaccitech
In 2020, we became investors in Vaccitech, the biotechnology company spun off from the University of Oxford. At that time, knowledge of the COVID-19 virus was limited, and vaccine trial outcomes were still uncertain.

Recognising Vaccitech’s need for additional funding to support its growth, working with our partners at Oxford Science Enterprises, Future Planet Capital played a strategic role in reopening the investment round leading to the issuance of $43 million in convertible notes.

Fast forward to today, Vaccitech has gained widespread recognition for its remarkable achievement in developing the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine which has saved over 6 million lives.
FPC at HM Treasury Select Committee
Our Executive Chairman, Douglas Hansen-Luke, was honoured to be invited to give evidence earlier this month to the UK HM Treasury Select Committee for its investigation into the UK venture capital market.

It was a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion on how to support our domestic entrepreneurs as they grow their companies.
 
Douglas was asked what he would want the British government to do to support funding for entrepreneurs across the UK and through their growth journeys. His response was threefold:

Encourage the biggest pension and local government funds to invest in this space
Finance skills-based exchange programmes for young innovators
Make data available on how our industries and companies rank globally
 
There is global competition for capital, and making clear what the government is investing in R&D and in the country’s various regions to help a range of start-ups will encourage more investment. We think Britain has the potential to have dozens, if not hundreds, of unicorns.

You can listen to the full discussion through the link below.
Want to know more?
Contact Ed Phillips or Abi Wye at Future Planet Capital. 

 
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