County Durham-based startup Sphera has secured £1.9m in a funding round led by Green Angel Syndicate (GAS).
A spin-out from the Northern Accelerator programme, Sphera has created a carbon negative aggregate for concrete, which it hopes will help tackle the carbon footprint of traditional concrete which makes up 8% of global carbon emissions.
The round, which also involves other VC groups, including Northstar Ventures, follows a successful year for the company which recently became an advisory board member for the UKGBC’s Innovative Start-Up Forum.
GAS chief executive, Cam Ross, said: “The Sphera approach to decarbonising such a mainstream component of global building materials is very compelling, hence our substantial investment.”
Natasha Boulding, Sphera chief executive and co-founder, added: “I am delighted to be welcoming new members to the wider Sphera team. This investment round supports our vision to be at the global forefront of low-carbon materials innovation for the built environment.”
Further reading:
- Holcim, Magment team up to pioneer EV-charging concrete
- Skanska trials ‘industry-first’ low carbon concrete reinforcement
- Colorado researchers are developing a machine learning app to analyse concrete
The company is now looking to launch its carbon negative lightweight concrete aggregate OSTO onto the market and demonstrate the material in its first construction projects.
Sphera will be expanding both its facility and its team in 2022.
Image credit: Durham University
Read next: Sustainable materials startup LEKO Labs raises $21m and appoints new CEO
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