A University of Liverpool spinout developing high tech sterilisation technologies has successfully secured £1 million seed funding from Northern Gritstone, Deepbridge Capital and Lyva Labs, alongside an Innovate UK grant.
The investment will allow Plasma Fresh to accelerate the development and deployment of its pioneering cold plasma technology to revolutionise food safety. Plasma Fresh's technology enables in-line, retrofittable systems that eliminate pathogens from food and from equipment without the use of water or chemicals.
This innovation not only enhances hygiene and safety but also significantly reduces energy consumption and operational downtime - key priorities for modern food manufacturers seeking sustainable solutions. The new investment will support the company's commercial scale-up, including pilot installations with major food processors, expansion of its engineering team, and further R&D to broaden the application of its technology across other sectors.
Deepbridge Capital, a leading venture capital firm specialising in early-stage technology and life sciences, backed Plasma Fresh through its SEIS fund. The firm's investment strategy focuses on high-growth catalyst technologies that deliver both commercial and societal impact.
"Plasma Fresh exemplifies the kind of transformative innovation we seek to support through the UK Innovation Seed Fund," said Andy Round, Investment Director at Deepbridge Capital. "Their technology addresses a critical need in food safety and sustainability, and we're proud to back a team that combines deep technical expertise with a clear commercial vision."
LYVA Labs, the Liverpool City Region's innovation commercialisation vehicle, also participated in the round. Their support reflects a shared commitment to nurturing regional talent and accelerating health and life sciences innovation.
"We see great potential in Plasma Fresh, a pioneering University of Liverpool spin-out combining world-class research with commercial ambition," said Akshay Bhatnagar, Head of Investments at LYVA Labs. "Their sustainable sterilisation technology tackles critical challenges in food safety, and we're thrilled to co-invest and support their journey from lab to market."
"This investment round is a major milestone for the company, which will allow us to get closer to revolutionise the way food is disinfected today" said Lucas Azzolini Cordoni, CEO of Plasma Fresh.
Emma Nolan, Head of the Enterprise Team at the University, said: "PlasmaFresh is one of the first University of Liverpool spinouts to benefit from the University's new partnership with Northern Gritstone.
"We are excited that the company has secured a place on the DTL Accelerator Programme and expect that the founding team will benefit enormously from access to leading mentors, networks and investors".
Plasma Fresh is one of five standout early-stage University spinout companies currently participating in Northern Gritstone's venture building programme, NG Studios, powered by Deeptech Labs . On July 2nd, the team showcased their innovation to hundreds of investors at the NG Studios Demo Day, marking a pivotal moment in their commercial journey.
