Mode in the millions to progress chemical sensing innovation
The company has developed a new platform that will deliver plug-and-play laboratory measurement capabilities in the field with 10,000x increased sensitivity, 6x longer deployments – all at 10 per cent of the cost of existing solutions.
Mode Labs builds on more than 15 years of research at the University of Oxford’s Departments of Chemistry and Materials. The founding team includes Professor Claire Vallance (Chemistry) and Professor Jason Smith (Materials), alongside CEO Dr Dean James and Head of Engineering Dr Daniel Miles-Barrett.
The funding round was led by Oxford Science Enterprises, in conjunction with UOIF (University of Oxford Investment Fund), and GK Goh Ventures. The investment was facilitated by Mills & Reeve, providing expert legal, investment and IP advice, alongside Oxford University Innovation – the University’s technology transfer office.
Dr Dean James, CEO at Mode Labs, said: “This investment will unlock access to precision chemical monitoring for anyone, anytime, anywhere. With low-cost plug-and-play devices we can deliver clear and concise measurement data where it is needed most. Working with our customers, our mission is to protect the environment and human health by monitoring and reporting changes to our ecosystems in real-time, allowing for immediate intervention.
“The support of the Mills & Reeve team in navigating the spin-out process was invaluable. They quickly became a trusted part of our team and were with us every step of the way. It was a pleasure to work with them.”
Mode Labs’ patented platform technology can be expanded to measure almost any analyte in liquid, with applications across water quality monitoring, wastewater treatment, aquaculture, and security markets.
Using technology originally designed for quantum computing, Mode Labs’ technique uses 1,000x less chemical reagent and 400x less power than existing systems, enabling long-term deployment of robust miniaturised devices in even the most challenging of locations.
With tightening environmental regulations driving demand, Mode Labs have identified a key market opportunity in real-time water monitoring. The Environment Act 2021 (s.82) mandates the installation of 40,000 multiparameter chemical sensors across England and Wales by 2035 to monitor and provide immediate feedback on the chemical emissions of combined sewer overflows. Globally, more than one million sensors will be needed for each major pollutant.
Having successfully validated its proof-of-concept devices in both laboratory and field trials, the £3m investment will enable Mode Labs to scale its engineering team, productise the existing prototypes and bring its first products to market – focusing initially on Total Phosphorus and Ammonia monitoring of rivers and streams.
George Todd, Senior Associate at Oxford Science Enterprises, said: “Though critical across many industries, measurement of chemical parameters has historically required prohibitively high capital investment, a significant ongoing maintenance burden, and complex technical training. Mode Labs’ unique approach will allow users to unlock the true value of real-time chemical data at a fraction of the cost.”
The Mills & Reeve team supporting Mode Labs was led by Zickie Lim (partner and head of venture capital and investments) and Alex Woolgar (partner, intellectual property), with further support from William Downing (partner, employment and head of Oxford office), Owen Henderson (venture capital and investments) and Jessica Mason (intellectual property).
Zickie Lim commented: “It is always exciting to advise spinout companies formed to turn promising science into real-world benefit. It was a pleasure to collaborate with the Mode Labs team, Oxford University Innovation and Oxford Science Enterprises, Parkwalk Advisors and other investors to help make this happen. Mode Labs’ technology has huge potential and we are looking forward to working with their team in future as the company grows.”