Unlocking faster, smarter battery innovation
VenturesIllumion, a University of Cambridge spinout developing advanced battery imaging technology, has secured £1.7 million in a funding round co-led by Foresight Group and ZEISS Ventures, with participation from Parkwalk, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Cambridge Angels and YourVC.
Illumion is commercialising charge photometry, a novel battery imaging technology that acts like a window into working batteries.
Its first product, illumionONE, allows researchers to observe how individual battery particles behave during charge and discharge, providing insights that are difficult to capture with conventional testing methods. The Company is also developing illumionX, a next-generation platform designed to help industrial battery teams translate those insights into faster development cycles and better quality-control decisions.
The funding round will support Illumion’s continued commercial development, product roadmap and engagement with customers and partners across the battery ecosystem. ZEISS Ventures’ investment reflects its confidence in Illumion’s technology and its relevance to advanced imaging, microscopy and industrial battery applications.
illumionONE is a charge photometry system that provides real-time insights into battery materials at single-particle resolution.
Christoph Schnedermann, Co-founder and CEO of Illumion, said:
“This funding marks an important next step for Illumion as we translate world-class research into practical tools that accelerate battery innovation and development. Charge photometry gives researchers and engineers a new way to understand how battery materials behave in real time, and we are excited to continue developing our technology with the support of Foresight, ZEISS Ventures and our existing investors.”
Andrew Bloxam, Partner at Foresight Group, commented:
“Illumion has developed a differentiated technology platform addressing an important challenge within battery research and industrial development. Since Foresight’s initial investment, the team has made encouraging technical and commercial progress, and the involvement of ZEISS Ventures underlines the strategic relevance of the Company’s imaging technology. We are pleased to continue supporting Christoph and the wider team through this next phase of development.”
Julian Schroth, Investment Manager at ZEISS Ventures, added:
“Battery technology is a key area of innovation, and advanced imaging tools can help researchers and manufacturers gain deeper insights into battery behaviour during development and testing. Illumion’s has developed a differentiated approach to battery imaging, and we look forward to supporting the company as it advances its platform and engages with customers across the battery value chain.”
Mills & Reeve advised Illumion on this funding round. The team was led by corporate partner and Head of VC Investments Zickie Lim, who commented:
“This investment is an exciting example of the cutting-edge innovation emerging from the UK’s university spinout ecosystem. We were thrilled to support Illumion on this vital funding round which will enable the company to advance its pioneering battery imaging technology and enter its next phase of commercial growth.”
“Electrifying the future requires faster, smarter battery innovation. Illumion’s novel charge photometry unlocks real-time insights that accelerate battery material discovery and development.”
Christine Martin, Head of Cambridge Enterprise Ventures continued:
“Having supported the team early on, we’re excited to continue to back them with the expansion of illumionONE product and the development of the next-generation illumionX platform.”
Cambridge Enterprise Ventures first invested in Illumion’s 2024 seed round, supporting team growth, launched their first product illumionONE and expanding into Asia. This latest investment will support Illumion’s next phase and product launch of illumionX. The company builds on research by world-renowned co-founders Professor Dame Clare Grey at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry and Professor Akshay Rao at the Cavendish Laboratory Department of Physics.
