Mercia Ventures

Grid Edge develops AI-driven energy management software for commercial and public buildings. Its cloud-based platform predicts and optimizes building energy loads by integrating with building energy management systems and smart meters. Using hybrid deep learning and data analytics, the solution forecasts energy demand and allocates resources to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions while turning on-site technologies into more efficient, revenue-ready assets. The company aims to help building owners and operators manage energy profiles proactively, enhancing grid participation through intelligent control of energy distribution.

ImmuONE specializes in inhalation toxicology, offering solutions for irritation sensitization, alveolar clearance, and inflammation. They provide human alveolar macrophage responses, epithelial cell culture platforms, and testing services, using advanced respiratory tissue models to deliver reliable results.

Notify Technology operates an online platform for employee risk reporting and identification. It offers incident management services that enable users to record incidents, accidents, and near misses via a mobile app or web portal. The company's customizable interface allows users to build and manage repeating and one-off events.

75Media is an outdoor advertising company that operates a growing network of big format, D48, and traditional billboards in UK towns and cities.

Crown Plus is a national company specializing in highway drainage management. It offers a comprehensive suite of services, from initial drainage surveys to recycling and maintenance work. The company's expertise lies in data processing, civil engineering projects, and filter drain recycling, all tailored to the highway industry. Crown Plus aims to extend asset lifespan, minimize environmental impact, and optimize resource management through its innovative and cost-effective solutions.

Napo is a digital-first pet insurance company aiming to transform the market with a comprehensive policy that includes dental care, behavioural support, and preventative resources as standard. Launched in December 2021, it blends AI-driven technology with human care to enable fast, fair claims processing and ongoing support throughout pet ownership, pursuing a six-star customer experience. The company has earned recognition for rapid UK growth and has received awards such as Insurer of the Year at the Modern Claims Awards and Innovation and Rising Star honors at the UK FinTech Awards. Napo envisages a holistic pet care ecosystem offering tools, education, and services to support pets’ health and happiness across life stages, delivered via a digital platform that provides a simple, fast, frictionless experience so pets can live long, healthy lives.

OneUp Sales offers a platform designed to enhance sales team performance by transforming sales activity data into gamified competitions, real-time leaderboards, and streamlined reporting for managers.

HowNow is a global EdTech platform that connects experts with learners worldwide through live interactive video classes. Founded in 2016, it offers courses across various subjects, with over 400 experts teaching in 33 countries.

Applied Monitoring is a company focused on creating innovative healthcare and fitness monitoring solutions. It specializes in developing dermal sensors that facilitate monitoring and transformation in blood testing. The company's range of sensors is designed to address various needs within blood science, including applications in alcohol and drug misuse, healthcare, sports, and the pharmaceutical industry. By providing healthcare professionals with effective tools for alcohol and drug detection, Applied Monitoring aims to enhance monitoring capabilities and improve health outcomes across multiple sectors.

Shopblocks is a hosted ecommerce platform based in Manchester, UK, that provides businesses with the tools necessary to design, build, and launch their online shops. Established in 2011, the company emerged from a team of digital marketing professionals who sought to improve the online retail experience. Shopblocks addresses common challenges faced by online businesses, particularly the difficulties of maintaining and updating websites. Its platform enables users to manage products, customers, orders, and shop designs from a single interface, offering features such as product data management, real-time supplier feeds, and integrated storefronts. This approach allows businesses to create professional online shops tailored to their needs without being constrained by generic templates, facilitating adaptability in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

TalentMapper is a technology company specializing in talent management solutions. It operates an AI-driven platform designed to identify and develop talent within organizations, aligning with business objectives and strategies. The platform's key features include skill recognition, internal talent mapping, and career mentoring, enabling businesses to enhance internal mobility, retention, and inclusivity, while also preparing for future operational challenges and opportunities.

TRIBE is a prominent running community in the UK that specializes in sports nutrition products designed to support individuals in their training endeavors. The company offers tailored nutrition plans that align with specific race training goals, allowing customers to train more effectively. TRIBE's products are fully natural and gluten-free, focusing on providing energy and enhancing recovery and performance during training sessions. By curating these resources, TRIBE aims to empower athletes and fitness enthusiasts to achieve their personal training objectives.

Newcells Biotech Limited is a biotechnology company specializing in the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their differentiation into various cell and tissue types for research and development purposes. Founded in 2014 and based in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, the company offers a diverse portfolio of off-the-shelf iPSC-derived cell lines, including custom iPSCs generated from patient tissues, neural progenitor cells, cardiomyocytes, and various somatic cell types. Newcells Biotech focuses on providing high-quality cells and development services, including tissue sourcing and bespoke differentiation, to support customers engaged in drug discovery, pre-clinical development, and disease mechanism investigation. The company's platform also aims to create in vitro cell-based assays that closely replicate human physiology, enhancing the prediction of safety, pharmacology, and efficacy in drug testing.

Founded in 2018, Little Journey is a company dedicated to supporting children and their families undergoing medical treatments or participating in clinical trials. It offers a virtual reality smartphone application that enhances patient engagement by providing up-to-date information about hospital visits, reducing anxiety, and improving healthcare experiences.

Radical Forge is a video game development company that specializes in creating innovative and engaging gaming experiences. The studio focuses on the development of full-length, two-dimensional survival-themed games, aimed at providing gaming enthusiasts with immersive and entertaining content. In addition to game development, Radical Forge also works on industry tools designed to enhance the gaming landscape. The company's commitment to sharp, adaptive, and daring game design positions it as a notable player in the gaming industry.

Pure Pet Food is a producer of healthy, human-grade pet meals, specializing in dehydrated and freeze-dried pet food. The company focuses on creating low-processed, natural recipes designed for pets with sensitivities and ailments. By gently dehydrating ingredients using warm air to remove moisture, Pure Pet Food preserves the nutritional integrity of its products. This approach allows pet owners to access a variety of fresh and unprocessed meal options for their pets at affordable prices, promoting better health and well-being for animals.

Mindtech develops a Data Operations Platform that significantly reduces the time spent by machine learning engineers on collecting and curating training data for AI computer vision applications. The platform automates this process using embedded functionality and Configurable DNA technology, supporting industries such as Smart City, Smart Places, and Smart Machines.

Leap Automation provides food producers with end-of-line automation and machine vision systems. It reduces the dependency on manual labour for repetitive tasks.

Invizius is a medical technology company focused on improving outcomes in extracorporeal blood treatments. It develops H-Guard, a hemocompatible coating designed to prevent foreign body reactions in the blood at the point of contact with medical devices used in dialysis, cardiopulmonary bypass, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. By reducing inflammatory and thrombotic complications associated with long-term dialysis and other extracorporeal circuits, Invizius aims to lower cardiovascular risk and improve patient safety during kidney replacement therapies and related procedures. Based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, the company was established in 2018 and pursues additional applications in inflammatory and kidney-related conditions through its technology platform.

Alesi Surgical Ltd. is a company based in Cardiff, United Kingdom, specializing in the development and commercialization of laparoscopic surgical smoke handling systems. Founded in 2009 as a spin-out from the Welsh Institute for Minimal Access Therapy, Alesi Surgical focuses on creating products that enhance the safety, efficiency, and outcomes of surgical procedures. Its innovative tools are portable and suitable for both laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries, utilizing electrostatic precipitation technology to eliminate surgical smoke and maintain a clear visual field during operations. The company distributes its products to hospitals across Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia, leveraging its access to experienced surgeons and surgical trainers to identify challenges in surgical procedures and design effective solutions.

Warehow is a comprehensive solution provider for fashion e-commerce fulfillment. The company has developed a multichannel logistics platform that simplifies the fulfillment process for fashion brands and small home businesses. By integrating directly with various marketplace channels and retailers, Warehow streamlines stock management and order processing, allowing clients to concentrate on business growth without the burden of complex IT development or operational changes. The platform offers competitive and transparent pricing, making it accessible for businesses aiming to scale efficiently in the competitive e-commerce landscape.

Promethean Particles designs, develops, and manufactures inorganic nanoparticle dispersions for industrial applications, offering tailor-made solutions based on customer specifications. The company employs continuous hydrothermal synthesis to produce optimized dispersions and operates a multi-ton scale manufacturing capability of more than 1,000 tons per year. It serves sectors including printed electronics, nanocomposites, catalysts, metal-organic frameworks, healthcare, and green energy, and provides feasibility studies to tailor solutions to specific requirements. Founded in 2007 and based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, Promethean Particles combines proprietary processes with flexible, bespoke production to meet diverse industrial needs.

CorrosionRADAR is a company that develops corrosion monitoring systems using distributed sensor technology to detect and predict hidden corrosion and moisture in critical assets. Its remote sensing solutions are designed for oil and gas facilities including refineries, offshore and onshore rigs, pipelines, as well as power plants, storage tanks, and industrial infrastructure. The technology combines IIoT-enabled sensors and advanced analytics to quantify corrosion severity, locate corrosion in inaccessible environments, and enable online monitoring and predictive maintenance. Applications span industrial manufacturing, utility pipelines, chemical plants, wind turbines, bridges, tunnels, and civil infrastructure, helping clients improve safety, reliability, and maintenance costs.

ULEMCo Limited is a company based in Liverpool, United Kingdom, that specializes in developing hydrogen hybrid combustion technology for commercial vehicles. Founded in 2014, ULEMCo focuses on retrofitting diesel transit vans to operate on hydrogen, effectively converting them to hydrogen dual-fuel systems. The company's innovations extend beyond standard vehicles, as it is also engaged in late-stage research and development of zero-emission hydrogen engines and fuel cell vehicles. This includes specialized applications for heavy-duty vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, refuse trucks, tow-tugs, and road sweepers. ULEMCo's technology aims to reduce air pollution and promote cleaner transportation in the automobile industry.

Log my Care is a provider of electronic care planning and management software aimed at enhancing coordination and communication within care environments. The platform allows care providers to transition from traditional paper-based recording to a streamlined electronic system. It features a shared to-do log that informs care employees of their tasks, while also generating printable reports on activity performance. This functionality enables care managers to maintain oversight of their services efficiently, ultimately facilitating better operational management and improved care delivery.

Wobble Genomics specializes in maximizing RNA and DNA sequencing efficiency for the discovery and detection of nucleic acid biomarkers.

Sitehop is a technology company developing cyber-security and networking solutions for telecom and cloud networks. The company designs custom FPGA-based solutions to optimize and accelerate cloud and telecom networks and offers an enterprise network management platform that provides encryption for telecoms and data networks. The platform delivers ultra-low latency and low-power encryption to create secure private networks without physical interconnections, enabling telecom service providers to secure their networks while maintaining performance.

Graide is an educational technology company that develops a platform using artificial intelligence to analyze students' responses. This reduces educators' workload, increases feedback for students, and provides valuable insights to improve learning outcomes.

Tagomics specializes in epigenetic biomarker discovery using epigenetic chemical modifications. These modifications provide an additional layer of information to DNA, making them more dynamic and sensitive to lifestyle factors, environment, and disease. This enables early detection of common cancers like colorectal cancer.

A technology leader specializing in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs), supporting advancements in various fields, including cell and gene therapy.

Newcells Biotech Limited is a biotechnology company specializing in the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their differentiation into various cell and tissue types for research and development purposes. Founded in 2014 and based in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, the company offers a diverse portfolio of off-the-shelf iPSC-derived cell lines, including custom iPSCs generated from patient tissues, neural progenitor cells, cardiomyocytes, and various somatic cell types. Newcells Biotech focuses on providing high-quality cells and development services, including tissue sourcing and bespoke differentiation, to support customers engaged in drug discovery, pre-clinical development, and disease mechanism investigation. The company's platform also aims to create in vitro cell-based assays that closely replicate human physiology, enhancing the prediction of safety, pharmacology, and efficacy in drug testing.

MGISS is a provider of mobile geospatial services, specializing in the measurement and analysis of spatial data in field environments. The company offers a comprehensive range of geospatial services designed to assist businesses, particularly in the utilities and infrastructure sectors, in capturing, creating, analyzing, and visualizing spatial information. By delivering tailored software development and consulting services, MGISS enables its clients to operate more efficiently and effectively in their respective industries.

Risk Ledger Ltd. is a cybersecurity company that provides a scalable security assurance platform aimed at enhancing the security of the global supply chain ecosystem. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Harrow, United Kingdom, the company enables clients to input their supplier security policies and assess these against the security maturity of their suppliers. By employing a dynamic controls framework and live assessment data within supplier-owned profiles, Risk Ledger helps organizations identify security requirements and remediate vulnerabilities across their supply chains. The platform combines elements of a secure social network with a risk management system, facilitating an efficient risk assurance program that simplifies the assessment process for vendors of all sizes.

Cyacomb is a software company specializing in digital forensics. It develops innovative tools to help law enforcement agencies swiftly locate and block harmful online content, including illegal material used by criminals like pedophiles and terrorists.

Shopblocks is a hosted ecommerce platform based in Manchester, UK, that provides businesses with the tools necessary to design, build, and launch their online shops. Established in 2011, the company emerged from a team of digital marketing professionals who sought to improve the online retail experience. Shopblocks addresses common challenges faced by online businesses, particularly the difficulties of maintaining and updating websites. Its platform enables users to manage products, customers, orders, and shop designs from a single interface, offering features such as product data management, real-time supplier feeds, and integrated storefronts. This approach allows businesses to create professional online shops tailored to their needs without being constrained by generic templates, facilitating adaptability in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Laverock Therapeutics develops a gene silencing platform for creating programmable, allogeneic cell therapies.

Kuano Ltd is a London-based company that specializes in providing quantum and artificial intelligence solutions for molecular design, particularly in the fields of drug discovery and development. Founded in 2020, Kuano has developed a unique discovery platform that integrates quantum simulation with AI-led chemistry, enabling the design of effective inhibitors by analyzing the mechanisms of target enzymes. This innovative approach allows for faster and more efficient development of drug candidates, enhancing the quality of new pharmaceuticals while simultaneously reducing the time required for discovery. The company's solutions are applicable across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, crop protection, and industrial chemistry.