SureChill

About SureChill

SureChill, founded in 2002 by Ian Martin Tansley and Peter Saunders, is a Welsh company that has developed a patented refrigeration technology that can maintain a stable temperature for extended periods without a continuous power supply. The technology was invented by Tansley, a renewable energy engineer, who drew inspiration from the natural properties of water, specifically its maximum density at 4°C, which is the ideal temperature for storing vaccines. This insight led to a design that uses a surrounding layer of water that, when frozen, acts as a natural energy store, enabling the refrigerators to stay cool for more than 10 days without power.

The company's primary market is the medical cold chain in developing countries and regions with unreliable or non-existent electricity grids. Its first medical refrigerators were launched in 2011 and have since been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for storing vaccines, including for COVID-19. Key clients include international organizations like UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and it has received significant backing from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The business model involves the direct sale of its refrigeration units and a newer "Cooling as a Service" model, which includes leasing, maintenance, and working capital for distributors in markets like Kenya and Nigeria.

SureChill operates on a global scale with a headquarters in Cardiff, Wales, and operational bases in Kenya and Hong Kong. The company has raised a total of $21.2M over eight funding rounds, with its latest Series A in February 2019 raising $9.2M. Beyond the initial medical application, SureChill is expanding into other sectors, including domestic refrigeration for off-grid homes, food and beverage cooling, and logistics. The company is also developing a licensing model to allow other manufacturers to utilize its technology.