Aramco Ventures backs graphene electrode maker in £3M seed push
What's the deal? GraphEnergyTechDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a UK-Swiss deeptech company developing metal-free electrodes, has secured the first close of a seed round, with Aramco VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → among the committed investors. The company is targeting up to £3 million in total and says the first tranche is complete, though it has not disclosed how much it has raised so far.
What does it do? A spin-off of EPFL and Cambridge University, GraphEnergyTech makes conductive carbon- and graphene-based inks and pastes for energy and electronic uses. Its electrodes avoid gold and silver, cutting reliance on what it calls "volatile and unstable metal markets."
Who's in? Aramco Ventures is backing the company again, alongside existing shareholders and new angel investors, including some from Canada. The firm led GraphEnergyTech's £1 million pre-seed round in 2024.
Why now? Soaring silver costs have pushed solar manufacturers to reduce or replace silver in cell electrodes, though copper alternatives still face technical and reliability hurdles at scale. "We see potential for this technology to support various industries and reduce the reliance on expensive metallic electrode technologies," said Zayed Alamri, executive managing director at Aramco Ventures.
What's the money for? Continued technology development, industrial validation, and commercialisation as the company works with international industrial partners. Beyond solar panels, GraphEnergyTech is expanding into fuel cells, heating technologies, and printed electronics.
By the numbers: At £3 million, the round sits in the 92nd percentile of all-time UK seed rounds in the energy sector, out of a sample of 1,103 deals.
What could go wrong? The funding announcement describes continued development and industrial validation — not yet broad commercial adoption. "This funding will help us accelerate the development and commercialisation of our graphene-based electrode technologies," said CEO and co-founder Thomas Baumeler.
The signal: An oil major's venture arm doubling down on metal-free electrodes reflects a wider industry hunt for alternatives to precious metals as solar costs climb. GraphEnergyTech is betting carbon can deliver efficiency and durability without the price swings.
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Image credit: GraphEnergyTech
