Fundraising Fox

Messium Seed

Entrepreneur First '23

London, GB · Founded 2023 · 6 known investors

messium.co.uk

Messium uses satellite hyperspectral imaging (160 wavelengths at 5m resolution) and AI trained on lab samples to measure crop nitrogen levels and generate variable-rate fertiliser application maps. It serves arable farmers, particularly wheat growers, with daily nitrogen recommendations optimised for protein targets, yield, and reduced waste.</parameter> <parameter name="founders">[]

AgTechAI & Machine LearningSpace Tech

Founders & leadership

Messium Seed was founded in 2023 by George Gilks and Vishal Soomaney Vijaykumar.

GG
George GilksinCEOGeorge Gilks is a University of Cambridge graduate whose earlier ventures include The Tab and Magic Carpet AI, which together achieved exits totalling more than $26 million. That track record gave him substantial experience building and commercialising AI-centred businesses.
VSVishal Soomaney Vijaykumar
Vishal Soomaney VijaykumarinCTOVishal Soomaney Vijaykumar founded a satellite-based wildfire prediction startup recognised by NASA and ESA, and specialises in hyperspectral imaging. He has also served as technical lead at multiple startups valued above $100 million, bridging cutting-edge research and practical tools for farmers and agronomists.

Investors · 6

Company profile

researched Aug 2026

{"summary_one_liner": "Messium uses daily hyperspectral satellite imaging and AI to measure crop nitrogen and generate variable-rate fertiliser plans.", "detailed_description": "Messium provides precision nitrogen management for arable farming. Its system captures hyperspectral satellite imagery of fields at 160 wavelengths of light, which the company contrasts with the two bands used in conventional NDVI analysis, and delivers analysis at 5-metre field resolution. An AI model trained on 30,000 physical laboratory crop samples interprets the satellite data alongside weather, soil and farm management information to estimate the crop's current nitrogen concentration.\n\nThe output is a set of operational recommendations rather than a raw index: current nitrogen concentration, a forecast of when a field will become nitrogen deficient, and the rate to apply. Recommendations are stated to be optimised for the grower's protein target, wheat variety genetics and soils, with the stated objective of maximising profit rather than yield alone. Recommendations are automatically converted into variable-rate application (VRA) maps exported in ISO-XML, Rx and Shapefile formats for direct loading into sprayers and tractors. The platform also tracks progress against yield and protein targets during the season and reports nitrogen use efficiency, breaking out the share of applied nitrogen taken up by the crop versus that lost to leaching or as nitrous oxide, supported by satellite-based soil assessments each season, to produce an audit-ready nitrogen record.\n\nThe company frames the problem it addresses as widespread mis-fertilisation, citing figures on its site of over half of farmland being incorrectly fertilised, more than £50 per hectare wasted, 2-12% of yield potential lost, and 30% of applied nitrogen lost to groundwater or the atmosphere."}</parameter>

<parameter name="metrics">[{"metric_name": "Spectral bands captured per scan", "value_number": 160, "unit": "wavelengths", "as_of": "2026", "source_idxs": [0]}, {"metric_name": "Field analysis resolution", "value_number": 5, "unit": "metres", "as_of": "2026", "source_idxs": [0]}, {"metric_name": "Physical lab crop samples in AI training dataset", "value_number": 30000, "unit": "samples", "as_of": "2026", "source_idxs": [0]}, {"metric_name": "Stated lab-equivalent accuracy", "value_text": "85%+", "as_of": "2026", "source_idxs": [0]}, {"metric_name": "Update frequency", "value_text": "Daily field updates", "as_of": "2026", "source_idxs": [0]}]

Compiled by commissioned research from 4 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.

Research sources · 4

primary sources listed

4 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.

Frequently asked questions

What does Messium Seed do?
Messium uses satellite hyperspectral imaging (160 wavelengths at 5m resolution) and AI trained on lab samples to measure crop nitrogen levels and generate variable-rate fertiliser application maps. It serves arable farmers, particularly wheat growers, with daily nitrogen recommendations optimised for protein targets, yield, and reduced waste.</parameter> <parameter name="founders">[]
Who founded Messium Seed?
Messium Seed was founded by George Gilks, Vishal Soomaney Vijaykumar in 2023.
Who are Messium Seed's investors?
Messium Seed's investors include Entrepreneur First, Expansion Ventures, Future Planet Capital, Newland Syndicate, UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund, SuperSeed.
Where is Messium Seed headquartered?
Messium Seed is headquartered in London, GB.