Fundraising FoxEmpirical Ventures
Venture capitalLondon · Pre-Seed–Seed · 5 people tracked
Also known as Spin Up Science Ventures Ltd
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Investment thesis
Empirical Ventures invests in scientific breakthroughs that advance human capability while generating returns, focusing on entrepreneurial scientists who turn fundamental research into companies. It targets IP-rich, defensible innovation with deep technical moats across life sciences, advanced materials, TechBio, photonics, quantum, robotics, AgTech and deep tech more broadly. Every opportunity is pressure-tested by world-leading domain experts, allowing the firm to price risk others cannot. As a venture builder, it works hands-on with companies and offers distribution through founding partner Ben Miles' global science audience of more than three million, helping portfolio companies attract technical talent and tell their story.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 5 people
from the firm's website & curatedWhat they invest in
from 17 of 26 portfolio companiesDeep Tech ×11Cleantech ×6Medical Devices ×5Biotech ×4Advanced Manufacturing ×3AI & Machine Learning ×3Energy ×3Healthtech ×3
HQs:United Kingdom×10Germany×1United States×1
Investments · 26 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 42025 · 22024 · 28 dated
Albotherm develops a heat-activated coating for adaptive glazing that changes transparency in response to temperature, validated in commercial greenhouse trials and in development for the built environment, energy, and mobility surfaces.
AgTechCleantechClimate TechDeep TechNew MaterialsBristol, GB
Siân Fussell(Co-founder & CTO)inMolly(Co-founder & CEO)
Co-investorsInnovate UKCambridge Angels groupGreen Angel VenturesOxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION)Sustainable VenturesBristol Private Equity Club+1 more
Anaphite develops DCP®, a dry coating powder technology platform, for use in applications such as solid-state batteries and silicon anodes.
CleantechDeep TechEnergyNew MaterialsBristol, GB
Samuel BurrowinAlex HewittinJoe Stevenson(CEO)in
Co-investorsBlue Wire CapitalElbow Beach CapitalEnergy & Environment InvestmentManiv MobilityOxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION)World Fund+2 more
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CheMastery builds an automation platform for chemical synthesis that aims to standardize and reproduce chemical research and manufacturing processes, reducing manual laboratory work for chemists.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningDeep TechNew MaterialsRoboticsLondon, GB
Stefan Glatzel(Co-founder)inAnna Andreou(Co-founder)in
Co-investors7percent VenturesBlackfinch VenturesElbow Beach CapitalEntrepreneur FirstUndeterred CapitalFormic Ventures+3 more
EnsiliTech develops ensilication technology, a silica-based method to stabilise vaccines and biopharmaceuticals so they can be stored and transported without refrigeration.
BiotechCleantechDeep TechHealthtechMedical Devices
Asel Sartbaeva(Co-Founder & CEO)inMatt Slade(Co-Founder & Chief of Staff)inStephen Wells(Co-Founder & Advisor)Aswin Doekhie(Co-Founder & CTO)inSabine Ficek(CFO)inSimon Bennett(Chief Commercial Officer)
Co-investorsCalculus Capital Ltd.Elbow Beach CapitalEos AdvisoryHERmesa
Exciting Instruments builds the EI-FLEX benchtop platform, a single-molecule fluorescence instrument combining smFRET, FCS and FCCS to measure biomolecular interactions and dynamics directly in solution.
BiotechDeep TechHardware
Timothy Craggs(Founder and CEO)
Co-investorsNorthern GritstoneCambridge Innovation CapitalPraetura Ventures
HotGreen develops high-temperature heat pump systems that convert electricity into low-carbon process heat for industrial manufacturers.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechClimate Tech
Co-investorsDeep Science VenturesFirst Imagine!
MitoRx is a preclinical-stage biotech developing MTRX31, a first-in-class small molecule that restores mitochondrial metabolism to eliminate ectopic fat in patients with metabolically unhealthy, high-risk obesity.
BiotechLongevityHarwell Oxford, GB
Jon R.(Founder)inJon Rees PhD(Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer)Norman Law PhD(Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer & Head of Intellectual Property)
Co-investorsFuture Planet CapitalOxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION)Oxford Technology ManagementUK Innovation & Science Seed FundWren Capital
Neuronostics develops BioEP, software that applies digital analysis of background EEG to generate biomarkers supporting epilepsy diagnosis for clinicians and neurology services.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthMedical Devices
John Terry(Founder)in
Co-investorsAscensionNew Wave VenturesThe FSE GroupAscension VenturesBritish Business BankInnovate UK
Nuclear Turbines develops advanced modular nuclear generation systems in which a reactor directly heats compressed air to drive a commercial gas turbine, targeting low-cost electricity.
CleantechDeep TechEnergy
Co-investorsIQ CapitalRhapsody Venture PartnersZero Carbon CapitalZero Carbon Capital
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Optera develops bio-inspired, event-based vision sensors and neuromorphic semiconductor chips paired with on-source processing algorithms to provide situational awareness in space and defence environments.
Deep TechDefense TechSemiconductorsSpace Tech
Co-investorsBlackfinch VenturesUK Innovation & Science Seed FundForesight CanadaForesight GroupFuture Planet Capital
Orthofuse designs orthopedic implants and surgical systems using 3D printing technology for trauma and spinal procedures.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechMedical Devices
Co-investorsAvonmore DevelopmentsCambridge Angels groupACF Investors
OSSTEC is a medical device startup developing a 3D-printed biomimetic knee implant intended for use in hospitals.
Deep TechHardwareHealthtechMedical DevicesLondon, GB
Alex Liddle(DPhil FRCS(Orth))in
Co-investorsEmbryo VenturesNew Wave VenturesOxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION)
Proxima develops stellarator fusion power plants designed to deliver clean, grid-ready electricity.
CleantechDeep TechEnergyMunich, DE
Dr. Francesco Sciortino(CEO and co-founder)Dr. Lucio Milanese(Co-founder and Chief External Affairs Officer)Dr. Jorrit Lion(Chief Scientist and co-founder)Martin Kubie(Chief Engineer and co-founder)inJonathan Schilling(Head of Labs and co-founder)in
Co-investorsBalderton CapitalBayern KapitalBurda Principal InvestmentsCherry VenturesDeepTech & Climate FondsElaia+14 more
QV Bioelectronics develops GRACE, an implantable electric field delivery platform designed to treat aggressive cancers by delivering continuous therapeutic electric fields directly to tumor sites.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical Devices
Dr Chris Bullock(CTO & Co-Founder)Dr Richard Fu(Clinical Director & Co-Founder)
Co-investorsElbow Beach CapitalNorthern GritstoneCatapult VenturesScience Angel SyndicateSOSV
Signapse builds AI sign language translation software that generates photo-realistic British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) video from text, including real-time train announcements and post-production video content.
AI & Machine LearningImpact & Social GoodSaaSGuildford, GB
Ben Saunders(Founder)in
Co-investorsSoulmates VenturesThe FSE GroupDeeptech Seed FundInnovate UK
Tidal Cyber develops tools and services that help enterprises adopt MITRE ATT&CK framework for threat-informed defense.
CybersecurityEnterprise Software
Co-investorsAccess Venture PartnersBright Pixel CapitalDreamit VenturesGlasswing VenturesStoneMill VenturesTFX Capital+10 more
Turbine provides financing that lets venture capital firms and their limited partners borrow against fund positions and carried interest instead of selling them, giving GPs and LPs access to liquidity while retaining ownership.
Fintech
Mike Hurst(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsAlpha EdisonTTV CapitalB Capital GroupB4 CapitalEvolution VenturesTemerity Capital Partners+5 more
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Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Barton BlakeleyCaudal EnergyFermtechHotGreenLucida MedicalSeloxiumSilverayWaseZentraxa
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Proxima Fusion · proximafusion.com · Aug 19, 2026
MitoRx Therapeutics · globenewswire.com · Jun 9, 2026
Orthofuse · finsmes.com · Feb 12, 2026
QV Bioelectronics · thetechfounders.co.uk · Jan 21, 2026
Tidal · finsmes.com · Sep 3, 2025
Turbine · finsmes.com · Apr 7, 2025
Principals & officers · per Companies House
what is this? ⓘDirector · British · since 2023
Director · British · since 2023
Benjamin Thomas Miles — 25–50% of shares, 25–50% of voting rights, right to appoint and remove directors
Johnathan Vincent Matlock — 25–50% of shares, 25–50% of voting rights, right to appoint and remove directors
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Empirical Ventures made?
- Empirical Ventures has 26 tracked investments, including 7 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Empirical Ventures invest at?
- Empirical Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does Empirical Ventures focus on?
- Empirical Ventures focuses on AgTech, Biotech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Healthtech, IoT, Medical Devices, New Materials, Quantum Computing, Robotics.
- Where is Empirical Ventures located?
- Empirical Ventures is headquartered in London, GB.
- Who does Empirical Ventures co-invest with?
- Empirical Ventures most often shares deals with IQ Capital, Rhapsody Venture Partners, Zero Carbon Capital, among 4 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
from their channelThis Psychedelic Therapy Just Cured Depression and Is Going Mainstream
Dr Ben Miles
It's Happening - Europe is Building an Impossible Fusion Reactor
Dr Ben Miles
This Battery Lasts for 30 Years And China Just Put It on the Grid
Dr Ben Miles
It's Happening - A Super El Niño Is Coming
Dr Ben Miles
Microsoft Announces 1000x Better Quantum Chip
Dr Ben Miles
How Huawei Just Built an Impossible Chip
Dr Ben Miles
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