Belfast has become a hub for technological advancement, with a growing number of startups pushing the boundaries in various sectors. In this article, we will explore some of the top Belfast tech startups that are driving the tech scene in the city, highlighting their unique contributions and the impact they are having on the industry.

AntennaWare

AntennaWare was founded in 2020 by Dr Matthew Magill and Dr Gareth Conway, both researchers from Queen’s University Belfast. The startup focuses on crafting high-performance antennas for wearable technology, tackling obstacles like body blocking and detuning. Its flagship BodyWave antennas have been designed to deliver exceptional connectivity, even in the most challenging environments, by creating electromagnetic waves that effectively navigate around the human body, thus ensuring steadfast communication links.

AntennaWare’s solutions have found success across diverse sectors such as sports, healthcare, and professional audio. Its BodyWave UWB (Ultra-Wideband) antennas are known for their superior radiation efficiency and robust resistance to detuning, making them perfect for rigorous outdoor and industrial applications. This technology has achieved over 25 dB improvements in link budget compared to conventional antennas, markedly enhancing the wireless performance of wearable devices.

Brewbot

Brewbot has revolutionised home brewing with its smart brewing appliance, designed to automate the beer-making process. This gadget allows users to craft and download recipes for various beer styles, streamlining the brewing experience. Brewbot's technology integrates hardware and software, overseeing every phase of brewing, from mashing to fermentation.

The startup has garnered significant attention within both tech and brewing circles for its potential to make beer brewing accessible to everyone, from beginners to seasoned brewers. Despite its promising start and initial funding success, recent updates on Brewbot's activities and progress have been sparse.

Nuada

Nuada, formerly known as MOF Technologies, is focused on revolutionising carbon capture. The rebranding to Nuada symbolised its commitment to pioneering "heatless" carbon capture technology. Utilising advanced Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) combined with Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA), Nuada's method captures CO₂ from industrial flue gases through pressure rather than heat, dramatically lowering energy consumption and costs associated with traditional carbon capture techniques.

Designed for efficiency and scalability, Nuada’s system can retrofit existing industrial plants, aiming to make carbon capture more feasible and economical. This is particularly crucial for decarbonising challenging industries such as cement manufacturing.

Recently, Nuada unveiled a pilot plant at Buzzi Unicem’s cement facility in Monselice, Italy, capable of capturing 1 tonne of CO₂ daily. This initiative is part of the Global Concrete and Cement Association's (GCCA) Innovandi Open Challenge, which encourages collaborative efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the cement industry. Nuada has forged partnerships with leading cement companies like Holcim, SCG, Cementos Argos, and Cementos Molins to further its mission in advancing carbon capture solutions.

Pure Marine

Pure Marine is dedicated to pioneering marine renewable energy technologies, with a primary focus on converting ocean wave power into sustainable energy. This company is part of a larger movement within the renewable energy sector, exploring the ocean's vast potential to meet global electricity needs and lower carbon emissions.

Operating within the marine renewable energy domain, Pure Marine’s work spans various technologies, including wave energy, tidal energy, salinity gradient, and ocean thermal energy conversion. These technologies collectively hold significant promise, offering reliable and predictable power, which is ideal for consistent baseload generation.

Pure Marine is actively engaged in multiple research and development projects, addressing the technical and commercial hurdles of marine energy. Through collaborations with academic institutions and participation in initiatives aimed at promoting ocean energy technologies, the company strives to advance the deployment and commercialisation of these sustainable solutions.

Re-Vana

Re-Vana Therapeutics, a Belfast-based startup established in 2016 as a spinout from Queen’s University Belfast, is dedicated to transforming ocular drug delivery systems with its innovative sustained-release technologies. The company aims to significantly reduce the frequency of drug administrations for severe eye conditions such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

At the heart of Re-Vana's innovation are its flagship technologies, EyeLief and OcuLief. EyeLief consists of biodegradable implants that deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) directly into the eye for up to six months, with EyeLief-SD offering higher doses over the same period. OcuLief features an injectable gel that forms a photo-crosslinked implant within the eye, ideal for biologics needing high release rates over 6-12 months.

By providing these advanced solutions, Re-Vana Therapeutics strives to enhance the treatment landscape for serious ocular diseases, improving patient outcomes through more efficient and prolonged drug delivery systems.