KVector secures £3.8m to develop innovative antenna technology
KVector, a University of Birmingham spinout, has raised £3.8m to commercialise its super-efficient antenna that can point its signal in different directions without requiring heavy or high-powered electronics.
Traditional Active Electronically Steered Arrays (AESAs) steer a beam using thousands of individually controlled electronic components that are expensive to develop and build.
KVector overcomes this by building advanced antennas using smart materials called engineered metamaterial surfaces within a simple electromechanical architecture instead of complicated electronics.
The metamaterials are more efficient, lighter, simpler and cheaper to manufacture, helping advance radar and communication systems on platforms that previously couldn’t support them.
Investors in the round included Midlands Mindforge, the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIFII) through fund manager Mercia Ventures, the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S, managed by Future Planet Capital), and the University of Birmingham.
Innovate UK also provided £950,000 through the Investment Partnerships programme, which offered grant funding alongside part of the equity investment.
The funds will be used for recruitment and to develop a range of radar and communications products in collaboration with KVector’s existing partners in the defence sector.
KVector has been operating in stealth, working with select commercial partners in the radar and satellite communication sectors.
The startup was founded in 2024 by Henry Nurser to support antenna manufacturing capability in the UK. Nurser is the company’s Executive Chair and was previously CEO of mmWave systems company Blu Wireless.
The technology was invented by Dr James Churm and Professor Alexandros Feresidis, an internationally recognised expert in metamaterials-enabled antenna design.
Henry Nurser, co-founder and Executive Chair of KVector, commented on the raise: “I’m excited to be working with Alex, James and our expanding team to realise the commercial potential of this technology, which could have a significant impact on the sensing and communications sector.”
Nurser said the company is deliberately being tight-lipped around its partners and applications due to potential future commercial deals: “What we can say is that this investment lets us accelerate development, deepen the work already under way, and build the foundations for a world-class company here in the UK,” he said.
Dr Daniel Carew, Midlands Mindforge, said: “Mindforge is delighted to back the talented KVector team and their strategically important breakthrough in RF systems.”
David Coleman, CEO of University of Birmingham Enterprise, added: “This is a significant first round for a newly formed spin-out and a strong endorsement of both the technology and the team behind it.”
Coleman said that KVector shows how long-term investment in vital research will lead to commercially valuable companies: “It’s also an example of what is increasingly possible in the Midlands: bringing together exceptional research, experienced entrepreneurs and committed investors to build the next generation of deep technology businesses.”
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