Fotenix Secures £2.1m in New Funding for AI Crop Diagnostics
Deal News | Apr 14, 2025 | Business Cloud
Fotenix, a Greater Manchester-based AI-powered crop diagnostics company, has secured a £2.1 million funding boost to enhance its ability to help farmers detect crop diseases and protect yields proactively. The funding includes a significant investment from EHE Ventures AI Growth Fund, which unlocked a £1.6 million Innovate UK grant. This financial support is a part of EHE's strategy to invest in early-stage UK startups utilizing AI to address real-world challenges, with Fotenix being one of the five recipients of funds during Q1 2025. The company employs a mix of multi-spectral imaging, robotics, and AI technology to create 3D digital crop twins that enable early detection of stress and disease. With this backing, Fotenix aims to scale its AI platform across UK farms, expand its team, and increase its capabilities in sustainable food production. EHE Ventures launched its AI Growth Fund in October 2024, aiming to invest £5 million in its first year to support innovative solutions like those offered by Fotenix.
Sectors
- Agritech
- Artificial Intelligence
- Venture Capital
Geography
- United Kingdom – The article focuses on UK-based company Fotenix, the Innovate UK grant, and EHE Ventures funding early-stage UK startups.
Industry
- Agritech – This industry involves technology that enhances agricultural productivity and sustainability, relevant to Fotenix's use of AI to improve crop diagnostics.
- Artificial Intelligence – The application of AI is central to Fotenix's technology in creating digital twins of crops for early disease detection.
- Venture Capital – EHE Ventures' investment in Fotenix highlights the role of venture capital in funding tech startups.
Financials
- £2.1m – Total funding received by Fotenix, including investment and grants.
- £1.6m – Innovate UK grant unlocked by EHE Ventures' investment.
- £5m – EHE Ventures plans to deploy this amount in the first year of its AI Growth Fund.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fotenix | Target | Company | An AI-powered crop diagnostics company focused on early disease detection in agriculture. |
| EHE Ventures | EHE Ventures AI Growth Fund | Company | A venture capital firm supporting early-stage startups using AI for real-world problem-solving. |
| River Capital | Investor | Company | Led the funding round for Fotenix as part of the investment consortium. |
| Innovate UK | Grant Provider | Government | Provides government grants to support innovation and technology developments in the UK. |
| Dr. Charles Veys | Founder and CEO | Person | Founder and CEO of Fotenix. |
| Neil Vose | CEO | Person | CEO of EHE Venture Studio. |