AmpliSi, a U.K.-based advanced materials company that develops silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries, has secured £2 million (~$2.7 million) in a pre-seed funding led by Northern Gritstone and Clean Growth Fund.

The company, a spin-out from the University of Sheffield and Cambridge Future Tech, uses a novel low-temperature process to convert abundant silica into porous silicon, designed to replace conventional graphite anodes.

The technology is said to improve battery energy density and charging performance, enabling lighter, longer-lasting batteries for applications such as EVs and energy storage systems.

Dr Ruth Sayers, CEO of AmpliSi, said, “Our focus from day one has been on building a new type of silicon battery material that can be produced at scale and integrated into existing battery supply chains. This investment allows us to move beyond proof-of-concept and concentrate on scaling a product that delivers real commercial value to battery manufacturers, without introducing unnecessary cost or complexity.”

The latest funding round will support AmpliSi’s transition from laboratory development toward industrial scale-up and early customer engagement.

Owen Thompson, CEO of Cambridge Future Tech, said, “Some of the UK’s most groundbreaking science is coming from northern universities; the challenge is turning it into companies at pace. At Cambridge Future Tech, we’ve seen with AmpliSi what’s possible when novel research is matched with hands-on venture building and the right capital.”

According to Mercom’s Annual and Q4 2025 Funding and M&A for Energy Storage report, VC funding in the Energy Storage sector in 2025 increased 30% YoY, to $4.8 billion across 75 deals, up from $3.7 billion across 84 deals in 2024.

In 2024, Ionobell, a silicon battery technology company, raised $3.9 million in a recent seed extension round led by Dynamo Ventures and Trucks VC, bringing the total funding amount to $7.3 million in seed investment fundraising. The initial equity round was led by Trucks VC, with participation from Dynamo Ventures and Alumni Ventures.