Start-up wins backing from green tech accelerator

A Sheffield start-up on a mission to decarbonise the chemicals sector has gained the backing of a venture accelerator focused on businesses with the greatest potential to tackle climate change.

Eutechtics is an eco-chemistry start-up based at Sheffield Technology Parks. The company is developing sustainable processes to cut harmful emissions in the production of chemicals such as carboxylic acids, which are used globally.

In the summer, Eutechtics was crowned National Champion of Climate Launchpad UK 2023 – a pitch competition for green business ideas, making it through to the European Semi-finals.

It has now been accepted onto Carbon13’s Venture Launchpad, which has a sharp focus on start-ups with the ambition and potential to reduce emissions by millions of tonnes a year.

Within this programme, Eutechtics could secure pre-seed investment from Carbon13 of £120,000.

Founded by Armando Leal and Dr Mauricio Murillo in 2022, Eutechtics relocated from York to Sheffield, drawn by the area’s innovation landscape, including two world-class universities and Sheffield Technology Parks.

Leal said: “While developing the first stages of our tech we discovered that Sheffield has the infrastructure to enable us to scale up our solution.

“So, we relocated here with support from Sheffield Technology Park’s LOCATE programme, which has been really useful in helping us to connect with the start-up ecosystem and important stakeholders that could play a vital role in the development of our tech.”

His priorities are now on seeking investment, something he feels more confident about since securing the backing of Carbon13.

He added: “We are really happy to be accepted onto Carbon13’s Venture Launchpad.

“Firstly because of the commitment and enthusiasm the team has for tackling the climate emergency. And for the specific expertise they have in supporting and accelerating eco start-ups.

“I feel that we’re in the best hands to develop our investment strategy and to achieve our first round of funding.”

Eutechtics will receive support remotely from Cambridge-based Carbon13, while also benefiting from being a part of Sheffield Technology Park’s business incubation programme, The Cooper Project.

This brings together a community of entrepreneurs who work alongside one another at the tech hub, with dedicated business start-up support.

Sheffield Technology Park’s business incubation manager, Emma Marshall, said: “We are happy to see Armando and team gain access to the very specialist and dedicated help of Carbon13, where they’ll be rubbing shoulders with some of Europe’s most exciting and promising ‘clean tech’ start-ups.

“And they are deserving of their place. Eutechtics is a deeply impressive start-up with solutions that have real potential to decarbonise a massive global industry.

“On our incubation programme, Eutechtics will receive day-to-day start-up support from our team, plus the bunch of amazing entrepreneurs around them – the peer support is priceless. We’re really excited to see Eutechtics progress over the next few months.”