Four spinouts emerging from the University of Manchester are set to showcase their technologies at London Tech Week as part of Northern Gritstone’s NG Studios programme, culminating in a key Demo Day for investors and industry partners at Olympia London on 9 June.
The group includes four University of Manchester spinouts: CASA, SpinOr, ColoriQuo and Precica. They have all received commercialisation support from the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, the University’s technology transfer office dedicated to setting up new spinout companies, securing licensing agreements and negotiating funding deals for IP originating from the University.
Their participation forms part of NG Studios, Northern Gritstone’s pre-seed venture building programme designed specifically for university-founded companies. The programme supports academic founding teams in developing a clear value proposition, refining business strategy and preparing for investment, with guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and sector specialists.
Over ten weeks, participants work through key areas including customer discovery, product development, intellectual property strategy and fundraising. The programme culminates in Demo Day, where each team presents to investors and commercial stakeholders as they move towards the next stage of commercialisation and growth.
CASA is developing aerodynamic coatings for satellites operating in Very Low Earth Orbit. By reducing atmospheric drag, the technology extends satellite lifetimes and enables more efficient Earth observation and communications. The coatings have already been validated in space and are designed to withstand the harsh conditions found at these altitudes.
ColoriQuo is developing a new approach to natural food colourants using bio-inspired structural colour rather than traditional pigments. By engineering the structure of plant-based materials at the nanoscale, the team creates vibrant and stable colours designed to support growing demand for clean-label ingredients and sustainable consumer products.
Precica is developing AI-driven compression software to address the increasing cost and energy demands associated with data storage. Its approach significantly reduces data size while maintaining rapid access, offering a more efficient solution for organisations managing large volumes of structured data.
SpinOr is building superconducting quantum computers designed to scale beyond current limitations. By reducing the complexity of wiring needed to maintain extremely low temperatures, the technology aims to make quantum systems more practical and commercially viable.
Together, these ventures highlight the strength of Manchester’s innovation ecosystem and the role of programmes such as NG Studios in supporting the journey from university research to investment-ready businesses. Their presence at London Tech Week provides an opportunity to connect with investors, strategic partners and the wider innovation community as they continue to scale their technologies.
The presentations can be streamed via Zoom at https://dtl-vc.zoom.us/j/81365690206 on 9th June.
