Key Takeaways:
- Fotenix raises £2.1 million in funding led by River Capital’s Fund:AI, with support from EHE Venture Studio and Innovate UK
- The University of Manchester spin-out specializes in AI-enabled multispectral imaging and robotics
- Technology creates 3D digital twins of crops to detect stress, disease, and pests pre-symptomatically
- Funding will support team expansion, UK farm deployments, and development of Fotenix’s diagnostic engine
- Originated from ICURe Explore program in 2017 and launched commercially in 2018
Fotenix Receives £2.1M Investment to Scale Digital Crop Health Platform
Fotenix, a University of Manchester spin-out developing AI-powered agricultural diagnostics, has secured £2.1 million in new funding. The investment round was led by River Capital’s Fund:AI, joined by EHE Venture Studio and backed by a £1.6 million grant from Innovate UK.
The company, which launched in 2018 after completing the ICURe Explore program in 2017, leverages multispectral imaging, robotics, and artificial intelligence to generate real-time 3D digital twins of crops. This technology enables early detection of stressors such as disease and pests — before visible symptoms appear — helping farmers improve yields, reduce losses, and minimize pesticide use.
Technology and Market Focus
Fotenix’s system offers in-field diagnostics by combining optical sensing and machine learning. The company’s platform focuses on supporting decision-making at the crop level, aligning with increasing demands for data-driven, sustainable farming practices in the UK and beyond.
“This funding is a major step forward in getting [our solution] into more growers’ hands,” said Dr. Charles Veys, Fotenix founder and CEO, who served as the Entrepreneurial Lead during the company’s ICURe participation.
Growth and Expansion Plans For Fotenix
The new investment will be directed toward:
- Hiring additional technical and commercial staff
- Scaling deployments across UK farms
- Further enhancement of the diagnostic engine
