4T2 Sensors, has secured a £796,000 seed round to assist Food and Beverage (F&B) manufacturers in meeting ESG requirements. The capital comes from a £249,965 investment from the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCO),alongside Waterpoint Lane and a group of angel investors. The funding will enable 4T2 Sensors to secure certifications for hazardous environments and hire key positions moving forwards. The WMCO is managed by Midven, part of Future Planet Capital,
The F&B industry faces a challenge of balancing diverse product offerings with efficient production. Switching between products requires the cleaning of equipment via a Clean-in-Place (CIP) process which uses harsh chemicals and large volumes of water. Optimising CIP is crucial in reducing downtime, costs, and water wastage – a key sustainability concern for F&B companies.
4T2 Sensors is a Birmingham-based company that has developed an innovative fluid analysis and monitoring sensor. The sensor enables real-time control and optimisation of the CIP process, outperforming alternatives on the market with users experiencing on average a 20% reduction in CIP time.
The funding will support 4T2’s market expansion through efforts with obtaining certifications like ATEX for hazardous environments. They will be able to expand their team by hiring product managers, application engineers, and hardware engineers to accelerate product development and market reach.
Midven’s investment goes beyond just providing capital. With Midven’s support, 4T2 Sensors is well-positioned to become a leader in sustainable F&B production solutions. Their innovative technology has the potential to significantly improve efficiency and environmental sustainability within the food and beverage industry.
The WMCO was launched by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the West Midlands Pension Fund in 2023 to help expand SMEs that offer high-growth potential and the ability to help supercharge the regional economy. Managed by Midven, part of Future Planet Capital, the fund provides innovative SMEs with equity of up to £1 million matched on a 1:1 basis by private co-investment.
Max Swinbourne, CEO of 4T2 Sensors said, “This investment is a major step forward in empowering F&B manufacturers to achieve significant sustainability gains. With this investment, we can expand our team and obtain key certifications, positioning 4T2 Sensors to become a leader in sustainable F&B production solutions. We’re excited about the future and the positive impact our technology can have on the industry.”
Rupert Lyle, Investment Director at Midven and Fund Principle of WMCO said, “We’re delighted to support 4T2 Sensors as they play a crucial role in revolutionising sustainable practices within the F&B industry. Their innovative sensor technology has the potential to significantly reduce water waste and energy consumption, directly addressing a key environmental challenge.”