20th December 2021
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A Chesterfield-based business which aims to transform industry with its Internet of Things software platform has raised a £2.1m funding package to accelerate its international expansion.
Konektio received funding from both the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), managed by Mercia and Foresight Group, with additional funding from existing investor Tern plc.
The funding will allow Konektio to further develop the product, boost its sales and marketing team, create a number of new highly skilled roles at its headquarters, and grow sales in international markets.
Konektio’s main product AssetMinder enables companies to connect to and monitor assets, ranging from individual components to turbines in remote locations or assets across an entire factory floor. The technology gathers data from the assets, allowing users to make informed decisions on maintenance and servicing, reducing downtime and energy usage and improving efficiency.
AssetMinder, which was commercially launched just over two years ago, is now used across multiple sectors from food processing and manufacturing to logistics, energy and water industries. Konektio clients include maintenance and repair operation Dexis, GCE Healthcare, global engineering company Howden and gas turbine manufacturer Centrax, among many others.
The company, which was previously known as InVMA, was founded by Patrick Nash, Jan Hemper and Jon Hill, who recognised the need for the software due to their work as industrial IoT consultants. It now employs around 20 staff at its headquarters in Chesterfield and has recently opened an office in North Carolina.
Peter Stephens, CEO of Konektio, said: “Companies have started to cut through the confusion around digital manufacturing and the next industrial revolution and now share a real appetite to see how the intelligent use of data can deliver returns on investment.
“This is really good news for our business, and we are looking to capitalise on this trend by investing significantly in product development, R&D and expanding our global customer base. The investment secured will help us achieve these goals.”
Kiran Mehta, Investment Manager at Mercia, said: “Konektio is a deep tech company with the potential to transform industries ranging from manufacturing to infrastructure and power generation. The team are renowned for their knowledge and strong track record. This funding round will enable them to take their product to the next level and establish the company on the global stage.”
Adam Huckerby, Senior Investment Manager at Foresight, added: “We have been impressed by management’s achievements to date. There is a wealth of growth opportunity in the market and this is one of several IOT-related investments Foresight has made. We look forward to working with the team over the coming years.”
Al Sisto, CEO of Tern Plc, said: “We are very pleased that Konektio has secured a significant institutional investment in order to fund the next phase of its growth. We welcome the Mercia and Foresight funds as our partners, alongside the management and founders of Konektio, to help the business achieve its full potential.”
Grant Peggie, Director at the British Business Bank, said: “It’s great to see fund managers from MEIF and NPIF collaborate to invest in a growing innovative business in Chesterfield. This latest deal will support Konektio’s expansion in international markets and boost the local economy with the creation of new high skilled jobs. We encourage other businesses in the Derbyshire area looking to grow to consider investment available from the Bank’s regional funds.”
The Midlands Engine Investment Fund and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund projects are supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.
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