Oxford chemicals spinout Fluorok raises £7.7m

Fluorochemicals is a $24bn industry that plays a role in everything from healthcare and agriculture to battery electrolyte salts vital for the energy transition. However, production currently relies on the energy-intensive manufacture of hydrogen fluoride (HF) as a precursor, which is a volatile and corrosive acid that is difficult to handle.

Fluorok’s technology is claimed to deliver fluorochemicals without the need for HF, significantly reducing the overall environmental impact of production. Publicly available details on the company’s patented process are thin, but its latest funding round was oversubscribed, attracting investment from BGF, Green Generation Fund and Volta Energy Technologies, alongside existing investors Excellis Holding, Oxford Science Enterprises and Oxford University. 

“With an outstanding investor syndicate to support us, we continue our mission to make fluorochemicals production safer, cheaper, and more sustainable,” said Dr Gabriele Pupo, founder and CEO of Fluorok.

“This investment will play a huge part in our journey to scale and commercialise our proprietary technology with key partners across the global fluorochemical supply chain, and in accelerating the development of a technology that can provide a reliable and localised supply of a key component of Li-ion batteries.”

According to Fluorok, the cash injection will be used to expand its workforce and production facilities for the initial supply of its fluorinating reagents and lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), a key component of lithium-ion batteries. Having only been founded in 2022, the start-up claims to already have strong commercial interest across its key target markets of Li-ion battery electrolyte salts and agrochemicals.

“Fluorok’s approach transforms the safety and sustainability of fluorochemical production while reducing costs,” said Dennis Atkinson, investor at BGF.

“We are particularly encouraged by the significant early demand from customers across the globe and look forward to supporting Fluorok’s journey to disrupt the global market and reach commercial scale.”