Sheffield spin-out raises £350K

Funding

Phase Focus Ltd, a spin-out company from Sheffield University, has raised £350,000 in a round led by South Yorkshire Investment Fund, with the existing investors Fusion IP plc, the university IP commercialisation company, the White Rose Technology Seedcorn Fund, and the Viking Fund following on.

At the same time the company said it had received a £100,000 R&D grant from Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.

The Company’s technology, the Phase Focus Virtual Lens, eliminates the need for high-quality lenses in microscopy and imaging by transferring the image-producing step to a computer programme. This is expected to revolutionise microscopy, by eliminating the restrictions and performance limitations of conventional focusing devices and enabling new capabilities including post-acquisition focussing and high-contrast stain-free imaging.

To date the Virtual Lens has been demonstrated in optical, electron and X-ray wavelengths, and optical microscopy applications are being developed in collaboration with end-users. The new investment, together with the grant, will allow the company to demonstrate further optical applications, develop the technology at other wavelengths and start marketing.