News: Optoelectronics
1 April 2025
Noiseless InGaAs IR sensor firm Phlux raises £9m in Series A round
Phlux Technology —which was spun off from the University of Sheffield in 2020 and designs and manufactures 1550nm avalanche photodiode (APD) infrared sensors — has announced a £9m (US$11.7m) Series A funding round, led by BGF (said to be the UK and Ireland’s most active growth capital investor) joined by existing backers including Octopus Ventures, Northern Gritstone, and Foresight.
The funding is intended to accelerate Phlux’s expansion into optical communications and sensing industries by leveraging its antimonide-based semiconductor technology to deliver faster, more energy-efficient sensor and connectivity systems.
Building on research from the University of Sheffield, Phlux will use the investment to scale its team, ramp up production, and launch two new product ranges targeting optical communications and sensing systems.
Phlux’s ultra-low-noise infrared sensors are expected to improve the performance of communications systems to enable up to 5x higher data rates for free-space and fiber-optic communication systems, enhancing global connectivity. Early engineering samples have shown that sensitivity improvements of 5dB or more are realisable, compared with existing commercial devices. Additionally, Phlux reckons that its infrared sensors can play a crucial role in advanced sensing technologies that include driver-assisted safety features in vehicles, industrial automation, defence and security, and high-precision gas sensing.
Since its £4m seed funding round led by Octopus Ventures in December 2022, the company has built a global, fabless supply chain to address high-volume markets and already serves customers in Asia, Europe and North America. With the new funding, Phlux will expand its engineering and commercial teams, ramp up production, and accelerate the commercial launch of its new product lines. It also aims to deepen partnerships with leading industry players, ensuring widespread adoption of its technology in global communication networks.
“This funding comes at a pivotal moment as demand for high-speed optical communication systems is growing enormously,” notes CEO Ben White. “By developing world-class, high-performance infrared sensors, we are enabling industries to push the boundaries of connectivity, efficiency and security by removing a technology bottleneck that has persisted for over 20 years,” he adds.
Picture: The Phlux Technology team with CEO Ben White, fifth from left in the front row.
“Phlux has developed a game-changing technology in a sector that’s long overdue for disruption,” comments BGF partner Luke Rajah. “With strong academic roots, early commercial traction and a compelling roadmap, the team is well positioned to lead in infrared sensing,” he reckons.
“When we first invested in Phlux, we were impressed with both the team’s expertise in developing novel semiconductor materials, and their ambition to revolutionize infrared sensing,” says Octopus Ventures’ investor Owen Metters. “We’ve been delighted with their progress to date,” he adds.
“Infrared sensors are advancing many critical everyday areas such as providing Internet access to people’s homes and aiding advanced safety and mobility,” notes Northern Gritstone’s CEO Duncan Johnson. “Phlux is a fantastic example of semiconductor innovation in the North of England, and Northern Gritstone is proud to continue supporting the Phlux team under Ben White’s leadership.”
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