Why we invested: Danu Robotics
As we strive for Net Zero, it is clear that many sectors are still ill equipped to tackle the climate crisis. Facilitating innovation in these areas is critical and one of our main focal points when in investing in early stage startups. Our most recent investment, Danu Robotics (”Danu”), is taking on the recycling sector, an industry faced with increasing labour shortages, cost pressures and capacity requirements.
We hear a lot about the inefficiencies of the recycling industry, which often relies heavily on manual labour and outdated machinery, resulting in poor working conditions, lower accuracy and higher costs. With the current infrastructure, up to 90% of recyclable materials can end up in landfills. To break this cycle, there is an urgent need to build a more circular economy. Our investment team has been looking for solutions that can facilitate scale and accuracy in waste processing.
Danu, a participant in the University of Edinburgh’s AI accelerator, is developing an advanced robotic and AI-powered system that sits within existing waste processing infrastructure, enabling enhanced accuracy and efficiency and improving the viability of large scale recycling systems.
The core benefits of Danu's system for customers include:
Enhanced Productivity: Substantially reducing labour requirements resulting in improved operational efficiency and working conditions.
Superior Sorting Quality: The system's improved accuracy boosts the quantity of recycled materials, translating to higher value extraction.
Landfill Reduction: Decreased material sent to landfills equates to lower landfill costs and a more appealing proposition for local authorities.
Affordability: Danu's lightweight patent pending system offers cost advantages compared to other robotic alternatives, making sustainable waste management accessible and scalable.
Danu's system is designed to be fully automated, underpinned by three pivotal components: a highly precise computer vision system, a central operating system, and a highly scalable robotic picking system (with multiple patents pending).
Our investment into Danu, as with many of our investments, was driven by two core factors; the expertise within the team and their ability to execute on their vision. The founders Xiaoyan (“Amy”) Ma, who has a background in designing and delivering computer vision-led technologies and Stephen Marshall, with 25 years of engineering and manufacturing experience, have made impressive progress on their journey so far with pilots underway, patents pending and notable industry endorsements.
Over the coming year we will be working with Danu via our accelerator programme to support the development of their team. The new funds will be used to support commercialisation and engineering development, enabling Danu to scale their potential impact and shape a more sustainable and circular economy.
For more insight into Danu, head to their website: Danu Robotics.