Award & Investment Overview
Clean Growth Fund has made a pre-seed investment in AmpliSi, a University of Sheffield spinout developing silicon-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
The investment represents the first capital deployment from Clean Growth Fund’s £150 million Fund II, which reached a first close of £49 million. Northern Gritstone is also participating in the funding round.
AmpliSi is led by Dr. Ruth Sayers (CEO) and is advancing a materials innovation aimed at improving battery performance while reducing cost and environmental impact.
Strategic Relevance for GAP Leaders
This investment highlights several key dynamics for university GAP programs:
• Climate tech and energy storage are increasingly central to translational funding priorities
• Materials science innovations require early-stage capital paired with scale-up pathways
• Investor participation signals market readiness for next-generation battery technologies
• Supply chain vulnerabilities, such as graphite dependence, create strong commercialization pull
For GAP leaders, this reinforces the importance of supporting deep tech ventures that address both performance and supply chain constraints.
Innovation & Technology
AmpliSi is developing silicon anode materials as an alternative to graphite, the dominant material currently used in lithium-ion batteries.
Silicon anodes offer:
• significantly improved energy density
• potential cost advantages
• reduced reliance on constrained graphite supply chains
The company’s innovation focuses on overcoming historical challenges with silicon anodes, including scalability and emissions intensity in manufacturing processes.
As noted by Clean Growth Fund, AmpliSi’s approach addresses key barriers that have prevented widespread adoption of silicon-based battery technologies.
Potential Market Applications
AmpliSi – Silicon Anode Battery Materials
CEO: Dr. Ruth Sayers
Spinout: University of Sheffield
AmpliSi is targeting large-scale battery manufacturing markets with next-generation anode materials designed to improve performance and sustainability.
Market Applications
• Electric vehicle battery systems: Higher energy density anodes enabling longer driving range and improved battery performance.
• Grid-scale energy storage: Materials supporting longer-duration storage for renewable energy systems such as solar and wind.
• Battery supply chain resilience: Reducing dependence on graphite markets vulnerable to supply shocks and geopolitical constraints.
Read the Full Story:
Related Topics:
climate tech commercialization, battery materials innovation, university spinouts, energy storage systems, supply chain resilience, advanced materials venture funding
