AI Driven Discovery Venture from University of Liverpool Targets Breakthroughs in Electronics and Renewable Energy

Photo (from left to right): Ömer Omar, Simon Tuley, Tony Travers, Abdel-Rahim Abdalla, Russell Payne, Adam Coxson, Alessandro Troisi, Alfonso Gambino, Thomas Pugh.

(IN BRIEF) University of Liverpool spin-out Apoello has secured £470,000 in pre-seed investment to commercialise an AI-enabled platform designed to transform how new materials are discovered. Backed by SFC Capital, the British Business Bank and the University itself, the company aims to replace slow, experiment-heavy research methods with a digital approach that integrates molecular data and computational modelling to identify viable materials faster and at lower cost. Originating from the DiaDEM programme, Apoello will now scale its technology, grow its team and engage early industrial partners, particularly in organic electronics and renewable energy, supporting the University’s wider mission to accelerate materials innovation for net-zero and sustainability challenges.

(PRESS RELEASE) LIVERPOOL, 18-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Apoello, a newly formed spin-out from the University of Liverpool, has raised £470,000 in pre-seed funding to advance the commercial rollout of its AI-driven materials discovery platform. The investment will enable the company to expand its team, enhance its technology and begin early-stage collaboration with industrial partners.

The funding round includes £320,000 from SFC Capital and the British Business Bank, complemented by a £150,000 contribution from the University of Liverpool. Established in October 2025, Apoello draws on research expertise developed within the University’s Department of Chemistry to modernise how new materials are identified and developed.

The company is focused on digitising the traditionally time-consuming materials science workflow. Conventional discovery approaches rely heavily on laboratory experimentation, where researchers may spend months testing compounds that ultimately fail to meet performance requirements. Apoello’s platform addresses this challenge by combining extensive molecular datasets with advanced computational modelling and integrated procurement tools, enabling scientists to identify promising candidates more quickly and cost-effectively.

Built on the foundations of the DiaDEM research programme, the technology creates a digital environment for materials innovation, reducing dependence on trial-and-error experimentation and shortening development cycles for applications including organic electronics and renewable energy technologies.

As it transitions from academic research to commercial delivery, Apoello plans to scale its technical capabilities and work with early industry collaborators, particularly in sectors that require rapid materials innovation. The spin-out was supported by the University of Liverpool’s Enterprise Team, which continues to foster entrepreneurship and high-growth ventures across the Liverpool City Region.

The initiative forms part of the University’s broader Materials Discovery research frontier, aimed at accelerating solutions to net-zero challenges through digital design, automation and cross-sector collaboration spanning clean energy, healthcare, sustainable living and advanced manufacturing.

Media Contact:

Alison Cornmell
Media Relations Manager – Health and Life Sciences
T: +44 (0) 7771 700680
E: Alison.Cornmell@liverpool.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Liverpool