Hexigone raises £1.2m led by UKI2S with Future Planet Capital
This article covers Hexigone Inhibitors Ltd, a West Wales biotech startup, which has raised £1.2m in a seed funding round led by UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), with participation from angel investors and support from the Welsh Government. The funding will finance product development, international commercial scale-up, market entry and the development of circular economy manufacturing capabilities for corrosion-protection coatings aimed at defence, marine and heavy industry.
Hexigone Inhibitors Ltd, a West Wales biotech startup, has raised £1.2m in a seed funding round led by UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), with participation from angel investors and support from Welsh Government; the cash will fund product development, international commercial scale-up, entry into new markets and development of circular economy manufacturing capabilities.
Why it matters
Corrosion is a persistent operational and financial drain across defence, marine and heavy industry. Solutions that reduce maintenance costs, extend asset life and cut the use of toxic or heavy-metal inhibitors have immediate commercial and environmental value. Public backing from the Ministry of Defence via UKI2S and the unlocking of an Innovate UK grant signal that the technology has both commercial promise and strategic relevance for critical infrastructure resilience.
Inside the product
Hexigone's patented Intelli-ion technology is designed to sit within protective coatings and activate only when corrosion begins, rather than working continuously. According to the company, the approach works at low dosages compared with traditional inhibitors, which can lower material costs, reduce carbon intensity across coatings manufacturing and decrease dependence on legacy chemistries that contain heavy metals or other toxic substances. The company positions the technology for use by coatings manufacturers and for dual-use applications in defence and industrial marine environments.
Who are the investors?
The £1.2m package breaks down as follows: £500,000 from UKI2S's Defence & Security Seed portfolio (managed by Future Planet Capital and supported by the Ministry of Defence), £300,000 from angel investors and an additional £400,000 Innovate UK grant that was unlocked as a result of the investment. Hexigone is also supported by the Welsh Government. The round remains open, with the company seeking a further £300,000 to £500,000 to accelerate commercial growth and manufacturing capability.
In the announcement, Alex Leigh, Managing Director at Future Planet Capital, said:
Hexigone is an excellent example of the kind of dual-use innovation the Defence & Security portfolio is designed to support. Advanced materials and protective technologies play a critical role in maintaining operational resilience across defence infrastructure, particularly in harsh maritime environments where corrosion creates significant economic and operational challenges. Hexigone's technology combines strong commercial potential with clear strategic relevance, offering a more environmentally responsible approach to corrosion resistance while supporting long-term resilience for critical assets. We're delighted to support the company as it scales its technology, strengthens UK advanced manufacturing capability, and develops solutions with significant applications across both defence and commercial industries.
In the announcement, Paul Wilkinson, Head of Ventures, UK Royal Navy, said:
Innovative technologies that improve the resilience, sustainability and operational performance of critical defence infrastructure are critical to the Royal Navy's warfighting capability. Hexigone's work demonstrates the strength of the UK's advanced materials sector and the value of supporting early-stage companies developing solutions to protecting critical infrastructure in both defence and commercial applications. It's encouraging to see UKI2S's funding to accelerate technologies contributing to the long-term protection and durability of critical defence assets operating in some of the worlds harshest environments.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Patrick Dodds, Founder & CEO at Hexigone, said:
Corrosion is a major global challenge, yet many traditional solutions rely on legacy chemistries that are less sustainable. This investment enables us to accelerate commercial deployment of our technology, deepen our work across defence and industrial markets, and continue developing innovative solutions that reduce waste and improve material circularity. UKI2S immediately understood both the commercial potential and strategic importance of what we're building. Having an investor that shares our long-term vision - and understands the importance of supporting advanced materials innovation in this sector - is hugely valuable as we scale further. The round remains open to secure a further £300-£500k to support the next phase of commercial growth, and we would welcome conversations with investors interested in joining us on this journey.
The bigger picture
The funding highlights a confluence of trends in the UK innovation ecosystem: targeted defence seed funds channelling early capital into materials and protective technologies, continued support from Innovate UK and devolved government backing for regional manufacturing innovation. For startups working at the intersection of advanced materials, sustainability and defence applications, the deal underlines how public and private funding can combine to de-risk early commercialisation and accelerate deployment into harsh-environment markets.
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