Agri tech startup Messium raises £3.3m led by UKI2S and Expansion Aerospace Ventures
At a glance
This article covers a seed funding round on 16 September 2025 for Messium, a UK agri-tech innovator using hyperspectral satellites and AI crop‑growth models to improve nitrogen efficiency in farming, founded by Vishal Soomaney Vijaykumar and George Marangos-Gilks. The company raised £3.3m in a round co-led by UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) and Expansion Aerospace Ventures.
What does Messium do?
Messium provides a satellite platform that uses hyperspectral data and crop growth models to monitor crop nitrogen status. It delivers weekly, field-specific nitrogen recommendations so farmers can adjust fertiliser application to match crop needs.
Why is Messium useful?
Problem
Farmers face widespread nitrogen inefficiency, with many fields over- or under-fertilised and uncertain nutrient needs. This causes wasted fertiliser, higher costs, emissions, and unclear decisions on when and where to apply nutrients.
Solution
Messium uses hyperspectral satellite imagery and AI crop models to map nitrogen status weekly at field level. Its weekly, field-specific recommendations tell farmers where and when to apply fertiliser to cut waste and boost yields.
How much did Messium raise?
Messium raised £3.3m in a seed round, co-led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) and Expansion Aerospace Ventures.
Who invested in Messium?
Key investors in the round include the following organisations and funds:
- UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S): a national seed fund that backs innovations emerging from the UK’s publicly funded science and research base. It specialises in commercialising deep‑tech spun out of UK research institutions.
- Expansion Aerospace Ventures: a pan‑European venture fund focused on aerospace and defence startups. The firm concentrates on new space and mobility ventures across Europe.
- Mudcake: an investor supporting early‑stage agri‑tech businesses, bringing sector knowledge to farm‑tech founders.
- Laconia: an investment group that backs technology companies, known for supporting founder‑led teams at the seed and pre‑series A stages.
- GRDC GrainInnovate: a grains research and innovation programme that invests in commercial solutions for grain growers. It focuses on productivity and sustainability improvements in grain farming.
- Clear Current Capital: an investor targeting climate and sustainability‑driven companies, with a track record in agri and environmental technology.
- Moonstone Venture Capital: an early‑stage VC that backs technology startups. The fund is noted for supporting founders across the UK and wider Europe.
- SuperSeed: a follow‑on investor with experience in supporting seed‑stage companies, specialising in scaling software‑enabled agricultural solutions.
If you're researching potential backers in this space:
- Explore our list of AI venture capital firms in the UK
- Browse our directory of AI angel investors in the UK
Who founded Messium?
The founders of Messium are George Marangos-Gilks, CEO and co-founder, and Vishal Soomaney Vijaykumar, CTO and co-founder.
Where is Messium based?
Messium is based in London, UK.
What sector is Messium in?
Messium operates in the agri-tech sector. The agri-tech sector develops technology to improve farming productivity and sustainability. In plain terms, it helps farmers use data and tools to grow food more efficiently.
Key trends and challenges in agri-tech:
Remote sensing and AI for field-level insights
Satellites and AI now deliver weekly, field-specific advice, for example using hyperspectral imagery to map crop nutrients.
Nitrogen inefficiency and environmental impact
More than half of fields are over- or under-fertilised, wasting money and causing emissions.
Scaling, validation and farmer adoption
Solutions need lots of ground-truth data and clear proof of benefit to earn farmer trust.
For a deeper look at innovation in this space, see the latest funded AI startups in the UK
Messium Funding FAQs
What does Messium do?
How much did Messium raise?
Who invested in Messium?
Who founded Messium?
Where is Messium based?
They've invested in Messium
Get to know these AI investors
Click here for a full list of 7,233+ startup investors in the UK