How university spinout Delta.g is plotting a route to growth

Spun-out from the University of Birmingham in 2023, Delta.g is combining quantum technology with a powerful data platform, as part of its mission to create a ‘Google Maps’ for underground. Using clouds of cooled atoms above ground and applying gravity principles, the company is able to gather geological data from the Earth’s crust to its core. Using cutting edge AI and machine learning techniques the company will provide customers with unparalleled insights into the subterranean world; detecting buried features and seeing the unseen.

The result of 10 years of research in the University of Birmingham and £20m of public funding, the technology is truly cutting edge and already has the interest of innovator customers. Delta.g’s CEO Tony Lowe explains:

“There are countless holes dug in the ground every minute. Whether it’s services companies laying new gas, electricity or water pipes, builders sculpting out the foundations for a new skyscraper, or energy and mining companies checking infrastructure or deposits. The challenge they all face is knowing exactly what’s beneath the soil, and knowing that quickly and accurately. Our sensor solves the problem better than anything available today,” says Lowe.

While other technologies do exist to understand what’s happening underground, they are susceptible to ‘noise’, which impacts the accuracy of their readings. Delta.g’s technology is immune to this noise, essentially making the solution the ‘Noise Canceling Headphones’ for underground surveying, But the technology enables other use cases – including a more reliable navigation system than GPS, infrastructure security and measuring the effectiveness of carbon capture activities.

“Ultimately, we’re scratching the surface of the capabilities of this sensor and this technology.”

While it is early days in Delta.g’s life as an operational business, the roadmap is clear.

The business is in the process of raising additional seed funding and recently won a £2.4m Small Business Research Initiative contract for the Department of Transport. Beyond that, the focus is on proving the technology’s capability before raising the next funding round.

“There’s a series of inflection points we will hit in the coming months but beyond the funding rounds, we need to operationally structure the business and build the internal team to develop our core capabilities, as well as selecting the best-in-class partners that we want to work with,” explains Lowe.

The development of the technology and a final commercial product will continue apace but, as Lowe explains, although the technology is key to Delta.g’s success, it is not the physical product that will define the business model.

“Our focus is on solving problems and that means giving our customers quick access to better data than they have now. We are developing a product offering that the customer will seamlessly integrate into their workflow to gain that value from the Delta.g proposition. Beyond the data insights we provide it’s about the way customers engage with us, how they order, and how we support them through the product life cycle.”

For any university spin-out, the step from research lab to the world of business is a big one. And part of that journey is the admin and practicalities of running a business, including opening a business bank account – something that is not always straightforward for a spin-out.

"Spin-outs often have a slightly complex ownership structure, which can make opening a business bank account challenging, especially if you’re trying to do it online as a small business” says Lowe.

“HSBC UK have a proposition for University spin outs that made it very easy from the outset, by giving us a dedicated Relationship Manager, who understood our situation and took us through the process step by step.

He is also in regular contact with us, invites us to industry events and has a really good understanding of our unique needs as a spin-out.”

As Delta.g continues its journey to full product development and commercialisation, Lowe is inevitably looking at future support beyond the practicalities of a bank account.

“We’re very much looking at a global market, whether that’s seeking out new customers or sourcing suppliers, so working with a bank with such a strong international network will be invaluable.”