London-based deeptech startup AcouBatt has secured £1.1 million in a pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by Creator Fund, with additional participation from Ada Ventures. The company, which spun out of UCL Ventures in 2025, was co-founded by Dr. Arthur Fordham and Chris Haoxin Xu.
The startup is developing a diagnostic system that utilizes acoustic emission sensing and AI to monitor battery cell production in real time. This technology, rooted in Dr. Fordham’s research at University College London, aims to address manufacturing bottlenecks and high rejection rates. It can potentially reduce battery formation time by up to 30 percent.
AcouBatt’s sensors are currently being benchmarked at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre. The company plans to use the fresh capital to expand its technical team, refine its AI models, and advance industrial pilot programs. Commercial-scale products are expected to roll out to the wider industry next year.
Beyond manufacturing, the company is exploring applications for battery energy storage systems and electric vehicles. The goal is to identify underperforming or failing cells early, preventing safety incidents and unplanned downtime throughout the operational life of the battery.
