Hexigone Inhibitors Ltd, a smart corrosion inhibitor startup based in West Wales, has secured £1.2 million in funding led by UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), with participation from angel investors. The funding will support continued product development, international commercial scale-up, expansion into new markets, and development of circular economy manufacturing capabilities.
Corrosion of metal assets in harsh environments poses a major operational and financial challenge across defence, marine and industrial sectors. Hexigone's proprietary Intelli-ion technology addresses this by making protective coatings activate only when corrosion begins to occur, rather than working continuously. The patented technology is used at low dosages compared to traditional inhibitors, delivering cost and carbon savings to coatings manufacturers, while reducing reliance on anti-corrosives containing heavy metals or toxic substances.
The £1.2 million package comprises a £500,000 investment from UKI2S's Defence & Security Seed portfolio, supported by the Ministry of Defence; £300,000 from angel investors; and an additional £400,000 Innovate UK grant unlocked as a result of the investment. Hexigone is supported by the Welsh Government.
The funding round remains open, with Hexigone seeking a further £300,000 to £500,000 to support the next phase of commercial growth.
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.
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.
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.
