Dalraj had already secured £500k in pre-seed investment and a £500k grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and winning the Innovate UK Young Innovators Award allowed him to develop, grow his team of four, and refurbish their newly acquired unit.

Raising seed investment

Since joining the Young Innovators programme Dalraj has taken impressive strides forward – successfully raising £2.5 million in seed investment and expanded his team from 4 to 12 members.

Dalraj’s unique concrete additives have drawn significant interest from potential customers, highlighting its market potential. The business ran a successful trial with Goldbeck, one of the largest producers of precast concrete in Europe and has letters of intent from several other customers.

This momentum shows no signs of slowing. Dalraj is now focusing on scaling up the technology and preparing for another funding round.

“We’re scaling up the first generation of our carrier material and preparing for a large Series A funding round. We’re also going to be applying for European Innovation Council (EIC) grant funding and hiring senior C-suite figures to join the team,” he said.

A more well-rounded leader

Over the next 12 months, Dalraj hopes to raise £20 million in Series A funding and expand the team to 30 people. He also plans to move into new premises to enable tonne-scale production of the company’s carrier material and run industrial trials with customers.

Dalraj credits the Young Innovators Award for enhancing his confidence and refining his leadership skills. “I’ve got better situational awareness in high-pressure situations, although it’s still not perfect. Plus, I’m more well-rounded as a leader, founder and operator,” he said.

The Young Innovators Award’s living allowance was incredibly helpful in alleviating the financial stress of being an early-stage founder too. Dalraj was taking a low salary from the company before joining the programme and adds that the additional income “went a long way to subsidise living costs”.

Opening new horizons

Dalraj highlights the programme’s wider support and community as being hugely beneficial to his business journey. “The in-person bootcamp was a great experience. Being able to connect with fellow awardees and share ideas, challenges and advice was very fulfilling. I came away energised to do more,” he said.

His advice highlights the power of networking and collaboration – valuable for any innovator looking to gain fresh perspectives and grow their business.

“Network with other awardees, help them with their individual cases where possible and brainstorm ideas together. New perspectives can open new horizons.”