Access to new markets, investors and insights accelerates SEaB Energy’s growth plans
2 new markets
28 investor introductions
6 new business partners
£10m pipeline
There’s money in muck, and food waste, especially if you’re an ambitious, innovative, environmentally-driven business looking to scale with the right introductions, information and contacts. Which is what SEaB is doing, with the support of Innovate UK Business Growth.
SEaB Power Ltd is behind clever shipping containers that use anaerobic digesters to turn organic food waste and agricultural ‘muck’ into bio-gas – which can then be used to create green electricity and heat, as well as water for irrigation and nitrogen-rich fertiliser.
The containers also do away with the need to transport organic waste (in juicy 3mpg refuse trucks) in turn reducing the dependence on landfill sites.
It’s an innovation with clear global potential and massive environmental benefits.
The company’s vision is to have units wherever there’s sufficient organic waste: in retail centres, manufacturing facilities, urban areas and agricultural settings. Which extends far beyond the UK.
An extension of the company
Sandra Sassow, CEO and co-founder of SEaB, has been supported by Innovate UK Business Growth’s Innovation and Growth Specialists, Lukasz Liebersbach and Lou Williams.
“Lukasz and Lou act as an extension of the company, a sounding board. They’ve helped us to structure our growth plans, advised on marketing and branding, used their experience and wide network of colleagues and connections to help us resolve issues, and supported us through the rigorous grant and programme application processes.”
Innovate UK Global Business Innovation Programme
Lou’s support helped SEaB to successfully apply for, and be accepted onto, two high value, potentially business-transforming GBIPs – in Australia and the US, leading to two key new markets for the ambitious business.
A GBIP is an Innovate UK Global Business Innovation Programme, which helps a shortlist of 15 carefully selected ambitious and innovative SMEs to collaborate and explore global markets, accelerating their business growth.
New market 1 – United States – six new business partners and a £10mn pipeline
The US Government has pledged to halve their greenhouse emissions by 2030, and has passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that commits more than $400 billion to climate and energy-related provisions over the next ten years. Making the US a clear new market to tap into for a company with aligned goals.
The GBIP clean-tech investor conference was hosted in Denver, Colorado, US. Over the four-day conference, Sandra met with the 28 potential investors she’d shortlisted from around 500, all warm leads.
“It was a very interesting, very well organised venture capital matchmaking set up. Because of the GBIP programme, we had pre-access to the investors at an earlier stage to schedule our appointments.
While we have not yet secured funding, we did make some very good lasting contacts and had introductions to potential commercial opportunities. This includes the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), which we’re still in negotiation with, as well as US grant bodies and government agencies, where there are support mechanisms beyond basic grants, which we’re now pursuing.”
These contacts have also led to six new business partners, and significant pipeline opportunities that total more than £10 million, which the company is now working to convert into sales.
New market 2 – Australia – access to the $100bn agri-tech industry and a new partner
Another GBIP would enable the business to build on the findings from an initial exploratory visit to Australia.
“Lou supported us through the application process, working in the background, interfacing with the programme, making sure we were getting the necessary support.”
It’s worth noting that Australia’s vast agriculture industry is on track to be worth $100 billion by 2030, offering a wealth of opportunities for the company’s Muckbuster. It also has a predominantly urbanised population, and is leading the way globally in eco-urban practices, making it an ideal market for the company’s Flexibuster.
However, Australian regulations and requirements are different to UK and Europe.
Attending the Australian GBIP provided contacts and connections that have enabled SEaB to identify what’s required from its products and the regulations they need to meet. It’s now refining and commercialising its products ready to enter the market.
Sandra and the team have also succeeded in achieving another goal, identifying and signing up with a partner who will be their agent, and eventually licence holder, to manufacture and sell their products locally.
“We are also very close to closing some substantial deals with two large corporates involving private equity. So it will be quite a substantial return on investment from the two trips.”
The future for SEaB and the environmentally sustainable management of organic waste has never looked more promising.
“Overall, working with Innovate UK Business Growth and joining GBIPs has just been very, very positive for us.” Sandra Sassow, SEaB.
Find out more about SEaB Energy here.
