GraphEnergyTech Closes First Seed Tranche With Aramco Ventures, Targets £3 Million

GraphEnergyTech has secured the first close of its seed funding round, with Aramco Ventures among the committed investors, as the UK-Swiss deeptech company raises up to £3 million. startupticker.ch reported the first tranche, which also drew existing shareholders and new business angels, including investors from Canada.

GraphEnergyTech's Metal-Free Electrode Technology

GraphEnergyTech is a spin-off of EPFL and Cambridge University, originating in research from perovskite pioneer Michael Grätzel and the laboratories of the Cambridge Graphene Centre. The company develops highly conductive carbon- and graphene-based inks and pastes for next-generation energy and electronic applications.

Carbon allows GraphEnergyTech to manufacture electrodes without gold and silver, avoiding reliance on volatile and unstable metal markets while maintaining efficiency and durability. After developing solutions for sustainable solar panels, the company is expanding its technology into fuel cells, heating technologies and printed electronics.

GraphEnergyTech is raising seed funding to support continued technology development, industrial validation and commercialisation as it advances collaborations with industrial partners internationally. The company has also received support from Horizon Europe, Innovate UK and Innosuisse, as well as a pre-seed round of £1 million also led by Aramco Ventures.

Thomas Baumeler, CEO and co-founder of GraphEnergyTech, said: "We are delighted to have secured this first close and grateful for the continued support of Aramco Ventures and our new angel investors. This funding will help us accelerate the development and commercialisation of our graphene-based electrode technologies, as we work with industrial partners to bring more resilient and cost-effective solutions to market."

Zayed Alamri, Executive Managing Director at Aramco Ventures, said: "We continue to back GraphEnergyTech as the team advances the development and commercialization of its graphene-based electrode technology. We see potential for this technology to support various industries and reduce the reliance on expensive metallic electrode technologies."

Aramco Ventures' $7 Billion Platform

Aramco Ventures manages $7 billion in total assets across multiple venture capital programs, according to akta.pro company records. The same records put total assets under management at $7.5 billion including the $500 million Wa'ed Ventures fund focused on the Saudi Arabian startup ecosystem.

Aramco Ventures announced in January 2024 an additional $4 billion capital injection, more than doubling its allocation from $3 billion to $7 billion between 2024 and 2027. The firm was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Aramco Ventures' Recent Funding Activity

Aramco Ventures invested in Finnish energy company ROTOBOOST, which develops methane pyrolysis systems for low-carbon hydrogen and solid carbon materials, Startup Researcher reported in November 2026. The funds will support manufacturing of commercial systems and expansion in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America.

In September 2026, DeepCtrls completed a Series B+ financing round led by CATL with strategic investment from Aramco Ventures, PR Newswire APAC reported. Twin1 AI announced a $20 million seed round co-led by Bessemer Venture Partners, Tribeca Venture Partners and Aramco Ventures in August 2026, according to My Startup World.

GraphEnergyTech's Open Seed Round

GraphEnergyTech's seed round remains open to additional investors, with the company targeting up to £3 million in total funding. Investors interested in the next close are invited to contact the GraphEnergyTech team to discuss the opportunity.