Imperial Startup ‘transforming Wireless Charging’ Raises £750,000 Seed Funding
Summary
Bumblebee Power has developed highly efficient wireless charging technology that, when compared with existing solutions, offers three times the size of air gap, three times the tolerance to misalignment and inter-operability between different vehicles from a common transmit unit. Combined with its low weight (less than 20% of similar products) and significantly lower cost, Bumblebee believes its technology could create a step-change in a range of areas.Bumblebee provides the only wireless charging solution that delivers the lightweight, wide power range and freedom of position performance that users really want. Our offering will transform wireless charging from a nice-to-have to a must-have technology across multiple markets, said Dr David Yates, Co-founder of Bumblebee Power and co-inventor of the underlying technology.The funds raised in this seed round will support initial field trials for a wireless charging system for e-mobility vehicles, scale-up to 7kW power capability and product development for a number of potential customer requirements.Brijesh Roy, Seed Investment Manager at Imperial, said: Wireless power transfer is an essential enabling technology to unlock the power of mass electrification, and I am delighted that Imperial College Enterprise Funds has invested in Bumblebee Power, an Imperial startup well-placed to make substantial progress in this area. As well as being underpinned by leading-edge research, Bumblebee has taken a customer-focused approach to its development to date, resulting in practical technologies and traction with partners.Bumblebees founders have developed a wealth of technical expertise in their work at Imperial, especially through the Colleges Wireless Power Lab. Dr David Yates, Bumblebees co-founder, took part in Imperials Techcelerate programme, which supports researchers at Imperial to develop customer insights and market understanding for their technology venture.