Rovco, the subsea robotics company, has announced a £3.9 million Series A investment from Foresight group. The investment is part of a larger round totalling £5 million which included funds from existing shareholders. Rovco provides some of the world’s most detailed remote hydrographic surveys using robotics, 3D and Artificial Intelligence. Rovco’s products are used for developing offshore renewables and in the decommissioning of oil and gas rigs.
The funds will be used to support our international expansion and continued development of their state-of-the-art 3D Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence subsea technology.
Brian Allen, CEO and founder, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Foresight Group and Williams Advanced Engineering as new shareholders in our company. Bringing a major private equity investor alongside a world-renowned engineering company will be of extraordinary benefit to Rovco. We look forward to working with each of them as we expand the business and continue our success into 2020!”
Utilising our SubSLAM technology, Rovco have carried out many subsea projects across the renewables and oil and gas industries globally. In 2019 the marked a milestone, investing heavily into research and development to create a world-first in subsea 3D Live-Streaming to propel the business forward.
Brian added: “2019 was an incredible year for Rovco, we had a hugely successful period when we saw several project and contract wins creating secured current and forward revenue of more than £10 million. We are now setting our sights on a new major base in Scotland along with new offices for the USA and Asia markets.”
Leading the round, the Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund is a unique collaboration that combines the Williams Advanced Engineering team’s expertise with Foresight’s successful investment track record. The Fund invests into early-stage, unquoted companies that are developing technology and pioneering innovations.
Andrew Bloxam, Investment Manager at Foresight, said: “Rovco has developed technology offering game-changing improvements in an industry that really needs it. It is a large international market and Rovco has already generated early interest from some prominent customers, which hints at a substantial opportunity, and we are delighted to be able to support the team as they seek to capitalise. It is great to support another company which epitomises the spirit of the Foresight Williams collaboration.”
Matthew Burke, Head of Technology Ventures at Williams Advanced Engineering, added: “We are proud to back Rovco whose pioneering SubSLAM camera technology has the potential to transform productivity in subsea surveying. I am confident that Williams’ expertise in design, development and manufacture will help to accelerate the commercialisation of the SubSLAM camera system”.
