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Based in Oxford, England, FluoRok is a deep-tech manufacturing startup developing hydrofluoric acid-free fluorination processes to produce sustainable fluorochemicals for the energy transition, pharmaceutical, and agrochemical sectors. The company utilizes proprietary technology to convert fluorinated waste and raw fluorite minerals into high-value chemicals, currently operating at a multi-kilogram pilot production scale ahead of planned commercialization. To date, the enterprise has secured over ten million pounds in equity alongside four million pounds in grants, supporting a projected revenue pipeline exceeding two hundred million pounds from offtake agreements. FluoRok is backed by institutional investors including Oxford Science Enterprises and Oxford University Innovation, establishing strategic partnerships with battery producers such as Green Energy Origin. The organization was officially spun out of the University of Oxford in 2022 by co-founders Gabriele Pupo and Moissan-prize winner Véronique Gouverneur.
FluoRok has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round.
FluoRok has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
FluoRok has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
FluoRok's investors include Business Growth Fund, Excellis, Green Generation Fund, Hardware Club, Par Equity, Sommet AB, Andrew Nutter.
FluoRok has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Seed in September 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2024 | $10M Seed | — | Business Growth Fund, Excellis, Green Generation Fund, Hardware Club, PAR Equity, Sommet AB, Andrew Nutter | Announced |
FluoRok is an Oxford University spin-out founded in 2022 that develops HF-free fluorination processes to produce fluorochemicals more safely, efficiently, and sustainably.[1][2] The company builds patented technology activating calcium fluoride from industrial waste, bypassing toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF) production, which serves pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and battery manufacturers facing high energy costs, safety risks, and environmental regulations.[1][3][4] It solves the century-old, energy-intensive fluorspar-to-HF process, enabling cheaper access to essential compounds like those in 20% of drugs, 30% of agrochemicals, and Li-ion battery electrolytes.[1][2][3] FluoRok has secured over £1.5M in Innovate UK grants, £7.8M in private investment, and created five high-value jobs, signaling strong growth momentum toward commercialization and scaling.[3]
FluoRok emerged from over two decades of fluorination research in Professor Véronique Gouverneur's labs at the University of Oxford, where the Moissan-prize winner advanced HF-free methods.[1] CEO and co-founder Dr. Gabriele Pupo, with deep expertise in organic chemistry and catalysis, led the commercialization, noting rapid progress due to "the right people and knowledge in the right place."[1][2] Supported by Oxford Science Enterprises and Oxford University Innovation, the company launched in 2022 at Begbroke Science Park as an Oxford spin-out, evolving from academic breakthroughs to industrial application amid rising demand for sustainable chemicals.[1][3]
FluoRok rides the electrification and sustainability megatrends, providing critical fluorochemicals for Li-ion batteries in EVs and renewables amid global net-zero pushes.[3] Timing aligns with regulatory pressures on HF (toxic, energy-intensive) and fluorspar shortages, positioning its cheaper, greener tech to disrupt a $20B+ market reliant on 19th-century methods.[1][2][4] By leveraging UK waste streams and Innovate UK support, it bolsters domestic manufacturing in regions like South Wales, creates high-value jobs, and reduces import dependencies, influencing the chemical ecosystem toward safer, circular production.[3]
FluoRok is primed for expansion, scaling its patented processes for commercial rollout in batteries, pharma, and agrochem, with ongoing R&D to broaden applications.[3][4] Trends like EV growth, circular economies, and stricter emissions rules will accelerate adoption, potentially capturing market share from legacy producers.[2][3] Its influence may evolve from Oxford innovator to global leader in sustainable chemicals, fostering UK supply chain strength and inspiring HF-free paradigms—revolutionizing fluorination as the safer, cheaper future it promises.[1][2]
