The Company
EnviroGene Ltd was founded by Dr. Rob Sleat in 2004, to give practical expression to his vision of applying the advances made in biotechnology to the industrial and environmental markets.
Dr.Sleat has a history of commercialisation of innovative technologies. As Technical Director of TraceTag International he was responsible for the development and commercialisation of DNA-based tracer technology, overseeing laboratories in Cardiff, Oslo and Paris.
Alex Korda, EnviroGene Executive Chairman, joined the company in late 2005. His professional relationship with Rob Sleat goes back more than two decades, when they both worked for biotech pioneer, Biotal.
EnviroGene operates internationally, and has its HQ in Tredomen, South Wales. The company has strong links with the internationally regarded Cardiff University, giving access to a substantial pool of technical expertise.
The company also has partnerships with the Universities of Nottingham and Milan; and US based companies, CGRS, Microbial Insights, and Source Molecular.
The company has received financial backing from a major London financial institution, along with generous support from the Welsh Assembly Government, Caerphilly County Borough Council, and the Geoenvironmental Research Park, a Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) initiative.
Investment
“In December 2006, EnviroGene Ltd closed its first investment deal for a total commitment of £1.5m from the RAB Special Situations (Master) Fund Limited; further, in September 2008, it closed a second investment deal for a total commitment of £1m from Finance Wales and the RAB fund.
The RAB fund is advised by RAB Capital plc, an AIM-listed multi-strategy absolute return investment fund manager with US$5billion under management.
Finance Wales provides commercial funding to businesses in Wales, enabling them to realise their growth potential for innovation and growth. The company invests in early stage, growing businesses and succession deals. A subsidiary of the Welsh Assembly Government, Finance Wales manages funds of more than £130m, has invested £94m through more than 1900 investments into Wales-based SMEs and leveraged an additional £293m private sector investment.”