EnsiliTech
EnsiliTech is a Bristol-based biopharmaceutical spin-out from the University of Bath that licenses its patent-protected Ensilication® silica-encasement technology to pharma and biotech companies, enabling cold-chain-free storage of vaccines, antibodies, mRNA, and other biologics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EnsiliTech does
EnsiliTech (legal name: Ensilicated Technologies Ltd.) is a Bristol, UK-based biopharmaceutical company founded in July 2022 as a spin-out from the University of Bath, where co-founder and CEO Dr Asel Sartbaeva spent 12 years developing the underlying technology. The company commercializes Ensilication®, a patent-protected method of encasing thermally unstable biomolecules within an inert silica (glass) network that preserves their integrity across a temperature range of -80°C to +50°C, removing dependence on cold-chain refrigeration and lyophilization. Application areas span therapeutic and diagnostic antibodies, mRNA and other genetic material, subunit/viral/virus-like/bacterial vaccines, anti-microbial resistance products, probiotics, and enzymes for human, animal, and laboratory research use. EnsiliTech is developing lead programs including the world's first thermally stable mRNA vaccine against Hantaan Virus (funded by a ~£1.7M UK Government SBRI contract awarded January 2024) and a Nipah virus vaccine for livestock (two-year £1.5M DHSC/UK Vaccine Network project in consortium with Pirbright Institute, FLI, and partners), alongside a £1.4M Innovate UK–funded monoclonal antibody manufacturing project with CPI based on Trastuzumab.
The company's business model is a B2B technology licensing and co-development platform aimed at pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers, with a stated pipeline of live commercial negotiations with billion-euro pharma partners. The GTM motion is sales-led enterprise licensing supported by co-development and validation partnerships with technology innovation centers (CPI), global health consortia (Afrigen, EmerVax, Pirbright, FLI, Global Access Diagnostics), and government health agencies (UK DHSC, Innovate UK, UK Vaccine Network). To date, ~£5.7M has been raised in equity (£1.2M pre-seed in January 2023 led by Science Angel Syndicate; £4.5M seed in August 2025 led by Eos Advisory) and an additional ~£4.6M in non-dilutive government grants. Revenue is currently grant-driven; commercial licensing royalties are not yet booked. The team comprises approximately 14–19 personnel — scientists, project managers, and executives — led by founder/CEO Dr Sartbaeva with commercial oversight from CCO Dr Simon Bennett (three decades of bio-pharma deals) and Chair Dr Tim Sparey (US$6B+ in life sciences transactions). The company is registered in England and Wales (company number 13537400) and holds granted patents, registered trademarks, and a growing IP portfolio, with the platform recognized through numerous awards including UK StartUp Awards 2025 (Overall StartUp of the Year South West) and the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2025.
EnsiliTech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EnsiliTech
- Legal name
- Ensilicated Technologies Ltd.
- Website
- https://ensilitech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- EnsiliTech is a Bristol-based biopharmaceutical spin-out from the University of Bath that licenses its patent-protected Ensilication® silica-encasement technology to pharma and biotech companies, enabling cold-chain-free storage of vaccines, antibodies, mRNA, and other biologics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EnsiliTech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceutical Stabilization Technology
- NAICS
- Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415)
- SIC
- Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies (HLAAAJAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Single-Use Technologies (SUT) & Disposable Fluid Management (bags, assemblies, connectors) (HLAAAJAC), Packaging, Insulation & Temperature-Controlled Shippers (Qualified Systems) (HLAGAMAF)
Keywords
Where EnsiliTech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
EnsiliTech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Plans to license Ensilication technology to biopharma companies to create heat-stable versions of their medicines. The company is in live commercial negotiations with billion-euro pharma partners for technology integration.
- Government R&D Contracts: Awarded UK Government SBRI research contracts (~£1.7M for Hantaan virus vaccine). Innovate UK grant funding for collaborative R&D projects. These represent non-dilutive funding for technology development and validation.
- Collaborative R&D / Service Fees: Collaborative development agreements with pharmaceutical partners such as CPI for antibody manufacturing, and consortium projects with Pirbright, Afrigen, and EmerVax. Revenue may come from development fees, milestone payments, and validation study contracts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
EnsiliTech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EnsiliTech develops and licenses Ensilication®, a patent-protected platform technology that encases thermally unstable biomolecules (vaccines, antibodies, enzymes, mRNA, probiotics) within a silica network to prevent degradation at temperatures from -80°C to +50°C, eliminating the need for cold-chain refrigeration. The company licenses this stabilization technology to biopharma manufacturers and conducts collaborative R&D projects with research institutes and government agencies.
Product overview
EnsiliTech offers the Ensilication® platform technology as its core product—a novel, patent-protected method for stabilizing biopharmaceuticals without refrigeration. The platform encases thermally unstable biomolecules (vaccines, antibodies, enzymes, genetic material, probiotics) within a silica network, allowing storage and transport at temperatures from -80°C to +50°C. The company licenses this technology to biopharma companies and is applying it through several programs including development of a thermally stable mRNA vaccine against Hantaan Virus (via SBRI contract) and antibody stabilization (via CPI partnership grant). EnsiliTech also publishes white papers and research to demonstrate the technology's application and economics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ensilication® Platform Technology A patent-protected method for encasing thermally unstable biomolecules (vaccines, antibodies, enzymes, genetic material, probiotics) within a silica network, enabling storage and transport at temperatures from -80°C to +50°C without cold-chain logistics. Licensed to biopharmaceutical companies for integration into their manufacturing processes.
Companies that use EnsiliTech
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
EnsiliTech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
EnsiliTech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Spin Up Science VenturescoreVenture accelerator dedicated to supporting early stage academic breakthroughs. Part of Spin Up Science Ventures portfolio. Advised by Dr Ben Miles. Supported EnsiliTech's growth, regulatory, and commercial plans from spin-out through funding rounds.
- CPI (Centre for Process Innovation)coreAwarded £1.4M Innovate UK collaborative R&D grant to develop and implement Ensilication technology in monoclonal antibody production (based on Trastuzumab). CPI provides formulation expertise, scale-up support, economic analysis, and life cycle assessment. Represents key validation of technology integration into pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- The Pirbright InstitutecoreWorld-leading centre for research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and viruses spreading from animals to humans (UK). Led the two-year £1.5M Nipah virus vaccine project. Professor Simon Graham leads the PRRS Group working on the bivalent NiV vaccine development.
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI)coreBased in Germany. Partner in the Nipah virus vaccine consortium. Provides expertise in genetic engineering of pseudorabies virus for vaccine development. Dr Walter Fuchs stated the project aims to develop a vaccine providing immunity after a single shot.
- Global Access DiagnosticsminorUK company developing innovative rapid lateral flow immunoassay tests. Part of the Nipah virus vaccine consortium, developing a companion diagnostic test that discriminates infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA test).
- BioVacc ConsultingminorPart of the Nipah virus vaccine consortium, providing expert insight into vaccine research and development alongside EnsiliTech's thermally stable vaccine technology.
- Afrigen BiologicscoreBased in Cape Town, South Africa. Partner in the SBRI-funded Hantaan virus mRNA vaccine project. Afrigen is the centre of WHO/MPP mRNA technology transfer programme developing and transferring mRNA technology to 15 manufacturing partners in LMICs. CEO Prof Petro Terblanche stated ensilication will eliminate or reduce cold-chain logistics.
- EmerVaxcoreBased in Houston, USA. Spin out from University of Texas Medical Branch and Galveston National Laboratory. Specialises in formulation of novel vaccines against neglected diseases. Partner in the SBRI-funded Hantaan virus mRNA vaccine project. CEO Dr Peter D. Weinstein will apply novel mRNA vaccine platform technology.
- S-cubed LtdminorRegulatory affairs consultancy providing expert regulatory strategy support for the SBRI Hantaan virus vaccine project. Specialist in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device regulatory expertise across the full development process.
- Endless Frontier Labs (EFL)minorNine-month programme at NYU Stern School of Business for massively scalable science and deep tech startups. EnsiliTech was accepted into EFL (nearly 1,400 applicants, only 78 accepted). Provides mentorship from serial entrepreneurs, investors, and technical mentors to accomplish individualized business goals.
- University of BathcoreSpin-out origin. Dr Asel Sartbaeva developed ensilication over 12 years at the University of Bath. The company spun out from University of Bath in July 2022. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited the university in January 2025 and was shown EnsiliTech's technology.
- Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise HubminorDr Asel Sartbaeva is a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow through the Enterprise Hub. The company is also part of the Royal Academy of Engineering Shott Scale-up accelerator. The Academy provides fellowship, mentorship, and scale-up support.
- We Are Pioneers Group (LAUNCH programme)minorPart of the LAUNCH programme with We Are Pioneers Group, supporting the development and commercialisation of deep tech ventures.
- Royal Society of ChemistryminorListed as a supporter on EnsiliTech's website. EnsiliTech featured as Royal Society of Chemistry Deep Tech Change Maker at ChemUK 2025, with a dedicated case study published by the RSC exploring the company's evolution from academic research to scalable deep tech innovation.
- SETSquaredminorListed as a supporter. EnsiliTech participated in SETsquared Scale-up programme. The company won the Biggest Game-Changing Technology award from SETSquared in 2017.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
EnsiliTech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ziccum AB: Swedish small-cap biotech developing air-drying technology (LumDry) to produce thermostable vaccines and biologics — a near-direct alternative-platform peer targeting the same cold-chain elimination pain point as Ensilication.
- Stabilitech Biopharma: UK/US biotech developing thermally stable oral and nasal vaccine formulations using proprietary stabilisation platforms — directly comparable technology category, customer base (vaccine developers), and pre-commercial stage.
- VitriVax: US-based biotech developing a wax-in-water emulsion platform (Alhydrova) for thermostable vaccines; competes head-to-head with Ensilication for biopharma licensing deals in thermostable vaccine formulations.
Broad incumbents
- Croda International: Large specialty chemicals company with a significant biopharma excipients and adjuvants franchise, including vaccine stabilizers — a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in biologics stabilisation and the manufacturing relationships that EnsiliTech must reach via licensing.
- Arcturus Therapeutics: Clinical-stage mRNA company developing self-amplifying and conventional mRNA therapeutics; a broader mRNA player whose thermostability investments are a competitive backdrop to EnsiliTech's thermally stable mRNA platform.
- BioNTech: Global mRNA vaccine leader with deep R&D resources and ongoing work on next-generation thermostable mRNA formulations — a large strategic incumbent that could acquire competing platforms or build a comparable ensilication-style capability in-house.
Emerging players
- Vaxxas: Clinical-stage company developing a high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) for needle-free vaccine delivery with demonstrated thermal stability benefits — an adjacent enabling technology that could complement or compete with Ensilication in last-mile vaccine delivery.
- Xerion Healthcare: Early-stage biotech developing nanoparticle-based preservation and delivery technologies for biologics — an emerging player with partial overlap in the biomolecule stabilisation space EnsiliTech targets.
Others
- CPI (Centre for Process Innovation): UK technology innovation centre for biologics and pharmaceutical process development — currently an EnsiliTech co-development partner but also a broader ecosystem participant whose other bioprocess clients represent both potential collaborators and competitors.
- Afrigen Biologics: South African CDMO at the centre of the WHO/MPP mRNA technology transfer programme — an EnsiliTech collaborator on the Hantaan programme and an emerging hub for LMIC vaccine manufacturing that could either be a channel partner or build competing thermostable capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EnsiliTech social profiles
Digital presenceEnsiliTech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EnsiliTech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
EnsiliTech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EnsiliTech M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EnsiliTech
What does EnsiliTech do?
EnsiliTech develops and licenses Ensilication®, a patent-protected platform technology that encases thermally unstable biomolecules (vaccines, antibodies, enzymes, mRNA, probiotics) within a silica network to prevent degradation at temperatures from -80°C to +50°C, eliminating the need for cold-chain refrigeration. The company licenses this stabilization technology to biopharma manufacturers and conducts collaborative R&D projects with research institutes and government agencies.
Is EnsiliTech a public or private company?
EnsiliTech is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was EnsiliTech founded?
EnsiliTech was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is EnsiliTech based?
EnsiliTech is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does EnsiliTech make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are government R&D Contracts and collaborative R&D / Service Fees.
Who are EnsiliTech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ziccum AB, Stabilitech Biopharma and VitriVax. Broad incumbents are Croda International, Arcturus Therapeutics and BioNTech. Emerging players are Vaxxas and Xerion Healthcare. Others are CPI (Centre for Process Innovation) and Afrigen Biologics.
Does EnsiliTech have an API?
No public API is recorded for EnsiliTech.
What industry is EnsiliTech in?
EnsiliTech's product category is Biopharmaceutical Stabilization Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAJAN, Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies, with a secondary code of HLAAAJAC, Single-Use Technologies (SUT) & Disposable Fluid Management (bags, assemblies, connectors). Its NAICS code is 333415 and its SIC code is 3050.