Underheat
Underheat is a UK-based clean-tech startup that uses AI to design and factory-prefabricate custom heating systems (underfloor, external wall, and new-build radiant) optimised for low-temperature heat pumps, primarily serving UK social housing providers and residential developers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersWolverhampton, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Underheat does
Underheat is a Wolverhampton, UK-based clean-tech startup that uses AI to design and manufacture heating systems optimised for low-temperature heat pumps. The company combines machine learning segmentation of 2D photographs, 3D LIDAR point clouds, and IR thermal imagery with proprietary algorithms that generate ultra-dense, custom pipe layouts for individual buildings; these layouts are then CNC-machined directly into rigid insulation boards at a factory, producing prefabricated panels with integrated heating and insulation. The product portfolio consists of SmartSurfaces (underfloor heating), EnergyWall (external wall heating and cooling that also addresses damp and mould), and EnergyForm (radiant heating and cooling embedded in concrete formwork for new builds), all unified by a cloud platform that automates the design-to-manufacture workflow.
The business targets UK social housing providers, retrofit delivery organisations, and residential new-build developers through a consultative, sales-led go-to-market supplemented by community engagement with residents, advocacy groups, and policymakers. Revenue is generated through custom-quoted hardware sales of prefabricated heating systems under multi-year contracts, though all three products are currently listed as "Coming soon" and no commercial revenue has been disclosed. The company is privately held, founded in 2023, operates with 6–10 employees (including a CEO, Head of Engineering, Data Scientist, and ML Expert, plus three named advisors), and has filed three patent applications (two UK and one international PCT) covering its AI design and panel manufacturing approach. Underheat was selected as a Manchester Prize winner in June 2025 and has a strategic partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to integrate its design outputs with architectural CAD workflows.
Underheat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Underheat
- Legal name
- UH AI Ltd
- Website
- https://underheat.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Underheat is a UK-based clean-tech startup that uses AI to design and factory-prefabricate custom heating systems (underfloor, external wall, and new-build radiant) optimised for low-temperature heat pumps, primarily serving UK social housing providers and residential developers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Underheat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heat Pump Heating Systems
- NAICS
- Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)
- SIC
- Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Radiant Floor Heating Installation (Underfloor Systems) (HSAPAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydronic/Baseboard Radiant Heating Service (HSAOACAE), Energy Efficiency & Weatherization Retrofit (HSAPAEAF)
Keywords
Where Underheat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wolverhampton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Underheat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Heating System Products: Sale of AI-designed, prefabricated heating systems including SmartSurfaces underfloor heating and EnergyWall external wall systems. Products are custom-designed for each home and manufactured in factory before installation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Underheat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Underheat designs and manufactures AI-engineered, prefabricated heating systems for heat pumps, tailored for UK residential retrofits and new builds. The company uses machine learning to analyze building surface data (photos, LIDAR, thermal imaging) and produce custom pipe layouts that are CNC-machined into rigid insulation panels for fast, low-disruption installation. Its three core offerings — SmartSurfaces (underfloor heating), EnergyWall (external wall heating/cooling), and EnergyForm (new-build radiant heating) — are sold directly to social housing providers, retrofit organisations, and developers on a quote basis.
Product overview
Underheat offers a portfolio of AI-designed, factory-manufactured heating systems for heat pumps, consisting of three main products: SmartSurfaces (underfloor heating), EnergyWall (external wall heating/cooling), and EnergyForm (radiant heating in concrete for new builds). These products are unified by a proprietary AI cloud platform that automates the design process—from analyzing building surface data to generating custom pipe layouts—and drives off-site CNC manufacturing of modular components for faster, easier installation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SmartSurfaces: The most efficient underfloor heating system for heat pumps - custom designed for home and ready to install. Uses advanced software to design ultra-dense, custom pipe layouts machined into insulation boards in a factory.
- EnergyWall
- EnergyForm
Products and services
- SmartSurfaces Ultra-efficient AI-designed underfloor heating system for heat pumps. Custom pipe layouts are generated from room dimensions or floor plans and CNC-machined into insulation boards in a factory, producing prefabricated panels ready to install without screed. Targeted at UK social housing retrofits and residential new builds using heat pumps.
- EnergyWall External wall heating and cooling system that combines Underheat's AI-designed pipe layouts with external wall insulation. Gently warms or cools walls from the outside, storing and releasing energy slowly while adding extra insulation, and eliminating surface condensation to prevent mould. Sold to UK housing providers, retrofit organisations, and homeowners retrofitting heat pumps.
- EnergyForm Patent-pending next-generation radiant heating and cooling system for new builds. Radiant pipework is embedded directly into concrete formwork, storing and distributing heat through the building structure and powered by Underheat's cloud platform for off-site manufacturing. Targeted at residential property developers building new homes with heat pumps.
Quantifiable outcome
- Heat pump can run at lower temperatures due to dense pipe layouts
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Underheat
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Underheat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
Underheat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Manchester Prize ProgrammeflagshipSelected as one of the UK's top AI Innovators for clean energy systems through the Manchester Prize programme, a prestigious UK government-backed innovation initiative recognizing breakthrough technologies in the energy sector.
- RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)coreStrategic partnership for advancing architectural integration of heating systems. Future expansion plans include integrating with 2D and 3D CAD files for architects and designers to unlock energy efficiency gains.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Underheat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- IES (Integrated Environmental Solutions): UK-based building performance simulation and digital twin provider whose thermal/heat-loss analytics software overlaps with Underheat's AI-driven thermal mapping and building assessment capabilities.
- Mixergy: UK-based clean tech company using ML/AI for smart hot water tank design and manufacturing optimization. Comparable smart manufacturing + residential clean heat focus, often bundled with heat pump retrofits in the UK ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Warmup: UK-based specialist in electric and hydronic underfloor heating systems with strong installer network. Closest UK-based direct peer competing for the same residential heat pump retrofit projects Underheat targets.
- Nu-Heat: UK-based underfloor heating specialist focused on retrofit and new build residential projects. Competes head-on with Underheat for retrofit projects in UK housing stock.
- Polypipe: UK manufacturer of plumbing, heating, and underfloor heating systems with established housing developer/social housing relationships. Direct competitor for hydronic heating distribution and project wins in the UK residential segment.
- Wunda Group: UK supplier of wet underfloor heating systems and energy-efficient heating solutions, focused on the residential retrofit and social housing segments. Targets an overlapping customer base with comparable hydronic heating product offerings.
- Uponor: Global leader in hydronic radiant underfloor heating systems, including prefabricated panels with integrated piping. Directly competes with Underheat's SmartSurfaces product in the same customer/market segment (heat pump installations in residential retrofits).
- REHAU (Building Solutions): Major manufacturer of hydronic underfloor heating panels and radiant wall systems targeting residential HVAC markets across Europe. Overlap with both SmartSurfaces (underfloor) and EnergyWall (external wall heating) value propositions.
Broad incumbents
- Daikin UK: Global HVAC and heat pump giant investing in UK low-carbon heating. Heat pumps are the upstream product Underheat's heating systems are designed to optimize, and Daikin's footprint shapes the retrofit market and competitive dynamics.
- Danfoss (Heating Division): Large European manufacturer of hydronic heating components, controls, and systems with broad HVAC portfolio. Indirectly competitive through underfloor heating accessories and the broader heat pump system it integrates with.
Market position
Strengths6 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Underheat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Underheat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Underheat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Underheat 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 Underheat
What does Underheat do?
Underheat designs and manufactures AI-engineered, prefabricated heating systems for heat pumps, tailored for UK residential retrofits and new builds. The company uses machine learning to analyze building surface data (photos, LIDAR, thermal imaging) and produce custom pipe layouts that are CNC-machined into rigid insulation panels for fast, low-disruption installation. Its three core offerings — SmartSurfaces (underfloor heating), EnergyWall (external wall heating/cooling), and EnergyForm (new-build radiant heating) — are sold directly to social housing providers, retrofit organisations, and developers on a quote basis.
Is Underheat a public or private company?
Underheat is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Underheat founded?
Underheat was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Underheat based?
Underheat is headquartered in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Underheat make money?
One revenue line is on record: heating System Products.
Who are Underheat's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are IES (Integrated Environmental Solutions) and Mixergy. Direct peers are Warmup, Nu-Heat, Polypipe, Wunda Group, Uponor and REHAU (Building Solutions). Broad incumbents are Daikin UK and Danfoss (Heating Division).
Does Underheat have an API?
No public API is recorded for Underheat.
What industry is Underheat in?
Underheat's product category is Heat Pump Heating Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAPAGAJ, Radiant Floor Heating Installation (Underfloor Systems), with a secondary code of HSAOACAE, Hydronic/Baseboard Radiant Heating Service. Its NAICS code is 333414 and its SIC code is 3433.