Hypetex, the world’s first manufacturer of colored carbon fiber, has attracted £1.25 million ($1.5 million) in new equity investment and welcomes two experienced business leaders as both investors and advisers to the company. The investment is the latest round of Hypetex’s seed funding, led by 24Haymarket, which will support ambitious growth plans and help scale the business’s footprint.

Hypetex’s technology enables the sustainable colorization of advanced materials while maintaining and often improving their performance properties. Using a water-based resin system and low-energy curing process, the finished colored carbon-fiber composite materials can be used in a range of products. Additional painting is eliminated, saving cost while improving aesthetics.

Applications range from consumer electronics, aerospace, yachting, and lifestyle products to automotive design and Formula One. Hypetex has been used in a number of successful programs recently, demonstrating the benefits of the technology, including in projects involving Jaguar Land Rover, Adidas, and New Balance.

Hypetex sits well with Jaguar Land Rover concept car

Jaguar Land Rover collaborated with Hypetex to produce the unique seat design for its latest I-Pace concept car. The front two seats are freestanding and situated in a cab-forward position, making best use of the strong yet light Hypetex material. The silver carbon-fiber composite frames enable a ‘floating’ design with a central mount under each front seat, offering more room for passengers behind.

Hypetex’s manufacturing operation is located in the southeast of England. The company is in the process of expanding its product range to include natural-fiber products that introduce additional significant sustainability benefits to the manufacturing of more eco-friendly lightweight products.

High-level investor appointed chairman of Hypetex board

As part of the new investment, Neil MacDougall, a highly experienced private equity and angel investor, has been appointed Chairman of the Board for Hypetex. He brings with him a huge amount of experience, having successfully run a pan-European private equity fund for 15 years and chaired the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association from 2020 to 2021. He is a director of the UK Business Angels Association and a 24Haymarket investor. Joining him as an advisor to the board is Nick Rose, whose previous roles include CFO of Diageo plc, Chairman of Williams Grand Prix, and board member at BAE Systems.

MacDougall commented: “Hypetex brings proprietary colorization technology to the rapidly growing global composites market. This investment will enable Hypetex to further build on its unique market position in this growing $150-billion industry.”