Uplift360, the advanced materials start-up transforming how aerospace, defence, and industrial sectors recover and reuse high-value composite waste, announced the close of a €7.4M seed funding round. Extantia led the investment with significant contributions from the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), Promus Ventures, and Fund F, marking a major milestone for dual-use investments in material resilience. The proprietary chemical process enables non-degenerative regeneration of carbon fiber and aramids, ensuring recovered materials maintain original quality for a true second life.
Strengthening Europe’s Advanced Materials Supply Chains
“This investment is a clear signal that Europe intends to lead in sustainable advanced-materials manufacturing. Our technology turns what is currently burned, buried or exported into a reliable, high-quality feedstock stream, strengthening supply-chains for primes, OEMs and government customers. With Extantia and the NATO Innovation Fund behind us, we’re now positioned to scale with urgency,” said Sam Staincliffe, CEO & Co-Founder of Uplift360.
Critical supply-chain bottlenecks and geopolitical pressures currently limit the availability of virgin fibers, while existing composite waste streams grow rapidly. The technology addresses these vulnerabilities by converting end-of-life materials from wind energy, automotive, and defense sectors into high-quality feedstock. By localizing fiber recovery, the platform reduces carbon emissions and builds sovereign industrial strength for European nations.
Turning Composite Waste into Strategic Industrial Assets
Funding will scale operations, including commissioning a first pilot-scale processing line in the UK in 2026. The startup already collaborates with industrial leaders such as Babcock on Eurofighter Typhoon recovery, Leonardo on helicopter blade repurposing, and Rolls-Royce on materials innovation. Expansion plans involve growing R&D efforts and strengthening partnerships with aerospace and energy OEMs across Europe.