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.
“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.
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.