Sofant Technologies, an Edinburgh-based space technology company specialising in advanced satellite communications, has successfully closed an equity funding round totalling £6.25 million. This significant investment is earmarked to accelerate the company’s transition from an intensive research and development phase into commercial deployment of its next-generation products.
The funding package comprises approximately £1.1 million in new equity, the conversion of around £4.7 million in existing loans and accrued interest into equity, and an additional £430,000 from advance subscriptions. EMV Capital Partners led the round, with substantial contributions from Scottish Enterprise and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) as a new strategic shareholder.
This financial milestone marks a critical juncture for Sofant Technologies, which currently employs approximately 25 individuals. The company is poised to bring its innovative satellite communication terminals to market following an extended period of development.
The investment follows the recent appointment of Will Whitehorn OBE, former president of Virgin Galactic, as chairman. Mr. Whitehorn, awarded an OBE in 2025 for his services to the aerospace and space industry, brings extensive experience in commercial scaling and aerospace, signalling a clear intent for international expansion and heightened commercial ambition within Sofant.
Sofant’s proprietary technology is built around Radio Frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (RF MEMS) based antenna systems. These systems are engineered to provide high-speed, low-latency satellite connectivity while crucially eliminating the need for complex cooling mechanisms. This advancement addresses a historical constraint that has limited the scalability of traditional satellite, aerospace, and defence platforms by significantly reducing power consumption, size, and thermal demands.
David Wither, Chief Executive of Sofant Technologies, expressed his optimism regarding the funding’s impact:
“We are pleased to have secured this significant investment from our existing shareholder base, and to welcome NSSIF as a new strategic shareholder. This support is a testament to the disruptive potential of Sofant’s technology and the remarkable progress our team has made in recent months.
With this additional capital, we are positioned to accelerate our commercial deployment and redefine what is possible in wireless communications. EMV Capital has supported Sofant through several phases of development, and we would like to thank them for leading this round along with our wider shareholder base.”
Dr. Ilian Iliev, Chief Executive of EMV Capital and an investor director at Sofant, reiterated the lead investor’s confidence:
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“EMV Capital’s anchoring of this pivotal funding round reflects our continued confidence in Sofant’s breakthrough low-power RF MEMS technology, which we believe represents a step change in the architecture of next generation wireless systems, with the potential to reshape products across defence, aerospace, satellite communications and high performance enterprise markets,” Dr. Iliev commented.
He further noted that the funding aligns with EMV Capital’s strategy of supporting portfolio companies at key value inflection points to attract strategic finance as they expand into global markets.
The development of Sofant’s technology has been supported by programmes administered by both the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency, with a previous contract from ESA providing €7.3 million to aid commercialisation efforts.
