Make and Scale Day
A working day for advanced materials start-ups on the practical realities of scaling – manufacturing partners, cost, and the plan investors want to see.
When
14th September 2026
Where
Royce Hub Building,Oxford Road, Manchester,
M13 9PL
Cost
Free, registration required
You might be asking
- What's my strategy for building a company that attracts both customers and investors
- What do I need to get my first customer to actually sign?
- How do I negotiate a partnership with a contract manufacturer?
- Why isn't this trial turning into a real relationship with a larger company?
- Am I even designing this for low-cost manufacture, or just for the lab?
- How can I scope a TechnoEconomic Analysis for a product that doesn't exist yet?
Puntios can help
Puntios is an innovation consultancy with a specific focus on supporting advanced materials start ups.
We have deep expertise in developing materials start ups from lab stage through initial funding rounds to first customer.
We work with early stage teams to support and develop start-ups and overcome the barriers from lab to first customer.
We have deep expertise in developing materials start ups from lab stage through initial funding rounds to first customer.
We work with early stage teams to support and develop start-ups and overcome the barriers from lab to first customer.
The day is hosted by the Henry Royce Institute, the UK's national centre for research and innovation in advanced materials. The objective is to give materials start-ups a concrete plan of action for engaging with manufacturing partners. We will help you to understand how the UK's manufacturing supply chain can support your growth, how to design your materials and businesses for cost and ease of manufacture, and how to scope a TechnoEconomic Analysis.
We will guide you in how to think about your position in the value chain and where you should focus your businesses. This will help overcome some of the challenges in securing investment. And we will provide the opportunity to a small group of potential manufacturing partners to 'pitch' their services to the start-ups, to establish practical commercial relationships to benefit start-ups and manufacturers.
Agenda
10:00 - 10:30 | Arrive, coffee and networking |
10:30 - 12:30 | Make and Scale Briefing: The overall journey for materials start-ups and the importance of manufacturing Partnership, what large companies and customers want from start-ups Design for manufacture, TechnoEconomic Analysis, process from lab to scale Customer requirements for trialling and launch Regulatory, quality, certification considerations |
12:30 - 13:15 | Network lunch |
13:15 - 14:15 | Manufacturing Partners: The Royce perspective, policy, potential in the UK Pitches from up to 5 manufacturers - technical capabilities, projects/materials they can help to scale, examples of how they are working with scale up |
14:15 - 15:00 | Speed dating – start-ups and manufacturing partners |
15:00 - 15:30 | Investors and Start-up Strategy: What investors need to derisk a project Wrap up |
15:30 - 16:00 | Informal Networking |
16:00 | Close |
As founders ourselves, we share your journey.
About us
Simon Hombersley
Climate tech entrepreneur, founded Cambridge spin-out Xampla and led it from lab stage through funding to first customers as CEO. Now CEO of Puntios, working with advanced materials start-ups (including Singapore-based N&E Innovations) on commercialisation. Teaches on the Royce Catalyst and advises investors on materials businesses.
Robin Harrison
Strategic innovation leader in materials & chemicals, known for building sustainable, market-ready product offerings. Former VP Platform Technology & External Innovation at Synthomer; now advises multiple materials start-ups.
Stan Mitchell
Iain Argyle
Materials commercialisation specialist leading Puntios' commercial projects, spanning advanced materials, chemicals and ingredients. Previously Head of Business Development at Xampla, driving commercial strategy, licensing and international partnerships. Focus areas: market validation, customer engagement, and go-to-market for novel materials.
Process engineer and technology strategy specialist with 15+ years across advanced materials, industrial biotech, food systems and allied process industries. Deep expertise in techno-economic analysis – modelling process design, mass/energy balances, capex/opex and cost-of-goods to inform technical, commercial and investment decisions. Specialises in scaling novel technologies from lab to commercial manufacturing.