AI and X-ray Startups Lead Europe’s £6.4 Million Deep-Tech Funding Surge
Ghent, Friday 19 June 2026
Two European startups just secured £6.4 million in June 2026—Adomate’s AI ad platform and Silveray’s flexible X-ray tech—showing how deep-tech is reshaping healthcare and marketing. The real kicker? Silveray’s ultra-thin X-ray film could eliminate the pain of breast cancer screenings, while Adomate’s AI automates ad creation at scale. Investors are betting big on innovation that solves real-world problems.
The Funding Breakdown: €1.4 Million for AI-Powered Advertising
Ghent-based Adomate has secured €1.4 million in fresh funding to scale its AI-driven advertising platform, marking a significant milestone for Belgium’s deep-tech ecosystem [1]. The startup specialises in automating the creation of high-volume, creative social media advertisements by leveraging data from Amazon and Trustpilot reviews, alongside insights from Meta Ad Accounts [1]. This approach enables brands to meet the growing demand for fresh, engaging content across platforms like Facebook and Instagram without the traditional bottlenecks of manual ad production [1]. The funding round, which closed in June 2026, included participation from Angelwise, RDY Ventures, and Seeder Fund, signalling strong investor confidence in Adomate’s ability to disrupt digital marketing workflows [1]. The capital will be used to strengthen Adomate’s market presence and develop additional features for its platform, positioning the company as a key player in the digital advertising space [1].
Silveray’s £5 Million Bet on Next-Generation X-ray Technology
In a parallel development, Silveray, a spin-out from the University of Surrey, has raised £5 million in scale-up investment to accelerate the commercialisation of its ultra-thin, flexible Digital X-ray Film (DXF®) technology [2][3][4]. Originating from research at Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), Silveray’s innovation incorporates high-Z elements into semiconductor polymer materials, creating X-ray detectors that are both sensitive and adaptable to curved surfaces [2]. This technology promises to revolutionise radiography by producing sharp, high-quality images while being lighter, cheaper, and more comfortable for patients than conventional rigid X-ray detectors [2][3]. The funding round, led by PXN Ventures with co-investment from Northern Gritstone, the GMC Life Sciences Fund, and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, will support the scale-up of production and expand Silveray’s use in healthcare diagnostics [2][4].
From Industrial Inspection to Healthcare: Silveray’s Dual Market Strategy
Silveray’s technology is already making waves in industrial inspection, where it is used to assess critical infrastructure and components in sectors such as energy, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing [2][3]. The £5 million funding will enable the company to pivot into healthcare, targeting applications such as more accessible diagnostic imaging, improved patient experience for cancer patients—particularly during breast cancer screening—and enhanced monitoring during radiotherapy treatment [2][4]. The company’s CEO, Dan Cathie, who brings over 30 years of experience in X-ray and semiconductor technology, emphasised the transformative potential of DXF®: “This round of funding will enable us to scale our reach beyond our first customers in industrial radiography, and to bring our innovative material to a wider group of applications in healthcare and beyond” [4]. The technology’s flexibility and affordability could democratise digital radiography, making advanced imaging more portable and widely available [2][3][4].
Investor Confidence in Deep-Tech: A Broader Trend
The funding rounds for Adomate and Silveray reflect a broader trend of investor confidence in deep-tech innovations that address real-world challenges [1][2][4]. Sim Singh-Landa, Investment Director at PXN Ventures, highlighted Silveray’s potential to improve patient outcomes while supporting clinicians, noting that the technology fills a gap in an area that has seen limited innovation [4]. Similarly, Hannah Churchman of Bruntwood SciTech praised Silveray as an example of the “brilliant science and tech being developed in the North West,” underscoring the region’s growing reputation as a hub for life sciences innovation [4]. For Adomate, the €1.4 million injection underscores the increasing demand for AI-driven solutions in digital marketing, where automation and scalability are becoming critical competitive advantages [1].
The Road Ahead: Scaling Production and Expanding Teams
For Silveray, the £5 million funding will be used to expand its team from 20 to 30 employees over the next two years, scale up manufacturing, and strengthen commercial partnerships in both healthcare and industrial sectors [3][4]. The company plans to officially introduce its Digital X-ray Film to a wider range of customers in 2026, with a focus on making digital radiography “thin, flexible, and affordable” [4]. Adomate, meanwhile, will use its €1.4 million to enhance its AI platform and solidify its position in the competitive digital advertising market [1]. Both startups exemplify how deep-tech innovations are bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and commercial viability, offering tangible solutions to longstanding challenges in healthcare and digital marketing [1][2][4].
The Bigger Picture: Europe’s Deep-Tech Ecosystem
The combined £6.4 million (6.19 in GBP equivalent) raised by Adomate and Silveray in June 2026 highlights the strength of Europe’s deep-tech ecosystem, particularly in the Benelux region and the UK [1][2][4]. These funding rounds signal robust activity in high-growth sectors such as AI, healthcare technology, and advanced manufacturing, offering valuable insights for venture capitalists, private equity investors, and innovation policy stakeholders [1][2][3][4]. As Silveray’s CEO Dan Cathie noted, the goal is to make advanced technologies accessible to all, whether in healthcare diagnostics or digital advertising [4]. With both startups poised for international expansion, their success could serve as a blueprint for other deep-tech ventures seeking to scale from research labs to global markets [1][2][4].