Applied Computing, a startup that has developed a foundational AI model for the energy sector, has closed a £9m seed round led by Deliveroo investor Stride.VC.
Founded in 2023, Applied Computing has developed Orbital, an AI management platform for firms in oil, gas and petrochemicals.
Trained on data from downstream energy facilities, Orbital works to make energy infrastructure more efficient. Applied Computing claimed its AI system can support the complex transition of fossil fuel companies to net-zero energy.
“There is a comforting fiction that we can simply swap out the old for the new,” said Dr. Sam Tukra, co-founder and chief AI officer.
“But the scale of the transition is immense. The infrastructure of heavy industry cannot be erased — it must be transformed. That’s why we built Orbital – without the energy industry, life as we know it is impossible.
“As energy and chemical demand rises steeply at a global level, it is crucial that these essential industries transform themselves.
“Artificial intelligence can deliver significant financial and environmental improvements to benefit everyone on the planet.”
The £9m seed round follows a series of strategic hires from firms including Shell, Palantir and BP.
“Refining is where complexity, scale, and impact converge. It’s not just hard – it’s the apex of validation. If you can build intelligence that works here, it will work anywhere.” said Callum Adamson, chief executive of Applied Computing.
“Orbital is already delivering at production scale in some of the most complex industrial environments on the planet.
“It’s improving margins, reducing emissions and laying the groundwork for a fundamentally more intelligent energy system.”
Repeat.VC joined the round alongside lead investor Stride.VC.
“Beyond LLM hype, companies such as Applied Computing are trailblazing a profound transformation in the efficiency with which our most critical industries are run, starting with fossil fuels, and demonstrating the promise of responsible AI in driving profound positive change for humans and the planet,” said Stride.VC founder Fred Destin.
“Small bands of highly competent rebels like Sam, Callum and the applied computing team show what is possible in transforming huge industries like energy and petrochemicals at speed.”
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