Metal Morph raises £700K to recover industrial resources from wastewater

UK-based water technology startup Metal Morph has raised £700,000 in pre-seed funding to advance its technology for recovering industrial resources from water and wastewater treatment processes. The round was co-led by Sustainable Ventures and Green Angel Ventures, with participation from Aqcelerator and Found Capital.

Founded in 2025, Metal Morph is developing an infrastructure-as-a-service solution that recovers industrial materials from municipal and industrial wastewater. Its first technology focuses on recovering aluminium and iron-based treatment chemicals that would otherwise be discharged to sewers, sent to landfill or spread on land.

The recovered chemicals can be reused in water treatment processes, creating a circular system designed to reduce reliance on primary supply chains while lowering procurement costs and associated carbon emissions. The company plans to expand its technology to recover standalone metals from industrial wastewater and mining tailings.

Growing up in a place where access to clean water was uncertain instilled within me an appreciation of how fragile access to essential resources can be. With Metal Morph, I want to help change that reality. Water infrastructure is one of the most overlooked industrial supply chains in the world. By harnessing them correctly, we are fundamentally reshaping the supply of essential chemicals to reduce the cost of water production,

said Moletsane Mophethe, founder and CEO of Metal Morph.

The company has completed more than 50 live tests across three drinking water treatment plants. According to Metal Morph, the tests demonstrated recovery of up to 90 per cent of spent treatment chemicals at 95 per cent purity, alongside a 26 per cent reduction in coagulation-related operating costs and an 89 per cent reduction in emissions associated with coagulant procurement.

Metal Morph is working with six UK water utilities, which together represent 56 per cent of the UK water market. The company has also received a £100,000 grant from UK water regulator Ofwat, with a further £450,000 available subject to achieving agreed milestones.

The new funding will be used to further develop Metal Morph’s resource recovery technology, roll out industry pilots and continue validation with water utilities and industrial partners. The company is also exploring opportunities in European markets, including potential demonstrations in Estonia, while discussions are underway with Belgian water utility Aquafin.