While we see the world using visible light, the infrared spectrum enables us to send data over optical fibres and allows robots to see the world around them in 3D. Over 200 million infrared sensors are produced each year using a mature material and squeezing any more performance out of this is very difficult. Phlux has developed a breakthrough new semiconductor material that is over 12 times more sensitive and will enable the next generation of communication and vision systems. This technology is being tested in the latest autopilot car safety features and to connect millions of peoples’ homes to high-speed internet all over the world.
Ben White is the CEO of Phlux Technology and is responsible for managing finance, company culture, business strategy and direction, and managing the leadership team. He recognises how the Shott Scale Up Accelerator can support him to take Phlux through the next phase of its development. He explains, “I’m also particularly interested in learning how successful companies have navigated this phase of growth, and how their leaders evolved with the business.” He can see the value of the Shott Scale Up Accelerator network to achieve this.
Ben also plans to use the support of the Shott Scale Up Accelerator to attend Harvard Business School to support Phlux Technology’s plans for US expansion and his personal goal of building a values driven, high performance culture. He recognises that attending an in-person course at a top US institution would give him the opportunity to form a network of US-based founders/business leaders.
Phlux Technology are currently trying to scale into mass production from tens of thousands of units per year to millions of units per year while transitioning from an R&D focused entity into a commercial one. Ben notes that, “Start-ups and scale-ups require very different leadership skills, and from what I have read, very few first-time founders successfully make the transition.” He sees the Shott Scale Up Accelerator as a key tool to help him succeed in making the transition.
