If Frontier was listed on the US market I believe it would have a market value of £200m plus… |
Pulsiv have announced the launch of their 240w USB-C Port at electronica fair.
I won’t copy whole article but here is a snippet and link to press report.
“Applications such as televisions, monitors, projectors, and games consoles which don’t require charging, can benefit from 240W USB-C power supplies. It enables the entire power electronics to be removed from the product which significantly reduces the overall size, weight, and cost. We’re expecting to uncover even more applications which can benefit from our ground-breaking solution and the level of interest so far has been unprecedented. I’m looking forward to how Pulsiv will completely redefine the fast-charging space.” said Pulsiv’s Director of Global Sales, Nick Theodoris. |
 Fieldwork partners with leading manufacturer of autonomous and collaborative mobile robot platforms, Burro (Augean Robotics, Inc.)
Burro has recently raised a $24m Series B funding round, proving commerciality of its technology
Collaboration benefits from Fieldwork’s and Burro’s combined expertise in AI and robotics with field trials run successfully at Place UK Ltd.
Burro already achieved significant customer traction with large raspberry growers in Fieldwork’s target markets, Australia and the US, complementing Fieldwork’s existing customer traction in the regions
Fieldwork Robotics Ltd., (“Fieldwork221;), developers of selective, adaptive and modular harvesting robots, is pleased to announce that it has signed a collaboration agreement with manufacturer of autonomous and collaborative mobile robot platforms, Burro.
Raspberry growers are particularly impacted by the significant and growing labour crisis affecting the agricultural sector. As cost of labour grows driven by minimum wage increases and availability of labour remains pressured, growers are looking towards innovation to mitigate against labour cost headwinds and against the inevitable greater challenge of seasonal worker availability in the future.
However, even when growers are keen to integrate robotics into their harvesting practice to try and abate increasing costs, they face problems with initial cost of equipment and lack of compatibility between different technologies.
Interoperability between different kinds of technology is an essential step in ensuring farmers and growers can integrate robotics into their operations in a way that is efficient and cost effective for them.
The Fieldworker 1: Interoperable and base agnostic
The working partnership has produced a base agnostic payload that can run on multiple bases, including Burro’s, providing farmers with an affordable, efficient and interoperable solution to their harvesting needs. The payload of the Fieldworker 1 seamlessly integrates with other autonomous robots, and this interoperability has been developed and demonstrated in partnership with Burro.
Other compatible brands include OxDrive, specialists in the design and manufacture of robust, integrated, electric drives.
Interoperability of technology is a huge advantage to growers and will afford Fieldwork’s customers greater flexibility and lower operating costs.
David Fulton, Fieldwork Robotics CEO commented:
“Burro is the perfect partner for Fieldwork as we continue to develop our product offering. The team’s expertise in autonomous agricultural robots has been an invaluable addition as we continue to develop. This collaboration is a significant milestone for us, and we look forward to delivering an enhanced service to our customers.
Fieldwork has recently released its updated autonomous raspberry-harvesting robot which has benefitted from Burro’s expertise. A collaboration with an excellent partner like Burro serves to significantly strengthen our first-mover advantage.”
Fieldwork x Burro: an industry-leading partnership
Burro is a leading developer of fully autonomous robotic platforms. Their model incorporates machine learning, high precision GPS and ‘Pop-Up Autonomy™̵7; to create a high-quality autonomous platform that transports produce from A to B around the field.
Like Fieldwork, Burro’s technology is designed to enhance agricultural work and support growers struggling with a lack of available labour. Burro has recently raised a $24m Series B funding round and has strong platform success across Fieldwork’s target markets, making them an ideal partner for the company.
Charlie Andersen, Burro CEO commented: “FieldworkR17;s technology is truly world class. It has been a pleasure to work with David and the team as they developed their technology. Our combined expertise in robotics and automation facilitated an interactive and highly effective partnership. We’re excited to see where our partnership with the company takes us next, and our customers are hugely excited about their solution to autonomous harvesting!”
Field trial success
The Fieldworker 1, run on Burro’s base, has successfully completed field trials at Place UK Ltd., a grower of Driscoll’s berries. The robot is currently on track to partake in field trials with leading berry grower, Costa Group, on its Australian farms in 2025.
Dan Yordanov, Head of Fresh at Place UK Ltd. commented: “Seeing Fieldwork’s technology operating in the field has been fascinating. We were very pleased to work with David and the team to test the Fieldworker 1 at Place UK and we are confident that it will be an invaluable harvesting solution to growers in the future.” |
Finals were announced on 31st October last year actually. Over last 6 years though they have been announced as late as 15th November.
Results will have to address the funding issue though. The flagged up Alusid IPO from earlier in year is yet to happen. Hopes that Pulsiv would announce news of a major deal is still in the pending file and we still await news of their significant fundraise.
Camgraphic is the interesting one for me now though. We know they have been working with a multinational major for over 2 years now. They say they are looking to raise £21m this quarter and are seeking a CFO handling a bubget up to £100m.
Apart from Frontiers 20.8% stake, their last accounts show CamGraphic have a £2.7m loan from Frontier. So if CamGraphic complete that fundraise, in theory Frontier could get an inflow of cash to ease any funding issues.
However CamGraphic have said the loans will be converted to shares in this current fundraise. This makes me think that surely if Frontier were desperate for cash they would seek repayment. Or, could it be, we are so confident in CamGraphics near future value and earnings potential we are better off maintaining a circa 20% for as long as possible. |
You’ve got to ask yourself- has anything negative happened to the portfolio recently? No. Are things taking long to progress? Yes. Are institutional investors increasing or decreasing their stakes? Increasing. Are the portfolio companies attracting top talent into the businesses? Yes. Does that happen with companies on the slide, look at the recent talent going into Pulsiv and fieldwork, look at all the hundreds and hundreds of thousands of government grants being soaked up by the portfolio … a bit of patience is required here, in my opinion. Results last year were published on 31st October. I’m optimistic. |
You will be very lucky to get a response - They make a clam seem loquacious |
Are results late this year.I recently contacted the company with a comment regarding the continued weak share price and potential impending need for a cash injection.I stated I appreciate they are in a closed period all I asked for was as a shareholder should i be concerned |
Plenty of lumpy trades going through after hours this week. 375k yesterday, 3 trades totalling over 800k today. Similar thing happened mid August with trades declared late and not showing in the volume. |
Fieldwork Robotics is pleased to announce that Sid Shaikh has joined the company as CTO.
Sid has formidable engineering experience and has held leadership roles at GSK, Cambridge Consultants, and Ocado, and was most recently Head of Robotics at hyperTunnel Limited. He has developed world class tech platforms, including Ocado’s global robotic pick and pack platform, and has led numerous engineering teams to success.
Sid will be leading our UK and Portugal R&D teams, overseeing the manufacturing, development and integration of our advanced robotics and AI technologies. Sid’s technical leadership will be pivotal to the success of our innovation as we continue to engage with stakeholders and potential clients internationally as part of our ongoing global development.
David Fulton, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics, commented:
“I am excited to see what Sid’s 30 years of engineering experience and depth of industry knowledge will bring to the Fieldwork Robotics team as we continue to develop our technology and expand our operations internationally.
I would like to thank Andrea for his tireless hard work and innovation as Fieldwork’s first CTO, and I wish him all the best in his next challenge.”
Sid Shaikh, CTO of Fieldwork Robotics, commented:
“I am pleased to be joining the Fieldwork team and am looking forward to working with the company’s talented engineers. The company has a unique opportunity to be a one-of-a-kind, world-leading developer of raspberry harvesting robotics, and I cannot wait to take its technology to the next level.” |
JW,
I would agree with that in the long term. But they’re saying it will have a bad effect on early stage start ups with the added costs of paying skilled engineers and that entrepreneurs may go overseas.
That said I do think this government is going to be more supportive towards UK startups. I don’t think it’s coincidence that a number of companies in the portfolio have all attracted funding and benefitted from the grants in the last few months.
Hopefully Crabb will accompany the forthcoming results with some more upbeat comments |
I'd say Fieldwork Robotics could be a gainer. Higher NI costs and minimum wage hikes will make farm labour more expensive. An alternative for farmers is the robot!
Also - with all the raises in Captail Gains Tax and freezing income limits, stuff like EIS relief surely will be more appealing to private/wealthy investors? Maybe wishful thinking |
Not sure too many business owners will be joining you in raisin a glass to her. Certainly not David Fulton of Fieldworks.
“Fieldwork Robotics CEO David Fulton joined fellow cleantech startups in writing to the Chancellor to express concerns about the impact of rising employer NI contributions on SMEs. These changes announced in yesterday’s budget will have a significant impact on early-stage hardware innovators like Fieldwork Robotics and co-signatories Allye, Muddy Machines and Munro Vehicles and will ultimately impact the UK’s ability to deliver net-zero goals” |
well someone has to say it - well done Rachel Reeves
"Fifth, we are launching our long-term modern industrial strategy and expanding opportunities for our small and medium sized businesses to grow.
Sixth, to drive innovation we are protecting record funding for research and development to harness the full potential of the UK’s science base. " |
AQC. Are you aware that article is from October 2022?
The 65w USB-C should already be shipping, however whenever I look on Digikey, availability is always a week away. Currently shows 6-11-24 but that’s at least the 4th time the date as slipped back. I’ve not checked other distributors.
Pulsivs website indicates a 70w version due for release this quarter and a 240w version out in Q1 2025. But it is the 65w version they have always said could sell in huge volume. |
Amongst the largest holders you would have to guess it was Quilter as they were down to under 10% after a couple of sells in March/April.
However in that Top holders list from May you can see HL clients with 6.5% and II clients with 6%. HL commented yesterday that they are seeing a lot of clients moving funds from share trading accounts and into cash ahead of the budget. I presume II clients would be doing similar.
But as you say that is Oakglen(twice),Odd Asset Management, Octopus(twice), Premier Milton all disclosing increased stakes since April. |
I’m hopeful Frontier will benefit from todays budget… |
All the recent Holding In Company RNS show people increasing stakes. Nothing about decreasing Stakes - which signals to me we still have a sell who isn't done selling... |
Would seem Pulsiv are working on a larger 10kw version and that they are only selling demonstration versions of the design already released
hxxps://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/power/whitepaper/21252461/electronic-design-novel-flyback-based-switching-architecture-offers-efficient-alternative-to-llc-converters |
Oakglen Wealth have been buying - they now own 5.97% with just over 3.35m shares:
Their last disclosure in June showed 2.63m shares, so they've bought around 700,000 more. |
Listened to an interview with the Chancellor on LBC in my car yesterday… she was saying that start ups that needed ‘patient capital’ are to be encouraged with upcoming pension reforms… I see Frontier as potentially a rare beneficiary of the upcoming budget. The same point has been highlighted by the previous Tory Chancellor at the last mansion house speech and reconfirmed by the current labour chancellor, they agree that UK start ups which need ‘patient capital’ must be given more incentives - such companies are currently often forced to move to the US due to lack of interest in the U.K. Should U.K. pension funds get such incentives in the coming budget, Frontier and its portfolio will be of great interest to a huge new pool of investment capital. |
Always a risk for AIM companies. They are in the closed period and normally report full year results end October or early November so next week or week after? There is lots of AIM nervousness ahead of the budget so little support for the share price and also people waiting for the finals. There has actually been a lot of RNS news over the summer and the portfolio is active based on their own PR but the sector is out of favor. |
Yet another 1 year breakout down -
Free fall continues - As no comment from Company could this reflect the true position? |
The bounce off 30p support broken we are in open territory from a chart perspective . it’s worrying times Nothi |
Also could be a lot of organisations are reducing their holdings in antcipation of the great tax swindle!
Lets see how it goes post budget - who knows Reeves mightb throw us a bone and allow certain offsets, especially for those companies who we focus on |
The market is getting nervous with the lack of progress being reported. Everyone knows a large chunk of start ups fail. Could the radio silence be a sign of impending doom. Or just not much new happening in the past 6months? Personally I think there’s been a healthy flow of good news. Although news of big sales/contracts and impending IPOs would undoubtedly settle the nerves. |
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