This startup is building self-monitoring materials for critical energy infrastructure
What if equipment could tell us when it was about to break down?
Maintenance is an essential part of working with machinery and vehicles, but taking equipment offline to be fixed is a real drag on productivity.
It’s no surprise, then, that there’s a rapidly growing market for predictive maintenance, using data to identify issues before they occur.
ARDHANN is a startup supported by Conception X that is preparing to enter this market with a unique approach.
The company is developing fibre-reinforced composite materials with integrated, nanoscale sensors made of two-dimensional graphene. This is accompanied by AI-enabled monitoring software to keep track of the output from the sensors. The outcome? Critical energy infrastructure that can warn us before it fails.
Founder Sangeethsivan Sivakumar calls Ardhann’s offering ‘structural assurance as a service’.
He explains:
“I thought: what if your material had a nervous system so it could tell you what it’s going through, what kind of stresses it’s under, what temperature it’s at, what pressure it’s under?”
“Right now, I’m concentrating on making these materials for hydrogen, oil, and gas storage and transfer. It could be used for cross-country pipelines, or for monitoring cylinders on trucks travelling from one part of the country to another, for example.”
In the future, Sangeethsivan sees potential for this technology to be deployed in the aerospace and defence industries.
Sangeethsivan was raised in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where his family runs a fabric and clothing manufacturing business. Growing up, he spent a lot of time in the company’s factories and became fascinated with machines. This led him to an undergraduate degree in engineering, where he developed an interest in the potential of advanced materials.
A visiting lecturer from the University of Manchester sparked Sangeethsivan’s passion for composite materials, which led him to Manchester for a Master’s degree and then a PhD.
It was during his PhD that Conception X came to Manchester as part of a partnership with the Turing Innovation Catalyst (TIC), and ran a discovery session with Sangeethsivan. The session inspired him to cancel plans to spend two years doing postdoctoral teaching and research, and get to work on a startup to turn his research into a business.
“Ardhann wouldn’t be here today without Conception X,” he says.
“Their discovery session at my university was the spark that moved me from thinking to building. They challenged my assumptions, broke down my misunderstandings about startups, and rebuilt my approach, equipping me with practical frameworks, dedicated support, and invaluable connections.”
Having grown up in a traditional business environment, Conception X helped Sangeethsivan adjust to the very different demands of the startup world.
“Building a science-driven venture presents unique demands for more support, guidance, and a community that understands the journey,” he says.
“What truly sets Conception X apart is its commitment to deeptech founders.”
“Joining the Conception X network meant I was surrounded by researchers who had become founders — sharing honest, diverse experiences and lessons that were truly transformative. Every interaction with alumni and mentors offered insight tailored to the realities of deeptech, making all the difference.”
ARDHANN is currently raising. Get in touch to learn more.
