Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Inkski, currently based at Cambridge University’s business incubator, is pursuing “development of a groundbreaking invention in digital printing technology.”

Dr Hall was co-founder of Advanced Rendering Technology (ART), a company that specialises in making computer-generated images exceptionally lifelike, writes Ben Fountain.

The company will be operating in a particularly cut-throat market and is not yet ready to reveal technical details, nor any elements of its business plan.

“We’re aiming to deliver a significant increase in digital printing performance,” said Dr Hall.

“Although the technology is at an early stage results so far have been very encouraging. I’m delighted we now have the resources in place to develop the company further.”

Cambridge based inkjet company, Xaar was impressed enough with the breakthrough to participate in the seed round, investing alongside Providence Investment, GEIF Ventures Early Growth Fund, NESTA and several business angels.

Dr Hall worked with ART in two stints – starting as co-founder in 1995, before returning as part of a buy-out in 2002. He left the company again in 2003 to concentrate on “developing a few other ideas.”

He has a background in the printing industry, having worked for printing software company, Harlequin in the mid nineties.

Harlequin was acquired out of receivership in 1999 by Global Graphics, which retains a strong Cambridge presence.

Inkski Ltd was founded in April last year and is based in the William Gates Building on the University’s West Cambridge site. Dr Hall said that the location was ideal for collaborative work with University researchers, particularly the Cavendish Lab.