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The round was co-led by Vsquared Ventures and EastX Ventures, with participation from firstminute capital, UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), Brevan Howard Macro Venture and Geometry.
StandardX, co-founded in 2025 by Richard Pearson and Ross Allen, is building the world’s first isotope refinery, an accelerator system capable of scaling supply of the full portfolio of isotopes wherever it is deployed. Isotopes underpin innovation across healthcare, energy and other critical sectors, but global production is constrained, reliant on a limited number of ageing facilities. StandardX is unlocking a scalable and reliable supply of isotopes, starting with isotopes for cancer medicine where shortages are most acute.
On working with Harbottle & Lewis, StandardX co-founder Richard Pearson said:
“Having Tony, Rosie, Kate and the whole Harbottle & Lewis team alongside us from the start of our journey has been invaluable. They have been a joy to work with, and have helped us navigate multiple fronts, and to move quickly with eyes open. We are excited to continue working together on the road ahead!”
Harbottle & Lewis has advised StandardX since its incorporation in 2025. The team was led by co-managing partner and co-head of the firm’s venture capital practice, Tony Littner and managing associate Rosie Marston, with support from associate Kate Merry.
Commenting on the transaction, Tony Littner said:
“Richard and Ross are exactly the types of entrepreneurs we love to back at Harbottle. They are building a platform to address a real world need. We feel proud and privileged to have been able to support them on their journey so far and are looking forward to the next chapter”.
Tony advises on a wide range of corporate transactions, including investments and venture capital deals, buying and selling businesses and shareholder arrangements. Tony is widely recognised as one of the leading venture capital lawyers in the UK and is a trusted adviser to entrepreneurial businesses and to the investors in such businesses, with a particular focus on the technology, media and entertainment sectors.
Tony frequently advises emerging companies and the founders behind such companies on their full lifecycle from inception of an idea through to funding rounds, exit and beyond as well as the venture capital funds and investors that invest in such high growth businesses.
Tony is recognised as a "Leading Partner" by The Legal 500 and ranked by Chambers in venture capital work.
Rosie’s practice focuses on supporting startups and investors in the venture capital ecosystem. She has extensive experience advising on a wide range of corporate transactions, including venture capital and growth stage fundraisings, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder arrangements, early stage SEIS/EIS investments, convertible instruments (including ASAs, SAFEs and convertible loans), founder disputes, share incentive schemes (including EMI options), joint ventures and corporate reorganisations.
Rosie acts for startup and scale-up companies, entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capital funds, family offices and other corporate investors across a wide range of sectors, with particular experience advising clients in the technology sector.
Rosie trained and qualified at Allen & Overy, where she worked in the corporate M&A team for four and a half years, including secondments to the Singapore office and a client secondment to Virgin Management. She subsequently spent two years at law firm MJ Hudson, before joining Harbottle & Lewis in June 2023.
Rosie is passionate about improving the existing gender imbalance within the startup community and has co-written two articles about how diversity has been threatened by rule changes in the UK venture capital ecosystem, both published by FT Adviser. Read the articles here and here.
Kate has experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, fundraising and shareholder arrangements for early stage and high growth companies and joint venture matters.
Kate joined Harbottle & Lewis in October 2024. Before joining, she trained at Slaughter and May and qualified into their corporate team in March 2023 where she focused on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions for private equity houses.
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