Last month, Kings Place in London became a hub of energy, ambition and breakthrough ideas. 200 investors, partners and innovation leaders came together for Investor Day, hosted by Founders at the University of Cambridge. The annual event marked the culmination of START 2.0 – the second cohort of our pre-seed accelerator programme – where seven pioneering startups, each rooted in University of Cambridge research, shared their bold vision for a better future.
More than a pitch day, it was a celebration of science-led entrepreneurship. As part of the University’s strategic initiative to turn world-class research into real-world ventures, Founders has been building a new pathway for Cambridge innovators – supporting them with seed capital, expert mentorship and structured growth programmes. Since launching 18 months ago, we have introduced SYNC, SPARK and START – a programmatic path designed to guide founders from idea to impact.
“If we want to build a truly world-class innovation economy in the UK, infrastructure like this is essential. What started as a pilot is proving to be just that – essential.”
Gerard Grech CBE, Managing Director, Founders at the University of Cambridge
The day opened with remarks from Gerard Grech, who set the tone for a day focused on reflection, impact and opportunity. Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice followed, highlighting Cambridge’s role as a mature and globally recognised innovation ecosystem.
One of the most anticipated moments came from Yoram Wijngaarde, Founder of Dealroom.co, who unveiled new data that placed Cambridge firmly on the global innovation map. According to The Rise of Cambridge Tech report:
Perhaps most strikingly, Cambridge startups generate $17.7 in value for every $1 of VC investment – nearly three times the UK average.
At the heart of the day were the founders themselves. Graduating from START 2.0, each of the seven startups took the stage investor-ready with clarity, confidence and conviction. As shared by Winny Sanchita, Senior Associate at Founders at the University of Cambridge: “Bringing Cambridge innovations out of the lab, this year’s cohort is tackling global challenges head-on.” From AI and mental health to wildfire prediction and organ bioengineering, they presented frontier technologies designed to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges:
Two alumni from START 1.0 also returned to pitch:
Beyond the pitches, the day featured a dynamic panel discussion on “Unlocking UK Growth Through the Cambridge Engine.” The conversation led by Ingrid Lunden, Former International Managing Editor at TechCrunch, brought together industry leaders Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK; Suranga Chandratilake, General Partner at Balderton Capital; Dr Jim Glasheen Cambridge Enterprise’s Chief Executive and Professor Dame Clare Grey FRS, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Nyobolt and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, each offering a unique perspective on Cambridge’s role in the UK’s economic future.
“Cambridge has consistently been on the forefront of pioneering AI for decades – from Autonomy in the 1990s through to more recent companies like Darktrace, Healx and Wayve. All of these started life in Cambridge and are fundamentally changing how we live and work worldwide in areas as diverse as drug discovery, autonomous vehicles and cyber security.”
Suranga Chandratillake OBE, General Partner, Balderton Capital
“We must maintain focus on our ultimate mission: transforming breakthrough science into scalable solutions.”
Professor Dame Clare Grey FRS, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Nyobolt
Later, a Fireside Chat between Gillian Tett OBE, Provost of King’s College, Cambridge and Chair of the Editorial Board and Columnist, Financial Times and Hermann Hauser KBE, Founder of Arm and Co-founder of Amadeus Capital Partners, explored Cambridge’s role in a fractured world – where power, chips and influence converge.
“In an increasingly fragmented global landscape, Cambridge’s collaborative tech ecosystem demonstrates the openness and ambition essential for UK prosperity. This innovation hub exemplifies Britain’s potential on the world stage.”
Dr Gillian Tett OBE, Provost of King’s College, Cambridge and Chair of the Editorial Board and Columnist, Financial Times
Closing the day, Diarmuid O’Brien, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Cambridge, shared reflections on the day and the University’s vision for the future of the ecosystem. He spoke about the work already underway to build the infrastructure, space and support needed to scale science-led ventures – unlocking entrepreneurial talent across the University and creating an environment for research to deliver lasting impact.
Behind every founder is a network of people who help turn ambition into action. At Founders, that community now includes over 270 experts – from exited founders and investors to senior corporate leaders – who share their insight and experience to support early-stage innovation.
Together, this collective progress is made possible by the backing of our partners. A big thank you to AstraZeneca, Hitachi, HSBC Innovation Banking, KPMG, Cambridge Judge Business School, Innovate Cambridge, Parkwalk Advisors and Cambridge Enterprise Ventures – for enabling our founders to develop, scale and deliver the next generation of breakthroughs.
Investor Day 2025 was a milestone, but it’s only the beginning. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing founder stories, programme insights and opportunities to get involved.
Whether you’re an investor, mentor, partner or future founder, we invite you to be part of what comes next. Together, we’re accelerating breakthroughs and shaping a future where Cambridge innovation changes the world.