On 18 September, 22 early-stage ventures from across the University of Cambridge took the stage at King’s College for our first SPARK 1.0 Demo Day. Over four weeks, students, researchers and recent alumni joined the SPARK incubator – a new programme created in partnership with King’s Entrepreneurship Lab to help Cambridge talent validate bold ideas, early-stage products and world-changing ventures.
Designed to materialise early-stage ideas into investable ventures, SPARK brought together participants from 17 departments – including Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Materials Science, Engineering, Psychology and the Judge Business School. The focus? Practical learning, fast feedback and building a supportive community for founders at the start of their journey.
“Cambridge is aiming to double its tech and science output in the next decade – matching what it achieved in the past 20 years. That ambition starts at the grassroots.”
Gerard Grech CBE, Managing Director, Founders at the University of Cambridge
SPARK 1.0 ran as a four-week programme, guiding teams through market discovery, product design, business models and investment readiness. More than 20 workshops and talks were delivered by over 30 speakers and mentors from Cambridge and beyond.
Highlights included a fireside chat with Andy Phillipps (Co-founder, Booking.com), a meet-and-greet with Gillian Tett OBE (Provost of King’s College and Chair of the Editorial Board, Financial Times) and practical insights from David Cleevely – one of the original “architects” of the Cambridge innovation ecosystem, known for his belief in “engineering serendipity” by reducing friction between ideas and collaborators.
At its core, SPARK is about closing the gap for early-stage founders. By combining the networks of successful entrepreneurs, investor alumni and the venture-building expertise of King’s E-Lab and Founders at the University of Cambridge, the programme is built to give new ventures the best possible start.
The first cohort welcomed 23 ventures, each using their academic roots and research to tackle real-world challenges in climate, health, AI and more:
To explore the teams and their stories, visit our SPARK Portfolio page.
“Driving economic growth requires inspiring the next generation to think boldly about how their ideas can shape industries and society. We want SPARK to be a catalyst, showing students the reality of founding a company.”
Kamiar Mohaddes, Co-founder and Director of King’s Entrepreneurship Lab
Concluding the programme, Demo Day was a chance for the cohort to share what they’ve built, what they’ve learned and where they’re headed next. Each team pitched to an audience of investors, advisors and supporters – demonstrating the progress made in just four weeks.
The energy and collaboration on display truly reflected the strength of the Cambridge community and the value of backing early-stage talent.
Missed the event? Watch the pitches on King’s Entrepreneurship Lab’s YouTube channel.
SPARK 1.0 was shaped by the commitment of mentors, speakers, entrepreneurs-in-residence and partners who gave their time and expertise to guide the cohort. The programme was supported by the University of Cambridge and a generous personal donation from Malcolm McKenzie, King’s alumnus and Chair of the E-Lab’s Senior Advisory Board.
A big thank you to everyone who contributed to workshops, shared advice and helped bring the programme to life. Your involvement is what makes Cambridge a unique place to build new ventures.
Now equipped with entrepreneurial confidence and a strong support network, many of the SPARK 1.0 cohort are continuing to develop their ventures – building on the momentum from the programme and Demo Day. As they refine their products, connect with mentors and explore new avenues for support and investment, we’re excited to see their progress continue to accelerate and their impact grow.
Whether you’re an investor, mentor, partner or future founder, there are plenty of ways to get involved in our programmes. To see what’s happening now, visit our programmes page or follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news, events and opportunities to connect.