Founders at the University of Cambridge
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    GUIDE BRILLIANT MINDS THROUGH GROUNDBREAKING JOURNEYS.

    A WORLD-CLASS GLOBAL
    NETWORK WORKING TO INSPIRE
    THE NEXT GENERATION OF
    ENTREPRENEURIAL TALENT

    Founders at the University of Cambridge Community is a diverse network of next generation change makers. University-led innovation has a pivotal role to play in society’s response to the complex challenges facing humanity. With future-focused change as a priority, Founders at the University of Cambridge is the new strategic initiative to support, fund and accelerate spin-outs and start-ups from the University.

    WHY?

    Positively impact the next generation of Cambridge University linked entrepreneurs. Every member of the Founders at the University of Cambridge Community will bring something unique to this global network through their journey, experience and expertise. With your involvement, Founders at the University of Cambridge will use all of Cambridge’s expertise to accelerate the impact of world changing technology. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an exceptional global community and be able to positively impact the next generation of new ventures.

    WHAT?

    A world-class diverse peer community, championing game-changing technologies and new ventures. The cornerstone of the Founders at the University of Cambridge initiative is the Community: an inspirational global network of alumni, specialists and Cambridge experts from the local ecosystem who have created their own innovation-focused ventures or been critical to the success of others. Through this community we will ensure that future founders get to learn from those that have walked the path before them and that community members gain opportunities from being part of this network, outlined below.

    HOW?

    Maximum value with minimum time commitment. There will be different ways to engage; ensuring everyone gets value add with minimal time commitment is front of mind. Opportunities will exist for both in-person and online engagement. As with any engaged community we want to shape the offering based on your feedback and input.

    Community
    Opportunities

    GIVE BACK AND MAKE AN IMPACT

    By getting involved with the Founders at the University of Cambridge Programme, you have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the next generation of academic entrepreneurs. Your guidance can shape their success stories and unlock their potential.

    ACCESS MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

    Supporting brilliant academic entrepreneurs opens up opportunities to invest or get involved in exciting new ventures.

    GAIN EXPOSURE AND RECOGNITION

    Being part of the Founders at the University of Cambridge Community can enhance your professional visibility. Become an influential figure in the academic and entrepreneurship ecosystem through your contribution.

    STAY ON TRENDS

    Supporting academic founders provides you with the opportunity to remain current on emerging trends, gain access to cutting-edge research, and be part of groundbreaking innovations, allowing for a collective and immediate influence on the world.

    NETWORK AND COLLABORATE GLOBALLY

    Be part of a global community and connect with ambitious academic founders, investors, and industry experts to extend your professional network and shape the future.

    Our expert community share our commitment to nurturing innovation and empowering visionary founders:  

    Aashima Arora
    Aashima Arora
    Partner, LocalGlobe
    Aashima Arora on LinkedIn
    Aleksandra Pedraszewska
    Aleksandra Pedraszewska
    Co-founder, VividQ
    Aleksandra Pedraszewska on LinkedIn
    Amelia Armour
    Amelia Armour
    Partner, Amadeus
    Amelia Armour on LinkedIn
    Andy Phillipps
    Andy Phillipps
    Co-founder, Booking.com
    Andy Phillipps on LinkedIn
    Arianna Huffington
    Arianna Huffington
    Founder & CEO, Thrive
    Arianna Huffington on LinkedIn
    Byeronie Epstein
    Byeronie Epstein
    Co-founder & COO, Deep Medical Therapeutics
    Byeronie Epstein on LinkedIn
    Chad Edwards
    Chad Edwards
    Founder & CEO, CuspAI
    Chad Edwards on LinkedIn
    Carmen Palacios-Berraquero
    Carmen Palacios-Berraquero
    CEO, Nu Quantum
    Carmen Palacios-Berraquero on LinkedIn
    Catherine Breslin
    Catherine Breslin
    Founder, Kingfisher Labs
    Catherine Breslin on LinkedIn
    Catherine Elton
    Catherine Elton
    CEO, Qkine
    Catherine Elton on LinkedIn
    Clare Jones
    Clare Jones
    Chief Commercial Officer, what3words
    Clare Jones on LinkedIn
    Charlotte Salley
    Charlotte Salley
    Senior Content Manager, Morning Brew
    Charlotte Salley on LinkedIn
    Check Warner
    Check Warner
    Partner, Ada Ventures
    Check Warner on LinkedIn
    Chris Mairs (CBE)
    Chris Mairs (CBE)
    Director, Raspberry Pi
    Chris Mairs (CBE) on LinkedIn
    Chris Morton
    Chris Morton
    Founder, Lyst
    Chris Morton on LinkedIn
    Dapo Tomori
    Dapo Tomori
    Venture Advisor, Iaso Ventures
    Dapo Tomori on LinkedIn
    Debu Purkayastha
    Debu Purkayastha
    Managing Partner, 3rd Eye
    Debu Purkayastha on LinkedIn
    Ed Newton-Rex
    Ed Newton-Rex
    Scout, Andreessen Horowitz
    Ed Newton-Rex on LinkedIn
    Gaynor Fryers
    Gaynor Fryers
    Coach & Mentor, Cambridge Judge Business School
    Gaynor Fryers on LinkedIn
    Giorgia Longobardi
    Giorgia Longobardi
    Founder & CEO, Cambridge GaN Devices Limited
    Giorgia Longobardi on LinkedIn
    Hailey Eustace
    Hailey Eustace
    CEO, Commplicated
    Hailey Eustace on LinkedIn
    Hazel Moore (OBE)
    Hazel Moore (OBE)
    Chairman and co-founder, First Capital
    Hazel Moore (OBE) on LinkedIn
    Inès Holzbaur
    Inès Holzbaur
    Founder & Managing Partner, AmorChem
    Inès Holzbaur on LinkedIn
    Iris Good
    Iris Good
    Advisor, Martlet Capital
    Iris Good on LinkedIn
    Isabella Convertini
    Isabella Convertini
    Strategic Partnerships Consultant
    Isabella Convertini on LinkedIn
    Itxaso Araque Barriuso
    Itxaso Araque Barriuso
    Head of Startup Segment , Amazon
    Itxaso Araque Barriuso on LinkedIn
    James Cole
    James Cole
    Chief Innovation Officer, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
    James Cole on LinkedIn
    James Thomas
    James Thomas
    Angel Investor
    James Thomas on LinkedIn
    Jane Dancer
    Jane Dancer
    Non Exec Chair, PharmEnable
    Jane Dancer on LinkedIn
    Jiahao Huang
    Jiahao Huang
    CoFounder and CFO, Nuclera
    Jiahao Huang on LinkedIn
    Joe White (MBE)
    Joe White (MBE)
    His Majesty's Tech Envoy to the United States, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Joe White (MBE) on LinkedIn
    John Cassidy
    John Cassidy
    Partner, Kindred Capital VC
    John Cassidy on LinkedIn
    John Rainey
    John Rainey
    Operating Partner (Product), Gallos Technologies
    John Rainey on LinkedIn
    Jon Bradford
    Jon Bradford
    Managing Partner, Dynamo Ventures
    Jon Bradford on LinkedIn
    Julia Hawkins
    Julia Hawkins
    General Partner, Localglobe
    Julia Hawkins on LinkedIn
    Jurgen Van Gael
    Jurgen Van Gael
    European CTO, Stripe
    Jurgen Van Gael on LinkedIn
    Katy Wigdahl
    Katy Wigdahl
    CEO, Speechmatics
    Katy Wigdahl on LinkedIn
    Kelly Richdale
    Kelly Richdale
    Advisor, SandboxAQ & World Economic Forum
    Kelly Richdale on LinkedIn
    Kerry Baldwin
    Kerry Baldwin
    Co-founder & Managing Partner, IQ Capital
    Kerry Baldwin on LinkedIn
    Kevin McDonnell
    Kevin McDonnell
    CEO & Founder, Datalla Group
    Kevin McDonnell on LinkedIn
    Kevin Withane
    Kevin Withane
    Founder, DiversityX
    Kevin Withane on LinkedIn
    Kris Naudts
    Kris Naudts
    Chairman, Culture Trip
    Kris Naudts on LinkedIn
    Lauren Tack
    Lauren Tack
    Investor, Invigorate Ventures
    Lauren Tack on LinkedIn
    Ludo Chapman
    Ludo Chapman
    Chair, Zetta Genomics
    Ludo Chapman on LinkedIn
    Malcolm Burwell
    Malcolm Burwell
    Board Director, UltraConductive Copper Company Inc
    Malcolm Burwell on LinkedIn
    Mandeep Singh
    Mandeep Singh
    Founder, Trouva
    Mandeep Singh on LinkedIn
    Max Azaham
    Max Azaham
    Senior Director, Gartner
    Max Azaham on LinkedIn
    Maximilian Bock
    Maximilian Bock
    Co-founder & COO, Blang Blang
    Maximilian Bock on LinkedIn
    Mehryar Hamid
    Mehryar Hamid
    Head of E-Commerce CEE & MEA, Microsoft
    Mehryar Hamid on LinkedIn
    Miruna-Ioana Girtu
    Miruna-Ioana Girtu
    Partner, SyndicateRoom
    Miruna-Ioana Girtu on LinkedIn
    Nick Rimmer
    Nick Rimmer
    Director, Telegraph Materials
    Nick Rimmer on LinkedIn
    Nicky Dibben
    Nicky Dibben
    Marketing Consultant, Invention Marketing
    Nicky Dibben on LinkedIn
    Nigel Pitchford
    Nigel Pitchford
    Partner, Downing
    Nigel Pitchford on LinkedIn
    Nikhil Shah
    Nikhil Shah
    Founder, MixCloud
    Nikhil Shah on LinkedIn
    Niko Bonatsos
    Niko Bonatsos
    Managing Director, General Catalyst
    Niko Bonatsos on LinkedIn
    Nigel Toon
    Nigel Toon
    Founder & CEO, Graphcore
    Nigel Toon on LinkedIn
    Nima Mehdian
    Nima Mehdian
    CEO, DeepMake
    Nima Mehdian on LinkedIn
    Nirmesh Patel
    Nirmesh Patel
    Principle, The Venture Collective
    Nirmesh Patel on LinkedIn
    Oliver Lo
    Oliver Lo
    VP Marketing, Surge, Sequoia Capital
    Oliver Lo on LinkedIn
    Paddy Stobbs
    Paddy Stobbs
    Founder, Stackfix
    Paddy Stobbs on LinkedIn
    Pam Garside
    Pam Garside
    Chair, Cambridge Angels
    Pam Garside on LinkedIn
    Paul Bailey
    Paul Bailey
    Managing Director, Martlet Capital
    Paul Bailey on LinkedIn
    Paul Forster
    Paul Forster
    Co-founder, Indeed.com
    Paul Forster on LinkedIn
    Pete Hutton
    Pete Hutton
    Chairman, Xampla
    Pete Hutton on LinkedIn
    Priya Guha (MBE)
    Priya Guha (MBE)
    Venture Partner, Merian Ventures
    Priya Guha (MBE) on LinkedIn
    Raj Ganatra
    Raj Ganatra
    Strategy & Operations, YouTube / Google
    Raj Ganatra on LinkedIn
    Rahul Vohra
    Rahul Vohra
    Founder, Superhuman
    Rahul Vohra on LinkedIn
    Raoul-Gabriel Urma
    Raoul-Gabriel Urma
    Executive Chairman, Cambridge Spark
    Raoul-Gabriel Urma on LinkedIn
    Rebecca Simmons
    Rebecca Simmons
    COO, Riverlane
    Rebecca Simmons on LinkedIn
    Richard Green
    Richard Green
    Chairman, Nyobolt
    Richard Green on LinkedIn
    Rob Moffat
    Rob Moffat
    Partner, Balderton Capital
    Rob Moffat on LinkedIn
    Rosemary Francis
    Rosemary Francis
    Chief Scientist, Altair
    Rosemary Francis on LinkedIn
    Shailendra Vyakarnam
    Shailendra Vyakarnam
    Venture Partner, Embryo Ventures
    Shailendra Vyakarnam on LinkedIn
    Simon Hombersley
    Simon Hombersley
    Founder, Puntios
    Simon Hombersley on LinkedIn
    Sophie Adelman
    Sophie Adelman
    Co-founder & CEO, One Garden
    Sophie Adelman on LinkedIn
    Stan Boland
    Stan Boland
    CEO, FiveAI
    Stan Boland on LinkedIn
    Stephanie Richards
    Stephanie Richards
    Global Innovation Policy Specialist, 500 Global
    Stephanie Richards on LinkedIn
    Suhair Khan
    Suhair Khan
    Founder, OpenEnded
    Suhair Khan on LinkedIn
    Suranga Chandratillake
    Suranga Chandratillake
    General Partner, Balderton Capital
    Suranga Chandratillake on LinkedIn
    Tessa Clarke
    Tessa Clarke
    Co-founder & CEO, Olio
    Tessa Clarke on LinkedIn
    Ting Zhang
    Ting Zhang
    Founder & CEO, Crayfish.Io
    Ting Zhang on LinkedIn
    Tom Adeyoola
    Tom Adeyoola
    Chair, Spoke
    Tom Adeyoola on LinkedIn
    Tom Wilson
    Tom Wilson
    Partner, Seedcamp
    Tom Wilson on LinkedIn
    Vishal Chatrath
    Vishal Chatrath
    Founder & CEO, QuantrolOx
    Vishal Chatrath on LinkedIn
    Chris Coleridge
    Chris Coleridge
    Co-founder, Carbon13
    Chris Coleridge on LinkedIn

    WAYS TO
    SUPPORT

    MENTORS

    Every Founder company will be paired with local or global Mentors who will guide, challenge and support the team throughout the Programme. Mentors will provide a wealth of experience, wisdom, and knowledge across the business, in-person if local or online if global. Mentors will have an ongoing light-touch relationship with companies on the Programme.

    EXPERTS

    Knowledge is power and the Founders Programme will have a time table of topic – specific sessions on key themes for spinning out and establishing a deep tech company. We are looking for amazing operators to share this real-life experience. Topics could include ensuring the correct product-market fit, industry insight, creating talent teams, the reality of commercialisation, diversity, and sustainability. Knowledge experts commit to a minimum of one in-person and/or drop-in session per programme.

    CONNECTORS

    Connections are key — our world class Founders at the University of Cambridge Community will bring huge potential for relevant introductions that could change the trajectory of Founders companies. Are you willing to open the door to your network where relevant?

    CAN WE COUNT
    YOU IN?

    This is a unique opportunity to meet fellow founders, investors and experts in their fields, all with a Cambridge connection, and network in a meaningful way. Simply complete the following form and the Founders at the University of Cambridge team will contact you with more details and answer any questions you may have.