Founders at the University of Cambridge

Last month, founders, mentors, investors and supporters from across the Founders at the University of Cambridge Community came together to celebrate START 3.0.

The evening arrived at an important point for the cohort. Nearing six months of strategy development, customer discovery, mentoring and investment preparation, it offered a moment to reflect on how far the founders and their companies had come.

Ambition on display

Throughout the evening, one theme surfaced repeatedly: ambition. Not only in the scale of the problems founders are tackling, but in how they are approaching them.

This year’s cohort spans life sciences, AI and deep technology, bringing together teams developing solutions to challenges in health, sustainability and infrastructure. While their companies are rooted in University of Cambridge research, the potential applications extend far beyond it.

As Winny Sanchita, Accelerator Manager, reflects in the event video:

“This cohort is not just building for Cambridge or the UK, they are building for the globe.”

That ambition was equally visible in the updates shared by the cohort. Each founder offered a snapshot of how their company had developed through START, from strengthening their understanding of customers to preparing for conversations with investors around the world.

The discussion also explored what these early-stage founders need around them to turn those ideas into companies. Guests pointed to the depth of expertise across Cambridge and, just as importantly, the willingness of experienced founders, investors, operators and alum to share what they have learned with those following in their footsteps.

As Edward Cartwright, CEO and Co-founder of AdcoTx, reflected during the evening:

“START has been a whirlwind.”

He spoke about learning to look beyond the science, grow into the role of a CEO and communicate more clearly with customers. The programme experience, he said, had helped him achieve far more than he thought possible.

The people behind the progress

Bringing the community together also underscored how rarely progress happens in isolation.

Opening the evening, Caroline Hyde, Head of Entrepreneurship and Ecosystems at Cambridge Enterprise, recognised the mentors, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs), Operators-in-Residence (OIRs), programme team and sponsors whose time and support have helped shape START and the experience offered to its founders.

The importance of having the right people around a company also came through clearly in the event video. As Jim Glasheen, Chief Executive of Cambridge Enterprise, puts it:

“If there’s one thing you need when you’re starting a company, it’s friends, it’s support, it’s a network.”

That support can take many forms, from sharing hard-won experience to asking a question that causes a founder to see their company differently.

For Katy Turner, a Marketing Operator-in-Residence who has worked with the programme across several cohorts, the progress continues to stand out:

“START is like MasterChef. They all just get better every year.”

She described this year’s cohort as a cohesive group, united by a shared energy and focus. Their commitment to developing their brands alongside their products was another sign of their ambition to build strong, lasting companies.

London Investor Day marks the culmination of START 3.0, but the companies will carry those relationships and experiences with them as they continue building beyond the programme.

Run by Founders at the University of Cambridge and delivered by Cambridge Enterprise, START is supported by sponsor and community partners AstraZeneca, Hitachi, HSBC Innovation Banking, KPMG UK, Innovate Cambridge and Cambridge Judge Business School.

To explore ways of getting involved with the Founders at the University of Cambridge Community, visit our Community page, check out our programmes page or follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news, events and opportunities to connect.

Image and video credit: Ben Bellairs