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