Founders at the University of Cambridge

• You are developing a technology-based solution from University research or knowledge. This could be University licensed IP or IP developed independently.
• You are ready to commit to growing your company. If spending time in your lab is necessary to do that, that’s ok.
• One founder has attended Cambridge University in the last two years. We are looking for everyone from professors, to post-docs, to undergrads, to drop-outs.

We are interested in most technology areas with the potential for high impact including DeepTech, New Materials, Sustainability, Digital Health and Life Sciences. 

If you are working in Drug Discovery or Deep Therapeutics, we can’t take you on in this programme. Technology adjacent to those areas is eligible.

The Start Programme is specifically for founders, teams and companies looking to get to a pre-seed or seed round of investment or secure grant funding in the next 12 months. Future programmes will support other company stages.

Yes – although we will be looking for evidence that you can build a complementary team around you quickly.

We offer 50 hours from an Entrepreneur-in-Residence who are hand-picked according to your specific needs. Beyond that, we will provide 30 mentors to you during the programme for general feedback, specific knowledge on your markets and on other core company topics. This will include one-on-one sessions with experienced entrepreneurs, group workshops, and access to our network of industry experts as required. Finally, you will get support from Cambridge Enterprise as you prepare for investment. 

The community is there for you if you join the programme and we want you to be an active part of it. Everyone in the community wants to engage with startups coming out of the University, but people’s time availability is limited. Within the programme, we will therefore be thoughtful about how we engage, when we engage, and what interaction is with each community member, but our aim is to get you the connections we need.

Additionally, part of the Founders team is dedicated full-time to growing and curating that community, so it will become more valuable over time.

After completing our programme, we will support you through your next phase, whether it be a fundraise, grant application or beyond. You can also stay in ideaSpace with us for three months, at a discounted rate.

You are part of the Founders at the University of Cambridge community going forward.

That’s fine. We will give you £40k investment at the start of the programme and will aim to get you investment-ready by the end of the programme.

We do not charge any participation fees. And there are no hidden fees.

The terms (outlined below) are identical to standard University equity funding. The University is funding the programme separately – so everything we are going to do is freely offered on top of the standard investment terms. There is no charge for our time, this is all about making your money go further.

The University has consistently played a proactive role in supporting startups, and the introduction of this programme will further amplify that engagement. Our commitment to investing in your venture aligns us with your long-term success, a partnership we anticipate will prove advantageous throughout your entrepreneurial journey.

The investment is based on a SAFE loan (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). In simple terms, we give you capital in exchange for the right to take equity in your company when you raise your next investment round, which we do at 20% discount to the round price.

The University and Parkwalk Advisors will also have the right to invest in both the converting round and subsequent investment rounds. Additionally, there is no valuation cap – so whatever the price per share is in your next round is what we are pegged to, with the 20% discount. There is also no interest on the loan. these terms are market best practice and designed to be as founder friendly as possible.

Not at all. The University is still making investments in companies as it always has. If you don’t get selected for the programme, and there are limited spaces, there is absolutely opportunity for investment from the University in future. Cambridge Enterprise’s door is always open.

Working with other services in Cambridge Enterprise is complementary to the programme. We encourage you to carry on that process as normal as you complete an application and beyond. If you are not selected for the programme, and there are limited spaces, this will have no impact on your work with Cambridge Enterprise.

We will not fund two competitive companies in the same accelerator cohort. However, as the University has been making investments for over 20 years, it is possible that there will be some competitiveness within the overall portfolio.

We generally expect you to be in the Cambridge office twice a week. There may be additional events in Cambridge that are beneficial for your business. If this level of in-person attendance doesn’t work for you, then this programme isn’t for you.

Unfortunately, we can’t help with visas at this time. However, you may want to apply to the UK’s Global Talent visa which enables exceptionally talented individuals potentially like yourself to come to the UK to work for five years. More on other visa routes can be found here. 

Please get in touch at connect@founders.cam.ac.uk