Founders at the University of Cambridge
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    ACCELERATING CONNECTION.

    INTRODUCING

    SYNC 1.0 BETA is the new University of Cambridge pathway for entrepreneurial students, PhDs, researchers, and recent alumni to meet, form co-founding teams, and launch new startups.

    Within the beta version programme, people from key disciplines and technical experts are matched to launch new AI and software startups within 12 months.

    THE PROGRAMME
    AT A GLANCE

    SYNC 1.0 BETA is our new talent accelerator, bringing the right people together at the right time to create groundbreaking AI and software startups. Applications are now open.

    APPLY NOW

    Sprint One
    Intensive Ideation

    Taking place over four weeks, participants work with a new potential co-founder each week in a rapid ideation sprint. Assisted by our network of experts, this phase will result in matching with your future co-founder and form the foundation of your future startup.  

    Sprint Two
    Prototype Development

    Returning from the Christmas break, participants will work with their chosen co-founder to define the problem they want to solve, and build initial prototypes. This phase culminates in an internal demo day for the cohort.

    Sprint Three
    Building Your Business

    A fourteen-week period designed to support founders in building their ventures, as well as providing access to a range of Start 2.0’s workshops. This phase is focused on speaking to customers and preparing to pitch Cambridge Enterprise Ventures for funding at the end of the programme.  

    SYNC 1.0 BETA:
    THE OFFERING

    We offer:

    • £2,000 programme stipend.
    • No programme fee.
    • Part-time programme, can be completed alongside studies or research, three evenings per week.
    • Each business is matched with a dedicated Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
    • Free office space during programme hours.
    • Access to Start 2.0. accelerator workshops, founder stories and community
    • Access to more than 180 world class experts from the Founders at the University of Cambridge Community.
    • Access to Cambridge Enterprise Ventures’ 100+ list of co-investors with curated intros where appropriate.
    • Investment of £20,000 and match funding of an additional £30,000 in selected businesses.
    YOU

    YOU

    We’re here for you. Helping you take your first steps as a founder, Sync 1.0 Beta will draw on the experience of successful startup founders and industry leaders picked from global University of Cambridge alumni. We will guide you through both personal growth and business challenges that lie ahead.


    We’re here for you. Helping you take your first steps as a founder, Sync 1.0 Beta will draw on the experience of successful startup founders and industry leaders picked from global University of Cambridge alumni. We will guide you through both personal growth and business challenges that lie ahead.





    YOUR TEAM

    YOUR TEAM

    We’re here for you and your team. Finding the right co-founder is critical for your success, and we will help you find yours from a pool of 30 high-quality, handpicked people with a range of skill sets.


    We’re here for you and your team. Finding the right co-founder is critical for your success, and we will help you find yours from a pool of 30 high-quality, handpicked people with a range of skill sets.





    CAPITAL

    CAPITAL

    Money Matters. In addition to a £2,000 stipend for you to participate in the programme, participants have the opportunity to gain a £20,000 investment at the end of Phase Three, while you are still completing your studies and/or research.


    Money Matters. In addition to a £2,000 stipend for you to participate in the programme, participants have the opportunity to gain a £20,000 investment at the end of Phase Three, while you are still completing your studies and/or research.





    MARKET DISCOVERY & TECHNOLOGY

    MARKET DISCOVERY & TECHNOLOGY

    Find your market. We will work with you to build your initial MVP, interrogate your market assumptions, and build out and test your market strategy.


    Find your market. We will work with you to build your initial MVP, interrogate your market assumptions, and build out and test your market strategy.





    COMMUNITY & RESOURCES

    COMMUNITY & RESOURCES

    Core to Founders at the University of Cambridge is our community. We have built a world class, diverse, peer community of University of Cambridge alumni and non-alumni championing game-changing technologies. Join the programme and you join this community for life. Additionally, we offer free office space during programme hours.


    Core to Founders at the University of Cambridge is our community. We have built a world class, diverse, peer community of University of Cambridge alumni and non-alumni championing game-changing technologies. Join the programme and you join this community for life. Additionally, we offer free office space during programme hours.





    The programme is aimed at individuals who wish to solve humanity’s greatest challenges through the use of AI and other emerging technologies. Those selected will join an exclusive cohort of up to 30 ambitious people.

    Still unsure, why not get in touch?

    APPLICATIONSOPEN
    APPLICATIONSSHUT
    INTERVIEWS
    SPRINT ONE
    SPRINT TWO
    SPRINT THREE

    FAQ

    Do I need to pay to join the programme?

    No, we do not charge a programme fee. We pay you a £2,000 stipend upon programme completion. 



    Who is eligible for the programme?

    This programme is open to anyone with any affiliation with the University of Cambridge in the last two years. That can be current or recent undergraduates, post-graduates, post-doctorates, staff or dropouts. 

    We are looking for people who want to become a full-time founder by December 2025. If that’s not for you, this programme is not for you. 



    How do I find a co-founder within the programme?

    The programme begins with an all-expenses paid weekend retreat for you to meet others in the cohort, learn of each other’s interests, expertise and unique insights. The retreat culminates in initial co-founding team formation for week one of the programme. From there, you will work with a different potential co-founder every week for four weeks, giving you every opportunity to pick the most compatible partner.



    Who selects the co-founder I work with?

    You select who you work with. The first four weeks of matching and ideation are designed to enable you to explore different possible co-founders. The programme team provide the structure for you to find mutually beneficial matches, but we do not matchmake individuals directly.



    What if I don't find a co-founder in the first four weeks?

    Not everyone will find a match in the first four weeks – and that’s ok. There will be further opportunities to match (if necessary) in Sprint Two (January 2025). If you don’t build a co-founder relationship with anyone in the programme, we will give you the opportunity to match with someone outside the cohort.



    What if I don't find a co-founder at all?

    Having worked with at least four potential co-founders, you will have a better sense for what you are looking for in a great co-founder. Prior to external matching we will ask you to define the characteristics, skills, and experience you would desire from a co-founder.



    How do I get the £20,000 investment?

    The £20,000 is not guaranteed, but every company that is formed will have the opportunity to pitch Cambridge Enterprise Ventures by the end of the programme. There will be an additional two more opportunities to pitch subsequently, in September and December 2025 and companies can choose which date to target. Only one pitch meeting will be required, and all companies will get a quick decision.



    What is the criteria for the £20,000 investment?

    We will look at the following criteria when making investment decisions:

    • A company must be formed
    • Strength of the founding team
    • Progress made during the programme
    • A clear plan to spend the money, and raise follow-on funding
    • A viable business model


    How does the £30,000 match-funding work?

    If you come back to us with other investors committed, we can match funds up to an additional £30,000. Although we will have to conduct basic diligence on those investors, any type of investor is in principle eligible for the match.



    Do I have the opportunity to pitch for further funding?

    Any company formed during the programme can pitch Cambridge Enterprise Ventures for further follow-on funding separately from the accelerator as milestones are achieved.



    What are the attendance requirements?

    We require full participation across the programme. This is to give each aspiring founder a fair and equal opportunity to find a co-founder.

    • Sprint One and Two take place over a total of 10 weeks and requires up to three evenings per week (17:30-20:00).
    • Sprint Three takes place over a total of 14 weeks and requires up to 3 hours of flexible contact time per week.


    How does SYNC link into START?

    During Sprint Three, you will have access to selected content from our pre-seed stage company accelerator, START 2.0. This will include workshops to accelerate your startup and access to informal founder story events.

    Following completion of SYNC 1.0 BETA, our pre-seed stage company accelerator, START 3.0, will commence in January 2026. Startups which receive investment will be fast tracked to the final interview stage.



    What will my startup need to focus on?

    SYNC is focused on creating interdisciplinary teams that can produce computational solutions to hard problems. We are sector agnostic, and you do not need to hold qualifications in computer science/information engineering to apply. 



    Can you sponsor visas?

    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. 



    Any additional questions?

    If you have a question that is not answered above, please reach us at connect@founders.cam.ac.uk



    APPLY TO SYNC 1.0 BETA

    SYNC 1.0 BETA is our new talent accelerator, bringing the right people together at the right time to create groundbreaking AI and software startups. Applications are now open.

    APPLY NOW!

    MEET OUR SYNC 1.0 BETA
    SPONSOR PARTNERS

    AstraZeneca brings deep industry knowledge and a commitment to encouraging innovation in life sciences and helping the next generation of entrepreneurs.

    Known for their cutting-edge research in the technology space, Hitachi is an essential partner on our journey.

    With a legacy of excellence in financial and legal services, KPMG adds a wealth of experience to our community, alongside a vast global client network.