Cambridge Enterprise Ventures

Get to know Amanda Wooding, our Deputy Head of Ventures! 🔍 Q. How long have you worked for Cambridge Enterprise Ventures? A. Since October 2021 full time, but for many years aligned alongside Ventures in my previous capacity as Deputy Head of Life Sciences Technology Transfer where I supported life sciences investment more broadly, for example with 52 North Health and T-Therapeutics. In fact, I have been involved in supporting our portfolio of spin-outs and start-ups since 2008, when I first joined the board of Sphere Fluidics Limited.      Q. What did you do before Cambridge Enterprise? A. Life before Cambridge Enterprise involves a career spent at the interface between academic research, industry and translational / early-stage venture funding - sitting at different points in each of these camps. My research activity (PhD, University of Cambridge) focused on intracellular signaling pathways in disease and normal states both here in Cambridge and in industry with Ferring Pharmaceuticals. From Ferring I joined Catalyst Biomedica, part of the Wellcome Trust, and from Wellcome I jumped back into industry in a senior business development role with Acambis, leading on the out license of a Phase III asset to Sanofi Pasteur amongst many other things.      Q. Favourite industry to work with?  A. I am a life sciences specialist so have to shoot with that! For me, those businesses that are driven both by fantastic science and a desire to make a real difference to the lives of their target patient populations are the best.       Q. One innovation that still blows your mind and why? A. Still blows my mind… so something that’s been around a while and still making a massive impact has to be antibody therapeutics. Over 35 years after the initial discovery of monoclonal antibodies last year (2023) 21% of FDA approved drugs were antibody based – 8 single antibodies and 4 bispecifics. The antibody innovation is one that has been and continues to be truly impactful.      Q. What makes you lean forward and take note in a pitch? A. I lean in for an engaging speaker who both tells a compelling story and who is humble enough to understand that they can’t do this alone. When we put cash into a business we are investing in an impactful opportunity that can only be delivered by a team of dedicated, passionate people. Q. One company you wish you'd got to invest in and why? A. Womens’ health remains a very under-researched topic, especially common conditions such as endometriosis. Companies such as Gynica are aiming to improve the lives of women with the condition, but I’m excited for someone to develop enough mechanistic understanding of the disease to be able to consider developing a fully-fledged treatment.  To find out more about Cambridge Enterprise Ventures visit: https://lnkd.in/eqDDPqxq #Ventures #CambridgeInnovation #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #InvestmentOpportunities

Meet Christine Martin, our Head of Ventures! Q. What did you do before Cambridge Enterprise? A. I was originally a chemist and my postdoc was here in Cambridge in the Biochemistry department. My journey in research commercialisation began with a spin-out from the University itself. In 1999 I was the first postdoc at Biotica Technology Limited, a spin-out working on novel therapeutics for several indications. Fast forward to September 2011, I joined Cambridge Enterprise in the Tech Transfer team, developing a drug discovery portfolio. Highlights include working with academic founders of Storm, Carrick and Z Factor. Since 2017 I’ve had various roles within Seed Funds/Ventures initially focusing on Life Sciences investing in Phoremost, Pretzel, Qkine, Apcintex and SDS. The exits are always exciting, so Gyroscope and Centessa are definite highlights. For the past few years as head of the team I have been leading in securing additional funding from the University and developing a strategy to deliver an expanded remit and grow our activity. Q. Favourite industry to work with? A. It’s impossible to choose! With a life sciences background, supporting spin-outs addressing unmet medical need, speed up diagnosis or improve patient care is incredibly important to me. I also enjoy exploring the breadth of ideas that arise from University research; from awe-inspiring space innovations, to quantum technologies that will accelerate the journey to a quantum-enabled future, to the rapidly expanding field of sustainability with technologies that can contribute to addressing UN sustainability goals and have global impact. Q. One innovation that still blows your mind and why? A. CRISPR is a groundbreaking innovation that has revolutionised the field of genetics with potential implications for medicine such as treating genetic disorders and understanding complex diseases, agriculture, and even in the development of new biofuels. The swift recognition of CRISPR-Cas9 pioneers Dr Jennifer Doudna and Dr Emmanuelle Charpentier with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 is a testament to the immediate and significant impact of their contribution to advancing science. I was privileged to attend a lecture delivered by Dr Doudna in 2017. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are so wide-ranging - it’s hard to imagine any part of life that won’t be impacted by applications of these new technologies including the development of new medicines, personalised treatment plans, predictive diagnostics, finance, transportation, and creative industries. Q. What makes you lean forward and take note in a pitch? A. It starts with the problem statement and an innovative solution. But starting a company also needs genuine passion, boundless ambition and a strategic roadmap brought to life by a stellar team that really makes us take notice! More from Christine on Cambridge Enterprise Ventures: https://bit.ly/3RTA8qg #Ventures #CambridgeInnovation #Entrepreneurship

It’s incredible to see the progress Nyobolt has achieved with its novel battery technology! 🔋 Their ultra-fast charging batteries can charge at twice the speed of the fastest-charging vehicles on the road without the typical degradation, showcasing a huge leap in battery technology. Check out below to learn more about Nyobolt. #EV #Innovation #BatteryTechnology

Another exciting announcement as Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC), a University of Cambridge spin-out, has raised £2.25m in a seed funding round to industrialise their world-leading low carbon cement! 🏗️ Chris Gibbs, Investment Director at Cambridge Enterprise, says, “CEC’s co-production process for sustainable cement is an elegant and revolutionary innovation. Cambridge Enterprise Ventures is delighted to invest and support the team as they commercialise this transformative technology which has the potential to make a significant impact on carbon emissions." This round was led by Zero Carbon Capital, alongside Legal & General, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Parkwalk Advisors, Delph25 and Almanac Ventures. This investment will allow CEC to industrialise production of their cement, deliver a real-world construction demonstrator and advance offtake agreements with partners and customers. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eZJA52NR #Cambridge #Innovation #Sustainability #ZeroCarbon #CleanTech

The timing of this week's good weather was ideal for hosting our guests from London and the US for the Cambridge Deep Tech VC roadshow this week. With a packed agenda to explore Cambridge's innovative ecosystem, we'd like to thank everyone involved in the day: • Ian Lane and Cambridge Innovation Capital • Miles Kirby and Deeptech Labs • Steve Brierley and Riverlane • Giorgia Longobardi and Cambridge GaN Devices Ltd • William Tunstall-Pedoe and Unlikely AI • Professor Judith Driscoll and Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy • Chris Cleaver and DeepForm • Attila Csordas and AGECURVE LIMITED • Rav Seeruthun and health-equity.ai • Ismail Sami and Molyon • Molly Haugen and AetoSense • Teja Potocnik and Nanomation • Jean de La Verpilliere and Echion Technologies • Professor Akshay Rao and Cambridge Photon Technology  • Christoph Schnedermann and illumion • Bill Yost and Cambridge Electric Cement • Marc Rodríguez Garcia and Xampla Special thanks to sponsors Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Founders at the University of Cambridge, our venue hosts Cambridge Innovation Capital, ideaSpace, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and The Varsity Hotel & Spa Rooftop, and our colleagues at ideaSpace, Founders at the University of Cambridge, and Cambridge Enterprise.

DeepForm, a University of Cambridge spin-out, recently secured £2 million in seed funding to advance its innovative technology aimed at saving material and reducing CO2 emissions in the automotive industry. “Manufacturing is a difficult activity for the transport sector to abate and the industry is searching for solutions. This elegant and game-changing innovation, developed by Chris and Julian at the University of Cambridge, will eliminate waste and carbon emission from vehicle manufacture. Cambridge Enterprise Ventures has supported DeepForm from the beginning and is thrilled to be a part of its ongoing journey. We’re also delighted to invest alongside Parkwalk Advisors in this Seed round, continuing our successful decade of co-investment” says Chris Gibbs, Investment Director. This round was led by Parkwalk Advisors in cooperation with us, and will support DeepForm to commercialise their novel 3-D gripping technology, helping automobile manufacturers to cut waste by over 75%, reduce CO2 emissions and gain significant material cost savings. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/e4q9nckz #Cambridge #Automotive #Innovation #Spinouts #CambridgeEcosystem

It’s great to see two of our portfolio companies being featured in Sifted’s list of 9 European university spinouts to watch! 🌟 Cambridge GaN Devices Ltd – A cutting-edge fabless semiconductor company, developing a range of energy-efficient Gallium Nitride (GaN) based power devices. Materials Nexus – A ground-breaking AI material design and discovery system, accelerating the creation of superior materials faster than ever before. This recognition underscores the incredible innovation emerging from the Cambridge Ecosystem and celebrates the power of university spinouts 🎉 To find out more about these remarkable companies and read the full Sifted article, click here: https://lnkd.in/enRqA43J #Cambridge #Innovation #University #Spinouts #CambridgeEcosystem

Introducing... Cambridge Enterprise Ventures!  Formerly known as Seed Funds, our new name reflects the evolution we've undergone over the years, thanks to the incredible support from the University of Cambridge and the remarkable growth of our portfolio companies. Did you know we can invest up to £2 million into companies and follow our investments throughout their early stages? It's all about nurturing potential and fostering growth every step of the way. In the last five years Cambridge Enterprise Ventures has invested £22 million into 85 companies across 150 transactions with co-investment and follow-on investment totalling £1.9 billion. 🌱 Our new brand more accurately reflects the breadth of our investment activities. Enabled by the investment of additional capital from the University, for every £1 that we have invested, £70 has been invested by others. With strong co-investment collaborations and a network of over 100 investors globally, we're able to bring together expertise, resources, and funding to fuel the success of our ventures. 🤝 University of Cambridge talent is shaping a new era of innovation, sustainability and social change. Cambridge Enterprise Ventures backs them. And we have their back. So, whether you're an entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea or an investor looking to join forces with the best and brightest, we’re here to support you every step of the way.  Look out for more posts over the summer where we’ll be introducing our team and more on the journey of University ideas!  Left to Right: Loukik Arora, Julie Taylor, Vicky McDonnell, Christine Martin, Chris Gibbs, Polly Machin, Fatima Kranc, Gemma Siddall, Amanda Wooding.   #Ventures #CambridgeInnovation #Entrepreneurship #Sustainability #Innovation #InvestmentOpportunities

More exciting news as Wave Photonics, a Cambridge-based deep tech start-up, has received £4.5m funding to further continue its development of on-chip photonics designs! “Cambridge Enterprise Ventures is pleased to follow our initial pre-seed investment and co-lead Wave Photonics’ seed round with UKI2S. Integrated photonics is poised to disrupt high-value industries ranging from quantum computing to bio-sensing, and Wave Photonics’ team and technologies are in a great position to enable and accelerate the adoption of next generation integrated photonics products” says Christine Martin, Head of Ventures at Cambridge Enterprise. The round was led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund and Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, with participation from the Redstone and QAI Ventures’ Quantum Fund, Kyra Ventures, and Deeptech Labs. This investment will enable Wave Photonics to take its technology from a research manufacturing line to a commercial foundry. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ekmkC7ii #Semiconductor #Photonics #QuantumComputing #DeepTech #Cambridge #Innovation

The excitement continues apace this week as Echion Technologies (Echion), the world’s leading developer of niobium-based, fast-charging battery materials, has successfully completed its Series B funding round, raising £29 million in investment capital. "Echion is entering the market with their next generation battery material at scale. This is a great team that has combined great technology, great talent, great partners and great money for their go-to-market journey. We’re pleased to have been with Echion from the start and to continue our relationship into this B round with a terrific syndicate of co-investors,” says Chris Gibbs, Investment Director, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures. The round was led by specialist battery and energy storage technology investor Volta Energy Technologies (Volta) and with CBMM, BGF, and Cambridge Enterprise Ventures. This investment will enable Echion to execute its go-to-market strategy to see its innovative niobium-based XNO® anode material utilised in real world applications, at volume, with the opening of a 2,000 tonne per year XNO® manufacturing facility this year. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eYBQgD_A #FutureOfMining #BatteryTechnology #FastCharging #Electrification #Cambridge #Innovation