Inside the Bradfield Centre

In this episode, we sit down with Anne Bailey from Form the Future to talk about how we can better connect young people with opportunities in the tech industry. Anne shares why building those bridges matters now more than ever:“We want to bridge the gap between employers who need skilled talent and young people who are eager to learn.”We also dive into Tech Futures Day, an initiative designed to give students real exposure to the tech world through hands-on experiences and direct access to industry professionals.Later in the episode, we shift focus to HackEd, a hackathon with a twist. James Adams and Tim Smith from Tech Educators talk about the impact of bringing diverse groups of students together to explore, build, and present tech projects in just a few days:“HackEd is about bringing together diverse backgrounds and exposing students to the world of technology.”From teamwork and mentorship to presenting ideas to real industry leaders; it's clear this isn't just another school trip.

We sat down with Teja Potočnik, founder of Nanomation, to talk about her journey from Slovenia to Cambridge, and the potential of nanomaterials in transforming chip production.Teja's background is impressive, she holds a PhD in nanomaterials, has published research in top journals, and recently won the Female Founders category at the Wolfson Entrepreneurship Competition. But it's her ability to bridge deep science with commercial application that really stands out.What exactly are nanomaterials? Nanomaterials are materials at the nanoscale, 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. They have unique properties that make them ideal for applications in electronics, including transistors and sensors.With Moore's Law hitting physical limits, Teja explains how nanomaterials can offer new functions beyond just shrinking components.But translating cutting-edge research into viable tech isn't easy. She's candid about the hurdles early-stage companies face in scaling advanced materials into mass production.The conversation touches on the vast market opportunities for sensing applications, particularly in the infrared spectrum. Teja aims to lower costs while enhancing functionalities, making her technology appealing to various industries.Teja praises the collaborative spirit within Cambridge's tech community, noting the invaluable connections and support she has received. "Everyone knows everyone, and it's great.”If you're curious about the future of semiconductors, or how science moves from lab bench to product, this one's worth a listen.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we speak with Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla, a company leading the way in sustainable materials. Xampla is developing natural, plant-based alternatives to single-use plastics, and their technology could have a huge global impact.Alexandra talks openly about the journey of scaling deep tech, the importance of educating the market, and how strategic partnerships are helping Xampla grow. She also shares why replacing over 4 million tonnes of plastic coatings annually is not just a target but a real opportunity.In the episode, we cover:• The science behind using plant proteins to create biodegradable materials• Why raising awareness is just as important as product development• How partnerships with companies like Huhtamaki and Just Eat are unlocking market access• Xampla's next steps - with a clear focus on food service coatings and expanding into new marketsThis is a great listen for anyone interested in climate tech, materials science, or how Cambridge startups are building for global impact.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're joined by Sarah Turner, founder of Angel Academe, a network she launched in 2014 to get more women involved in angel investing and support female-led tech startups.Angel Academe now has over 1,000 registered investors, with a core group of around 100 active angels - 70% of whom are women. That's a key part of what sets them apart. As Sarah puts it, “70% of our core community are women, which is our big differentiator in the market.”In this episode, Sarah also talks about the launch of the UK's first EIS fund focused specifically on female founders. The fund aims to raise £1.2 million, giving investors the chance to back a portfolio of female-led startups with a minimum commitment of £10,000.She talks about what Angel Academe looks for in a business, tech or science-based, with a strong and defensible technological edge, and encourages both founders and potential investors to get in touch for guidance and support.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week features an engaging conversation with Dr. Andy Williams, Chair of the Oxford Cambridge Super Cluster Board. He explains the mission of the Oxford Cambridge Super Cluster Board, which aims to unite businesses, universities, and investors to create a thriving ecosystem.Andy shares insights from a commissioned report predicting an additional £78 billion contribution to the regional economy. He stresses the need for government intervention and policy changes to achieve this target, stating, "If we don't do anything, growth may drop to 2 or 1%, which would be a disaster."The conversation also touches on the critical need for infrastructure improvements, including lab space, housing, and transport connectivity. Andy highlights the importance of balancing growth with community needs, saying, "We must be careful not to wreck the quality of life in the region."He also discusses the importance of engaging local communities and ensuring that the benefits of innovation are felt widely. He believes that "for every job created in science and technology, another four or five jobs are created in the wider community."This episode is packed with insights that can inspire and inform your approach to innovation and investment. Andy's extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and his passion for fostering collaboration in the tech sector make for a compelling listen.If you're a startup founder or a venture capitalist looking to navigate the evolving landscape of technology and innovation, this episode is a treasure trove of information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we welcome Amelia Miller, co-founder and CEO of ivee, a groundbreaking platform dedicated to helping women re-enter the workforce after career breaks. Amelia shares the personal story behind ivee, inspired by her mother's struggles to return to work after taking time off for motherhood. With a background in psychology, Amelia discusses how gender differences in job applications significantly impact hiring. Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet 50-60% of qualifications, while women typically wait until they meet 90-100%. This discrepancy underscores the need for tailored recruitment strategies.ivee leverages AI to connect companies with a vast talent pool of women returning to work. “What we're building at ivee is an AI agent that can surface returner talent,” Amelia explains, emphasising the platform's unique approach to recruitment.Returning to work can be isolating. Amelia discusses how ivee fosters connection and confidence through supportive peer networks and resources that help women navigate their comeback journeys.The conversation turns to how return-to-work barriers often exacerbate long-term pay inequality, and why solving one problem helps address the other.This episode is not just about ivee; it's a call to action for the tech community to rethink how we approach recruitment and diversity. If you're a hiring manager, consider the untapped potential of the return-to-work market. ivee is actively seeking companies to partner with and post jobs on their platform. For those returning to work, ivee offers a supportive community and resources to help you navigate your journey.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Ellis, Scale-Up Director at Innovate UK Business Growth, to unpack what it really takes to scale a tech business.Key Insights:• Defining Scale-Up: Chris emphasises that a scale-up is more than just a growing business; it's one that has a product in the market and is pushing towards a million in annual recurring revenue.• The Importance of Internationalisation: Chris highlights that scaling should involve looking beyond local markets. He stresses the need for UK businesses to tap into international markets and collaborate with global partners.• Understanding the Funding Landscape: The conversation touches on the funding gap that exists for scale-ups, particularly in comparison to their US counterparts. Chris points out, “Some businesses need a much longer runway,” and discusses the importance of understanding the capitalisation journey.• Governance and Culture: Chris shares insights on the dynamics within scale-up companies, noting that strong governance and a healthy culture are crucial.Whether you're a founder or investor, this episode is packed with practical advice on moving from startup to scale-up.Produced by Cambridge TV, edited by Kate O'Connor.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a single day to an entire week, Cambridge Wide Open Week (CWOW) is back and bigger than ever! With just six weeks to go until CWOW, we caught up with creator, Prashant Shah.CWOW offers a glimpse behind the scenes of Cambridge's pioneering life sciences companies. The event also welcomes visitors from outside Cambridge, around the country, and across the world who are curious to see what's going on ‘inside' Cambridge.What to expect: A week-long agenda packed with talks, masterclasses, and open doors across the city.Monday's Venture Tour brings together companies from pre-seed into Series A and Series B, spotlighted by: Amadeus Capital, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Cambridge Angels, Cambridge Enterprise, Accelerate@Babraham, BioSpark, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, o2h Ventures, and Meltwind Advisory LLP.Wednesday's Wide Open Day keeps the energy rolling with some new venues joining returning favourites: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge Judge Business School, Allia, Cambridge Science Park, West Hub, and more.And yes, we finally unpack the difference between biotech and techbio, and why Cambridge is leading the global charge in this space.Register: cambridgewideopenweek.comProduced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Faye and James sit down with Martin Rigby, co-founder of ET Capital, for a must-listen conversation that challenges the traditional venture capital playbook.Martin shares insights from his research, revealing that a diversified investment strategy in Cambridge tech deals since the mid-1990s has consistently outperformed traditional stock market benchmarks like the FTSE 100.Key highlights include:

In this week's episode we're diving deep into AI optimisation with Ushnish Sengupta and Federica Freddi, the co-founders of Sqwish, a startup on a mission to make AI smarter and more efficient.Ushnish and Federica share their unique journeys and how a shared vision at MediaTek led to the creation of Sqwish: an “efficiency layer” for AI that's already reducing input sizes by up to 10x and transforming GenAI performance.Key Highlights: · The entrepreneurial spark - from childhood toy trades to cutting-edge tech· Tackling one of AI's biggest challenges: cost and latency· Why Sqwish is just getting started, with tools like smart routing and output compression on the horizonIf you're working with GenAI, building AI products, or curious about startup journeys from within the Cambridge ecosystem then this is for you.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Faye and James welcome two inspiring guests: Natalie Gray, head of marketing and partnerships at Codurance, and Ilker Akansel, a community strategy consultant. They delve into the importance of grassroots tech communities and how they contribute to a vibrant tech ecosystem.Key Insights include:· The Importance of Community: Ilker emphasises, “Technical communities provide support to all the moving parts within entrepreneurial ecosystems.” These communities foster collaboration and innovation, essential for growth in the tech sector.· Creating Safe Spaces: Natalie shares that grassroots communities offer a “safe space where you can practice, make mistakes, and learn your craft.” This is crucial for both newcomers and seasoned professionals looking to enhance their skills.· Intentionality in Community Building: Ilker highlights the need for a clear purpose in community initiatives, stating, “If you put the member journey at the centre of the community, you can't really fail.” This focus ensures that communities remain relevant and valuable to their members.· Regular Engagement: Natalie stresses the importance of consistency, saying, “As soon as you start skipping events, that's when cracks start to show.” Regular meetings help maintain engagement and commitment from members.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we hear from Russell Haggar, CEO and co-founder of VyperCore. Russell shares his fascinating journey in the "hard tech" space, revealing the challenges and triumphs of creating breakthrough technology in a highly competitive market. With over 35 years of experience, Russell explains how VyperCore is reinventing general purpose computing.We delve into:• VyperCore's innovative technology, which aims to enhance general-purpose computing performance up to five times without altering existing code, specifically targeting the data center market with efficient accelerator cards. • The launch of VyperLab as a confidential cloud-based environment for performance testing, showcasing significant improvements on benchmarks• The challenges of securing funding for silicon startups, particularly the need for effective collaboration with European and US investors. Additionally, Russell discusses VyperCore's strategic presence in Cambridge and Bristol to leverage local talent while promoting a hybrid work model and fostering connections within the silicon community.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, we attended the launch of Cambridge Tech Week. This week, we're sharing key highlights from the panel discussions, covering AI innovation, policy challenges, and collaboration.Some standout moments included:· Dr. Nik Johnson highlighted Cambridge's role as a global tech hub, stressing that AI should enhance, not replace, human creativity. · Michaela Eschbach reinforced how the city enables high-risk innovation in a low-risk environment.· Jessica Montgomery called for AI to prioritise real-world impact over hype, raising concerns about its influence on creative industries and accountability. · Professor Neil Lawrence warned that professionals are losing control over AI systems and urged businesses to reinvest AI-driven time savings into skills development.The event wrapped up with a panel discussion featuring leaders from Innovate Cambridge, Faculty AI, and Cambridge City Council. The key takeaway? AI development needs to be practical, ethical, and inclusive.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special guest Michaela Eschbach, Deputy Chair of the Cambridge Tech Week Steering Committee, joins us to give the inside scoop on Cambridge Tech Week 2025 (15th – 19th September 2025).We discuss what will be taking place during the week including:• Seizing the AI Advantage - this year's overarching theme focuses on how Cambridge's deep-tech ecosystem is leading AI innovation.• Industry Deep Dives - expect discussions on MedTech, CleanTech, AgriTech, Quantum, and Semiconductors.• Fringe Events - running throughout the week, these independently organized sessions allow for even more engagement and networking.• Innovation Alley - a dedicated space for the most cutting-edge startups to showcase their technology, now extended to two days due to popular demand.Cambridge Tech Week is a must-attend event for startup founders and scaleups seeking investor connections, VCs and investors scouting the next big breakthrough in AI and deep tech, corporate leaders and policymakers shaping the industry, and academics and researchers driving innovation.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week marked the 7th annual #21toWatch awards, a key event in the Cambridge startup scene that recognises rising talent across People, Companies, and Things. This year's list is dominated by ground-breaking innovations in neuroscience, medtech, and AI-driven diagnostics.Today's episode features:· Details of the winners across all three categories.· Podcast interviews with winners Lucy Jung from LYEONS Neurotech (People) and Monica Saavedra from Lambda agri (Thing).· Insights from independent judge, Christine Martin (Cambridge Enterprise), who shared her experience of the judging process.· Recognition of the independent judges: Christine Martin, Chris Ellis (Innovate UK Business Growth), Jo Słota-Newson (Almanac Ventures), and Tom Hughes (Trinity College Cambridge). · Up to £20,000 prize for each winner from the event sponsors· And, James caught up with Emily Stoner, Careers Consultant at the University of Cambridge Careers Office, to discuss the growing interest in entrepreneurship among students and researchers.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's special guest, Andi Hektor, takes us on a deep dive into his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, how GScan is tackling critical infrastructure challenges, and why he chose Cambridge as the company's UK base.GScan is pioneering Muon tomography, an advanced scanning technology originally used for border security but now revolutionising non-destructive testing (NDT) in construction. The technology helps detect corrosion and structural weaknesses in bridges and buildings, preventing costly and environmentally harmful demolitions. “Bridges are often demolished as a precaution because engineers can't see inside them. We provide that visibility, potentially doubling their lifespan.”Initially setting up in London, Andi quickly realised Cambridge's startup ecosystem was the ideal home for GScan: “London's tech scene is great, but for deep tech, it's easy to get lost. In Cambridge, you can build a network fast. The Bradfield Centre has been amazing.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we meet the co-founders of Cambridge Female Founders Network, created in response to the lack of genuine support for women entrepreneurs.Key initiatives include:Founder Dinners & Fireside Chats – Creating spaces for female founders to connect.Funding Programmes – Helping women navigate the notoriously tough fundraising landscape.Investor & Conference Connections – Placing female founders on panels, in accelerators, and directly in front of investors.“Women have to pitch 4x more than men to secure funding. We're changing that by connecting the right investors with the right founders.” — Clarisse Beurrier Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode features an insightful discussion with Roz Bird (Anglia Innovation Partnership) and Dr. Nicola Hancock (University of East Anglia) on the cutting-edge research, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem at Norwich Research Park.“We have more microbiologists here than anywhere else in the UK—possibly the world. That's a testament to the depth of expertise we're building.” – Roz BirdKey takeaways:A Hub for Science & Startups – The park hosts top-tier institutions, including the John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute, and the Earlham Institute, alongside the University of East Anglia and a thriving community of startups.From Lab to Market – Norwich Research Park fosters commercialisation through the ICURE programme, which helps scientists explore market applications for their research, and a £200,000 pre-seed fund supporting early-stage spinouts.Bridging the Talent Gap – The university and research institutes play a critical role in supplying skilled graduates and researchers to the growing tech and biotech companies in the region.A Future Accelerator – Plans are underway to launch a venture builder programme in 2025, offering targeted support to high-growth startups in biotech, #agritech, and #medtech.We were also joined by two standout startups who shared their journeys: Sophie Vaud, Head of Microbial Engineering at Colorifix and Rory Hornby, Cofounder of Alora.This episode is a must-listen for tech founders, investors, and anyone interested in #deeptech and #biotech innovation.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we caught up with Farbod Shakouri of Phantom Technology, a returning guest who's undergone a significant pivot in his startup's journey. Originally focused on building an operating system for smart glasses, Farbod and his team made a bold decision: to build the entire hardware and software stack themselves. Their mission? To help people combat smartphone addiction and improve cognitive health.If you're a founder, investor, or tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on:· The evolving AI debate & public perception· How Cambridge startups are tackling energy-efficient computing· The hard truths of startup pivots & funding strategies· Why attention-tracking wearables might be the next big thingProduced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we sat down with Nick New, CEO of Optalysys, to explore the groundbreaking technology transforming data security, AI, and cloud services. From optical processing to fully homomorphic encryption (FHE), this episode dives into the cutting-edge innovations driving the next era of secure computing.Nick shares:· His journey from his PhD in optical pattern recognition to founding Optalysys.· How Optalysys leverages optical processing and FHE to process encrypted data without ever decrypting it—ushering in a new standard for secure AI and cloud computing.· Optalysys's big win at the Cambridge Tech Week Scale Up Awards and their plans for product launches, blockchain applications, and setting up a U.S office.· Their mission to establish global hardware standards for FHE as part of the FETCH consortium.· And, Optalysys's vision to become the “Nvidia of FHE.”Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we hear from the winners of The Trinity Bradfield Prize:· Demetria who aims to reduce the time it takes for an endometriosis diagnosis from nine years to nine minutes using AI-assisted ultrasound.· PowerMatrix who provide the most efficient and compact next-generation high-performance power supplies.· Healthspan Biotics who develop and distribute safe, affordable and effective probiotic bacteria that enhances brain resilience to Alzheimer's disease.This year's awards also saw the introduction of the Angel Prize which recognises the most commercial progress over the previous 12 months from winning the competition. The prize was split between BioTryp Therapeutics and Cambridge Nucleomics.The winners also discuss their experiences during the competition, highlight the importance of networking and skill development for founders, and share their funding needs and expertise requirements.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are back with Alan Patterson from BeyondMath. As our most listened to episode to date, we re-run the original interview with Alan and Darren Garvey, topped with a quick update with the co-founders.We find out about progress in the acceleration of engineering design and simulation, saving companies orders of magnitude in engineering costs and time to market; from the design of everything from vehicles and aircraft, to lithium-ion batteries and data centre infrastructure.We hear about working with Formula 1, partnering with NVDIA as they successfully install one of the first DGX H200 servers worldwide, and a new consortium funding programme in aerospace, another key sector. We talk about team growth and their 2024 seed round led by UP Partners, with Insight Partners and InMotion Ventures, and prior investors.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We learn all about Crystallography in this week's episode with Suzanna Ward, Head of Data and Community at The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) – a non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance chemistry and crystallography for the public benefit.CCDC was created by Dr Olga Kennard OBE FRS and J D Bernal who believed the collective use of data would be beneficial and wanted to collect data and making it accessible, transform the data into knowledge banks, and generate new insights.We learn about the structural database and how researchers use it, and how their work now fosters innovation globally.It's also a great story of how tech advancement has changed the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) over the years, and their support of the next generation of scientists. And we think this is the first episode where knitting needles have been referenced.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with our regular slot with the insights team at Deloitte with the Predictions for 2025. We welcome Ben Stanton back, and this year we also have Paul Lee join us.We talk GenAI; Media, Entertainment and Sports; and Tech and Telecoms - the three main themes for 2025 - and then dig down into some of the specifics, including:· Datacentres accounting for 2% of global energy consumption in 2025, and expected to double by 2030 as a result of AI running in the cloud· Gender parity in the use of AU should be achieved by end of 2025, closing the gap quicker than in many other areas· The growth of autonomous generative AI agents - AgenticAI – next generation of LLM 25% of companies looking · An expectation of much more telecoms consolidation , globally· And much more, including a nod to other rising trends and updates such as cyber defence, chiplets, silicon photonics, GenAI at the edge, 5G standalone.And as usual, we have a review of any hits and misses from previous years.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beginning with playing Minecraft as a child, this week we talk to University of Cambridge alumni Sam Sully from Planetary Processing, a company who are developing a platform for Indie Gaming Studios.We talk about:· Learning how not to build technology· The bridge between technical and non-technical people· Creating technology as a service for small gaming studios· How 40% of gaming industry is no longer the big companies like SonySam provides an insight into developing multi-player games that can scale to 100,000s players exponentially quicker, with lower risk. Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we take a short break for Christmas, we decided to re-run one of our most popular episodes of 2024, the one with Pam Garside, chair of local angel network, Cambridge Angels.The episode originally aired in January 2024 and has generated hundreds of downloads, and it's easy to see why. Pam gave us an introduction to Cambridge Angels, their focus areas, and how their process works - vital information for any founder looking to pitch to Cambridge Angels.Pam shares her priorities as chair of the Cambridge Angels, which includes navigating a challenging market environment, adding investor diversity, and raising the profile of its members' depth of expertise.And we learn about Pam's unique background, and her journey into investing. And we talk about healthcare and how AI and automation is revolutionising the sector but requires caution – it's not an area to ‘move fast and break things' as Mark Zuckerberg advises!Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cambridge History of Innovation Project (CHIP) is offering Cambridge 'a better memory' and 'self-consciousness' of its own technological and social development.... moving beyond the simple celebration of successes, to deeper understanding and description of what has happened here. In this episode we talk about the CHIP Project and speak to some of the early protagonists.Find out more at https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/chipProduced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about a lifelong passion with tech and ‘trying stuff out' with founder and chair of Cambridge Spark, Dr. Raoul-Gabriel Urma.We have a rich conversation about:· A passion for education and teaching the most spoken language in the world – computer code· Doing more with less in the startup environment vs the corporate world· Taking a B2C coding model to a very successful B2B model· Tapping a market need by developing corporate AI skills, and learning how to ‘sell'· Building data scientist sandbox environment with EDUKATE.AI· Being bootstrapped, but with lots of support from people like Hanadi Jabado and non-dilutive funding like from Innovate UK· The transition from CEO to Chair· The importance of growth, development and strategic decisions· Oh, and Raoul has his own podcast – The Data & AI Mastery podcast – check it out!!Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Telling us all about #EnterpriseTuesday #NorwichEnterprise we talk to Sheng Qi, UEA and Roz Bird, Anglia Innovation Partnership who introduce the Innovation Hothouse.The Innovation Hothouse is an example of co-creation and collaboration between all the agencies in Norwich Research Park who are passionate about working together to achieve further impact and innovation. Dr Soraya Jones, The Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence is supporting this initiative because she is excited about the potential of a vibrant ecosystem working together “so much more can be achieved together than in isolation”.We talk about some of the 2023 winners – TraitSeq (we also caught up with Joshua Colmer and Felicity Knowles in the episode), Virilitas, Ediform, OpauAnd we catch up with two of the finalists for 2024 - Rosaria Campilongo of PfBIO and Safir Jamal of Vida Vodka before hearing all eight finalists pitch – Knee3D, Healthium Platform, iBoxit, PathoProst Detect Test, Bioscopic, Birthview/Birth4cast.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Lee, CEO and co-founder of Wave Photonics, talks to us about how they are enabling rapid photonic integrated circuit development for any wavelength or platform.James explains how the design for integrated photonics uses the same scalable process used to make semiconductor electronics chips to make circuits for light. And he talks about the market opportunity for both tackling energy and bandwidth, and longer term with sensing and quantum.We gain great insights about:· Quitting a job maybe too early to start a business· You don't have to be impossibly smart and motivated to be an entrepreneur· Building technology from scratch· Experiencing different universities and accelerator programmes (both sides of the pond)· Recruiting the right people· Experiencing Silicon Valley next-level optimism and vision · Targeting clients at such an early stage of a companyWatch this space as Wave develops their products and builds their go-to-market outreach. Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not often that you get to talk to someone who has seen every press release and been part of innovation discussions for the last 35 years, not to mention who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the opportunities and challenges for our tech and science businesses.In this episode we caught up with Tony Quested and Jamie Quested to talk about not just their #BusinessWeeklyAwards, but the much broader impact and reach of Business Weekly since 1990. Here are some highlights· Current trends include a rise in genomics, synthetic biology, and quantum computing· The US will continue to buy up our companies, to access the brain power and innovation across Cambridge and the East of England cluster…· …but they will now keep the business here - like Featurespace (Visa), IQGeo (KKR), and Darktrace (Thoma Bravo) – rather than lifting and shifting to the US· The demand for 100,000 engineers by leading tech companies will require different thinking· The importance of ‘Brain Gain' and how 70% (£1.65bn) of fundraising in the last year came out of the University of Cambridge…· … and how overall funding in the last year topped £2.3bn of which £1bn was for tech (remainder life sciences), and 50% of all funding went to Cambridge Science Park tenant companies· Whether our entrepreneurs are thinking strategically enough, especially when VCs and funders may have different priorities· And then we finally talk about the Awards, and the ability to spot the successes based on a level of due diligence that is incomparable.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of our conversation with David Cleevely, we talk about the Cambridge Cluster, the vital work with government and on policy, and the phenomena of serendipity and paying it forward.David has been instrumental in the Cambridge Cluster for decades, with the founding of groups like Cambridge Network and Cambridge Wireless; creating a vision for Cambridge (a few times); the importance of marketing and having a logo; and keeping Cambridge competitive.A charitable contributor, David firmly believes that if you make some money, you should give back to the community – something Sara Allen at The Cambridge Pledge will be delighted to hear. And we hear about David's pivotal role at Raspberry Pi and the eight years from formulating a plan to a flotation.We talk about why an active involvement in public policy and government liaison is vital, and how entrepreneurs can help to fill gaps and stop us sleepwalking into growth challenges – locally and globally.And we finish with a discussion on serendipity – the approach that will determine your path by making chance encounters happen. Tune in for a future episode when we'll cover David's Book – ‘Serendipity – it doesn't happen by accident'.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with David Cleevely – telecoms, wireless and technology expert, a serial entrepreneur, investor in 55 companies, and an adviser to Government on both a national and local level. David is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and last but by no means least, awarded a CBE, for services to technology and innovation. As an active and respected businessman, David vigorously promotes networking, collaboration and the City of Cambridge. The episode starts with David giving his views on the 2024 UK budget announcement which included providing “funding for Cambridge to help it reach its growth potential”.We then take a journey into David's education, career, and entrepreneurial journey including many of the investments he has made and been involved in. What you will hear as a continuous thread - and what we'll talk about more in Part 2 - is how serendipity shapes careers.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathryn Chapman, Innovate Cambridge's Executive Director joins us to provide an update on the initiative which started 3 years ago to bring a strategy together that is now supported by over 200 companies and 500 individuals.Focussed on three pillars - Frictionless Innovation – Value for the Local Community – Partnering to scale across the UK - the programme under Kathryn's leadership is now moving into the delivery phase. We talk through last week's Innovate Cambridge Summit and some of the other progress that has been made including:· The new narrative to ‘sell' Cambridge· A co-created Life Sciences strategy, including the recently announced ARIA funding· Building the tech strategy and amplifying the tech sectors voice· Bringing Cambridge and Manchester closer together for the benefit of the local region as well as economic growth for the UK, including an update from Lou Cordwell· An update on ‘The Glasshouse' – a new hub for everyone to utilise that opens in November – a front door into Cambridge as people arrive and meet in Cambridge close to the central train station· An announcement of The Cambridge Pledge – with an insight from Sara Allen as to how entrepreneurs and businesses can pledge and donate to solve regional social problemsFind out more at innovatecambridge.com and get involved!Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From China to Cambridge – the story of a new type of #ElectricBike developed by Dave Henderson and Alex Murray. In this week's episode we're joined by Managing Director of FLIT, Alex who shares: · the evolution of the company· complexities of the market for ‘#ebikes'· the benefit of setting up in Cambridge · the development stages to the FLIT M2· functionality of the FLIT M2· design and manufacturing· funding and go to market.We're amazed at the number of things we didn't know about mobility, electric bikes, ownership models and recycling which makes this episode another really interesting founders' story.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode starts with Dr Nicky Dee telling us about how she went from an accidental PhD to entrepreneurship, and from #cleantech to #climatetech, culminating in a 20-year (to date) career in impact-driven innovation.Nicky's early experiences highlighted that there were lots of startups with ideas, most with great intent, but that they were hard to scale and that the measure of a company should not be dictated by what they earn, but by what they do. As CEO of Carbon13 Nicky now creates action on climate through innovation and entrepreneurship by bringing together talented individuals to build and scale impactful ventures capable of mitigating 10 million tonnes (net) of CO2E per year.With a portfolio of 70 companies, representing 30 nationalities, there is no shortage of great Climate Tech to showcase, and Nicky talks to us about the venture builder and launchpad programmes, setting up in Berlin and funding. We also talk about whether Cambridge is doing enough to drive Climate Tech, look at other centres of excellence including Berlin, South East Asia, and the US, and start to discuss what we need to do to keep Cambridge / UK companies migrating to the US.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we talk about a career in tech transfer, commercialisation, and seed funding with Anne Dobree.We hear about the growth of Cambridge Enterprise, the introduction of new programmes like Founders at The University of Cambridge, how the relationship with Parkwalk Advisors began, and how Cambridge Innovation Capital started.It's a fascinating discussion about how Cambridge developed from nascent to buoyant for science and tech innovators, with Anne as a key anchor for over two decades.Anne shares some sound advice to entrepreneurs, including:· Don't underestimate the value of boards· Connect on LinkedIn· Use your network to get an introduction· And one we particularly like – never underestimate young teams!Anne, now Investor Director at Parkwalk Advisors, also talks about how things are different on a practical level. She talks about seeking companies to invest in and helping them as they grow, deal flow, and how she's more likely to say ‘no' now than in the Cambridge Enterprise Ventures. Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for the first episode of the THIRD series of #CamTechPod.Joined by Linh Richardson, Programme Manager of impulse, Thomas Albrow-Owen, CTO of Prospectral, and Tim Jones, Product Manager for Digital Engineer and Data Science from NPL.Linh talks to us about the impulse programme and how it takes hi potential tech innovators and helps them to determine if there is potential for their invention, including alumni such as Steve Brierley from Riverlane, Marc Rodriguez Garcia from Xampla, Jean de la Verpilliere from Echion Technologies, Cyan Williams from Radiant Matters, and Andrew Kadis from Cambridge Vision Technologies.Tim talks to us about the role of NPL and how he found himself on the impulse programme in 2023 as a lifelong learner.Tom talks about the huge opportunity for computer vision - the branch of AI on how software recognises images - from the innovative work at Prospectral.And we collectively talk about the importance of taking the leap from an academic idea into the commercial domain, the ability to leverage very impressive mentors and advisors through the programme and making new connections.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From ARU to Allia to Cambridge Enterprise, this week's guest, Caroline Hyde of IE Cambridge, shares her long-held passion for supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the importance of connectedness. We talk about the new Innovation and Entrepreneurship report and the investment the University of Cambridge is making to support its students, researchers and alumni. Did you know that for every £1 the university spends, it creates £11.70 of economic impact? And that out of £30bn of economic impact annually, more than £23bn comes from commercialising University research?Caroline reiterates that it's not just economic impact but societal impact where companies like Xampla, Colorifix, T-Therapeutics are making a huge impact in the world.You can find the link to the report here https://ie.cam.ac.uk/resource/innovation-and-entrepreneurship-at-the-university-of-cambridge-2024/ And check out the new website that Caroline refers to for even more information https://www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk/ Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of #CamTechPod, recorded with a live audience during #CamTechWeek, we talk to guests Ray Anderson, Executive Chair of Bango, and Marc Rodríguez, CTO of Xampla, about how to scale smarter, not harder. We talk about two huge components of successfully scaling.Firstly, we hear about the inflection points that have signalled key points in the scale up journey, how to set targets, adapt structures, and even how to take a company public.Both Ray and Marc also share thoughtful advice on the second topic - culture and leadership. How do you navigate from startup to scaleup whilst not losing the culture and people dynamics? and, When do you know it's time for changes to be made in the leadership team?We have audience questions before challenging Ray and Marc to answer what they are most proud of, and what they'd go back and change if they did it all again – you'll need to tune in to find out what they said!Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk more about the business than ‘tech' so get ready for a super interesting conversation with the person behind a successful Cambridge portfolio business. As the founder and now Executive Chair we caught up with Ciaron Dunne who talked to us about:· Growing up with business in mind· Doing ‘everything' in startups· The importance of luck and good judgement· Having excitement and passion for what you're doing (even Bingo!)· Being inherently commercial, and· Doing recruitment a little differently.Ciaron talks to us about Genie Ventures which includes Broadband Genie, Genie Goals and Genie Shopping, and celebrates the importance of team and doing the right thing.And I think we can all aspire to be the ‘last click' – you'll have to tune in to find out more.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot off the press, we have a company soft launching right now with a database approach that is needed by most SMEs to improve their efficiency.Entrepreneurship started at school for this week's guest, amplified by family connections in building tech businesses, and we're thrilled to talk to Jason Mashinchi, Managing Director at Cambridge Kinetics.Jason talks to us about the rationale for creating Kinabase – and AI alternative to traditional databases how they are using the power of AI to eliminate the cumbersome and costly development previously required with incumbent alternatives.Jason also shares some of the lessons learnt along the way, including:· Selling expertise vs going down the funding route· Leveraging grant funding· Disrupting a market that hasn't changed for decades· Starting a company straight from university and the lessons along the way· The importance of being well networked, and· Mentoring and paying it forward.See it to believe it, and watch a tailored system being built before your eyes! And if you're in the Creative Industries, there may even be funding available for Jason to help you!Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can't let a $75million raise go without a fanfare, so we invited Rebecca Simmons back on to tell us about the latest fundraise, and provide a moment to pause, reflect and celebrate their news.Tune in as Bek answers:· What was the process like? · How long did it take? · What are the differences between A, B and C rounds (the answer may be a surprise)? · What does this mean to the board and decision making? · How do you spend $75m to scale? · What are some of the new challenges?And keep listening to be (re)inspired by Bek's episode from January 2024.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cleantech Venture Day searches for the most interesting 16 companies across pre-seed, seed and Series A in a range of cleantech areas. In this week's episode Sylvie Russell, COO of Cambridge Cleantech shares details of the day, the industry and the new #Cleantech Super Cluster. We also hear from two of the founders who pitched on the day:Sarah Blake, Commercial Director and Co-Founder of Minimass – a construction tech company focussed on reproducing beams in a more sustainable way - tells us about her startup experience and the funding journey they have been on.Chloe So, CEO and Co-Founder of Pulpatronics – a RFID company who are simplifying the production of tags and revolutionizing sustainability with chipless, metal-free, paper RFID tags – shares her rather different experience from Sarah's. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our 100th episode! We thought this episode we'd pick three tech areas that are gaining in traction – do you agree with our choices? What other technologies are the ones to watch?#FemTech - Stasa Stankovic – talks to us about her goal to crack the code on reproductive genomics. Stasa talks about how #FemTech as a term often remains taboo, and how it was only in 1993 that women started to be included in female clinical trials. We need government, investment and funding, and research and innovation, to increase awareness and interventions around infertility, contraception, menopause, and broader women's health. Who do you know in the #FemTech space? Faye referred to two of the recent impulse alumni - Melis Eda Ekinci, Lorna MacLean#BatteryTech - Dr Simon Engelke, Founder and Chair of Battery Associates joins to talk about the battery industry and the extensive range of batteries not only available but in development. The industry is still driven greatly by cost, but niche applications offer more room for novel improvements which may change future trends for the larger industries. We have some great showcase companies here in Cambridge in the #Battery space – Nyobolt, Prof Clare Grey, Sai Shivareddy, Ismail Sami, Molyon, Echion Technologies.#Dementia #Alzheimer #Technology - Andrew Kadis of Cambridge Vision Technology talks through how Alzheimer's is the leading cause of death with one in three people not even being aware that they have it. Not only does Andrew share some huge statistics, but he also demonstrates the economic impact of not identifying Alzheimer's early enough. Andrew shares their focus on biomarkers in the eye, iterating a business plan, and being part of future policy.And having put the overview together, we've just realised that our guests, and many of the companies mentioned in the episode are all previous #21toWatch or Trinity Bradfield Prize winners!Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear from Forbes 30 under 30 for social impact, and founder Tamzin Lent whose objective is to help people find friends in busy venues.Using technology, Where You At is essentially a map of a large facility – festivals, conferences, stadiums – which allows users to stay connected when a mobile phone signal or GPS doesn't typically work. Using a Bluetooth beacon system, and a mesh system between mobile phones users can feel safer and enjoy their experience without worry. Where you at also provides insights for the providers who can understand more about flow and footfall within their venues, which in turn can result in a better experience for their guests. Tamzin talks to us about:· Being a sole founder and the value of the support network· Using lockdown to reset the venue industry· Building, and maintaining strong relationships· The progress with product market fit· Making the decision to bring tech development inhouse· Receiving seamless support from CambridgeProduced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Bruce is back on to talk us through the ‘rich array' of content planned for Cambridge Tech Week.Monday - International Day bringing together national and international guests with CambridgeTuesday - Innovation and Investment Day showcasing the tech landscape and ecosystem in Cambridge. 50+ #startups and #scaleups in #InnovationAlley where winners will be crowned at the end of the day. Also a roundtable on Corporate Innovation with Cambridge Consultants and Cambridge Management Consulting who also host a dinner in the evening. Wednesday - Deep dive #AI and #Quantum. Finishing with big tech debate. Wednesday also sees the annual Business Weekly newspaper dinner #BusinessWeeklyAwardsThursday - Deep Dive #Semiconductor and #Climate Tech. And also, Scaleup Day kicking off with #CamTechPod live episode, and then hearing from entrepreneurs who have scaled and a series of workshops in the afternoon. Wrapping up with a drink's reception.Friday - Tech Futures Day with Form the Future to help the next generation consider a tech role in the future.Check out the programme and the fringe events at https://cambridgetechweek.co.uk/Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Hood joins us from Anglia Capital Group (ACG) talks to us about the angel investment network and the Halo Programme.Our guest Mark Merrywest tells us that 84% travellers are influenced by social media and Yond brings together a way to book your holiday and activities all in one place. The programme helped to direct the seed of an idea into something funded and ready to launch.And from the most recent cohort Alex Howard Founder of AAH Software providing clinical research, shares how his company has morphed from services to technology led.We talk about · How the size of opportunities developed in Norwich might not be the same magnitude as some of the #Cambridge #deeptech startups, but there is still applicability and marketability.· Getting guidance on the valuation of a startup· The importance of refining your message to the different audiences · How important pitch practice is and the subsequent constructive discussion post-pitch – is nice feedback ever useful?Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an episode of two halves, we talk to Amy Weatherup about two decades leading iTeams and her personal journey before and since.iTeams bridges the gap between students who are experts in their own sector, and entrepreneurs and innovators who are looking to drive commercialisation and turn their ideas to reality. Amy tells us more including three lessons she's learnt along the way:· Technology is far earlier than you think it is· It's going to cost you a lot more money· IP and patents are only part of what you have.We then talk about Amy's own career at the start of the commercial internet and supporting schools to startups. We cover: · Being a young entrepreneur· Building a company, quickly, and keeping cash flowing· Contracts with some of the largest electronics companies· How securing funding has changed over the last decades· Being open with corporates· Angel investing· Paying it forward.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we revisit our interview with Eben Upton of Raspberry Pi from 2022. Tune in to hear about:· Eben's route to Raspberry Pi· Celebrating the people that have been part of the journey· Doing business in the pub (a very Cambridge thing)· From managing a supply chain (please remember numbers and comments are from 2022), to moving into retail· The weird and wonderful uses of a Raspberry Pi (and a challenge for someone to achieve Eben's desire to get a Pi beyond low earth orbit? #LEO)· Stories of breaking websites and thoughts on office-based working· And of course, floating the company, on which Eben recently said: “Nearly sixteen years ago, in the autumn of 2008, a handful of us set off on this journey together. We were driven by a shared realisation that something had gone badly wrong in young people's interaction with technology; a shared conviction that we should do something about it; and the beginnings of a shared idea of what that something might be.“In the years since, we've accomplished amazing things, as a company, as a Foundation, and as a broader movement. We've designed PCBs; written software; taped out chips; published magazines; filed patents; trained teachers; run after-school clubs; and seen our products taken to space, to the bottom of the ocean, and to the ends of the earth.“We've sold over sixty million low-cost, high-performance, general-purpose Raspberry Pi computers to the enthusiasts and educators who remain at the heart of the Raspberry Pi movement, and to the industrial and embedded customers who today account for over two-thirds of our sales.“And thanks to the availability and salience of those computers, and to the curriculum reform and teacher training initiatives championed by the Foundation, we have seen a resurgence in interest in computing among young people. In sixteen years, Computer Science has gone from being the easiest subject to get into at Cambridge to the hardest, a change that has been reflected across the UK higher education sector and beyond. We have engineers working for us today who got their first experience of computing on a Raspberry Pi platform.”Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a degree in the Netherlands to the first satellite launch in Costa Rica in 2018, to the UK to launch a space company, we talk to Marco Gomes-Jenkins, Co-Founder and CEO of Super-Sharp Space Systems Ltd.Marco talks about his background, going to MBA at Imperial to learn ‘business', which led him to Professor Ian Parry at Uni of Cambridge who together with George Hawker became co-founders of SuperSharp.SuperSharp is an Earth-imaging company developing unfolding space telescopes to capture high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) images of the Earth.These images can be used for applications such as tackling climate change, crop monitoring, and maintaining global security, allowing high-quality affordable Earth-imaging solutions to empower the world in responding to global change.With a space launch mid-2026, SuperSharp will have had just over 15 years of R&D funded by the UK Space Agency, Innovate UK, the European Space Agency, the UK Ministry of Defence Accelerator, plus equity investment from Cambridge Enterprise, and some individual angel investors.Tune in to find out more about the SuperSharp journey and how the Cambridge ecosystem has helped at all stages of its growth.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.