12 rising stars in Cambridge VC

Cambridge stands as one of the most dynamic startup ecosystems globally, where cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial drive, and a history of transformative innovation converge.

Anchored by the University of Cambridge, the city has become synonymous with breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, life sciences, and healthcare.

Boasting over 5,000 innovation-driven companies, 36 research parks, and an ecosystem valued at over $150 billion, Cambridge has earned its place as Europe’s deep tech capital.

Companies like Arm Holdings, Darktrace, and Wayve are among its global pioneers.

With $1.3 billion in annual funding and an impressive 16.9x value creation per venture capital dollar, Cambridge consistently outperforms other UK cities, including London.

As the second-ranked startup hub in the UK and 15th in Western Europe, Cambridge fosters a collaborative culture, tackling pressing global challenges like climate change, food security, and healthcare innovation.

It is a fertile ground for founders, investors, and innovators to scale transformative ideas.

Cambridge’s success is supported by a robust network of organizations that bridge the gap between research, entrepreneurship, and industry:

1. Cambridge Enterprise: Acting as a bridge between the University of Cambridge and the broader innovation ecosystem, Cambridge Enterprise supports spinouts, startups, and entrepreneurs by providing commercial expertise, mentorship, and funding.

2. Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC): A leading venture investor managing over £500 million, CIC backs deep tech and life sciences companies originating from the Cambridge ecosystem.

3. Cambridge Future Tech (CFT): A venture builder transforming groundbreaking research into scalable startups, focusing on AI, quantum technologies, robotics, and other deep tech sectors.

4. Founders at the University of Cambridge: This initiative connects aspiring founders with mentors, funding, and co-founders, helping university spinouts achieve commercial success.

5. Innovate Cambridge: A strategic body dedicated to accelerating the region's innovation impact, Innovate Cambridge has set ambitious goals to double unicorn creation and venture funding in the next decade.

6. Nucleate (Cambridge Chapter): A non-profit program fostering biotech startups by bridging academic and industry expertise with a focus on translational science.

7. Deep Science Ventures: Though not exclusive to Cambridge, this venture creator focuses on global challenges in pharma, climate, and computation while leveraging Cambridge’s talent and innovations.

The future of Cambridge’s ecosystem lies in the hands of a new wave of venture capitalists who are reshaping the landscape with fresh perspectives and specialized expertise.

I had a quick dive into the young VCs and ecosystem-enablers working in Cambridge to celebrate the great work their doing backing founders.

*Who did I miss? Who else is the next gen of VCs in Cambridge?

🤖 Dominika (Cambridge Future Tech): As Venture Operations and Ecosystem Lead, Dominika focuses on AI, robotics, and quantum technologies, bridging capital gaps for deep tech startups.

⚕️ Abhimanyu (Nucleate UK): Bridging US-UK biotech collaboration, Abhimanyu leverages his immunology expertise and venture scouting background to empower the next generation of biotech leaders.

🧠 Ines (Cambridge Future Tech): Combining neuroscience and management science expertise, Ines drives commercialization of groundbreaking research in neurotechnology and healthcare innovation.

🔬 Maxim (Cambridge Future Tech): With a PhD in materials science, Maxim specializes in transforming high-impact research into scalable ventures, particularly in deep tech.

🦠 Stefan (Cambridge Innovation Capital): A cell biology PhD with experience in academia, editing, and VC, Stefan supports startups in deep tech and life sciences from seed to exit.

🧬 Andrea (Wellcome Sanger Institute): A molecular genetics expert, Andrea coordinates biotech startup programs, fostering collaboration between science and entrepreneurship.

🙋 Connor (Founders at the University of Cambridge): An early-stage investment expert, Connor spearheads the university’s co-founder matching program, connecting visionary talent to launch transformative startups.

🙋‍♀️ Lucie is a Venture Analyst at Cambridge Future Tech, specializing in commercializing groundbreaking innovations in AI, quantum technologies, and advanced materials. With a background in IT & Management from UCL, she blends human-centered design with entrepreneurial experience to drive impactful deep-tech ventures addressing global challenges.

🧑‍🔬 Edward (Cambridge Innovation Capital): With a decade of VC experience and a PhD in biomaterials, Edward backs startups in AI, quantum tech, and life sciences.

👩‍💻 Megan is an Investment Analyst at Cambridge Enterprise, focusing on deep tech, sustainability, and software. With an MSc in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry from Oxford, she combines a passion for innovation with hands-on VC experience from roles at All Iron Ventures and Future Planet Capital.

🥼 Jonathan (Deep Science Ventures): A molecular medicine PhD, Jonathan specializes in gene editing and epigenetics, building next-gen therapeutic startups.

💊 Polly is a Senior Investment Associate at Cambridge Enterprise, specializing in life sciences spinouts. With a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Cambridge, her research explored glucose homeostasis and cell migration. Polly brings deep scientific expertise to support transformative biotech ventures.

Cambridge’s vibrant ecosystem thrives on the synergy between academia, industry, and venture capital.

With a robust support network and a new generation of ecosystem enablers and VCs driving transformative innovation, Cambridge is well-positioned to remain a global leader in deep tech and life sciences.

Who did I miss? Who else is backing the Cambridge startup ecosystem?