Cambridge Tech Podcast

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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