Cambridge Tech Podcast

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.

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

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

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

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:🚀ET Capital's Journey Martin recounts his journey from a venture capital firm to establishing ET Capital, which has managed nine funds since its inception in 1993. The firm has successfully backed notable companies, including those in life sciences and low carbon technologies.🚀 A new kind of fundET Capital is shaking things up with a fund designed to open doors, making high-growth Cambridge startups accessible to investors beyond the typical angel networks.🚀 Backing the ecosystemFrom partnering with Cambridge Enterprise to Deep Tech Labs, Martin shares how collaboration is key to unlocking the region’s startup potential.Produced by Cambridge TV

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

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

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

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