Cambridge Tech Podcast

When Debbie Toms met Chad Edwards at a casual barbecue in early 2024, neither of them could have predicted what would unfold. Two years on, CuspAI has raised over $130 million, assembled a world-class team across Europe, and is tackling some of humanity's most pressing challenges through AI driven materials discovery. It's the kind of origin story that makes you question whether you've been to the right barbecues lately.What makes Debs' journey particularly compelling is her transition from structured corporate roles. Nine years at Deloitte, eight at Marshall Aerospace, to the controlled chaos of an early-stage deep tech startup. Her insight? "You have to get very comfortable very quickly with just not knowing all the answers."The company itself represents a genuine breakthrough. CuspAI has built an agentic platform that models material properties with extraordinary speed. Where traditional materials discovery involves years of laboratory work with a mere 6% success rate, CuspAI can deliver equivalent results in 45 minutes with a projected 90% success rate.Key Milestones in Two Years·      Company incorporated March 2024·      Seed round closed June 2024·      First platform version live January 2025·      Series A raised over $100 million ·      Team grown to 55 employees with contracts signed for more across UK, Amsterdam, Berlin, and London  CuspAI isn't building technology for technology's sake. Their partnerships focus on genuinely transformative applications, for example:·      Carbon capture through direct air capture (DAC) projects with Meta·      Forever chemicals removal from water in partnership with Khmera, a NASDAQ-listed Finnish company·      Next-generation batteries and semiconductors addressing real infrastructure challengesAs Debs notes, there's genuine purpose embedded in the work: "The loveliest thing about that project is our lead chemist working on that project was pregnant at the time and is really aware that this is something that is impacting human life."What's Next?CuspAI is expanding aggressively into Asia-Pacific with a Singapore office and partnership already in motion. They're announcing new talent hires and partnership deals over the coming months, with an ambitious goal to deliver best-in-class materials by year-end.For founders and investors, CuspAI's story offers several lessons: the importance of mission-driven teams, the power of combining deep technical expertise (Max Welling's world-leading AI research) with commercial acumen (Chad Edwards' background), and the value of building based on what customers actually need.Listen to the full episode to hear Debs discuss the mental health implications of AI tools, why Cambridge needs to do more for AI talent, and how she maintains culture whilst scaling at breakneck speed.Headline sponsor Holden Polestar#CamTechPod 

In the latest episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast, hosts James Parton and Faye Holland chat with Rafie Faruq, co-founder of Genie AI. Genie AI is already backed by Google Ventures and Khosla Ventures, operates across 35+ countries, and serves everyone from SMEs to enterprises. But the real story? It's about reimagining an entire industry. "We're democratizing expertise and what we're really selling is trust."Genie AI's secret sauce is a patent-pending architecture called Eidetic Intelligence, which dramatically outperforms ChatGPT and Claude for legal tasks: 86% accuracy on benchmarks vs. GPT's 48% a significant leap in legal qualityHandles unlimited context length across 20-30+ documents simultaneouslyCreates a knowledge graph of company policies, templates, and negotiation behaviourMaintains legal quality through intelligent compression and gating mechanisms This matters because most law firms operate on a template and tweak model, charging tens of thousands for slightly modified contracts. Genie flips the script entirely.Perhaps most fascinating is Rafie's vision for the future of work itself. As AI agents handle more tasks autonomously, company structures are already shifting: Rather than cross-functional teams slowing things down with collaboration, we're moving towards generalists managing multiple AI agents - essentially, one-person companies at scale.Tune in to hear the full conversation on the Cambridge Tech Podcast - available on all major platforms.Headline sponsor Holden Polestar#CamTechPod

This episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast tackled one of the industry's most overlooked crises: electronic waste. We spoke with Sonia Lange Ramontja, founder of Retapp, about building a sustainable business that's as profitable as it is purposeful.Here's a sobering statistic: e-waste constitutes 70% of all toxic waste globally, yet it remains largely invisible in mainstream conversations. Sonia recognised this gap and built Retapp to address it. Retapp ran a successful pilot from July to September 2025, collecting 860 kilos of electronics across five pop-up events in collaboration with Cambridge City Council. The product is now live on both App Store and Google Play. Retapp's platform combines consumer-friendly design with intelligent automation:Users scan devices using the app (phones, laptops, toasters—anything with a plug or battery)AI identifies categories, estimates weight, and calculates resale value or eco-pointsUsers choose drop-off or collection optionsOptional data erasure certificates available for enhanced securitySustainability metrics track environmental impactRetapp also provides detailed device insights to refurbishers and recyclers through a web portal, helping them manage the deluge of electronics without overwhelming their operations. Currently fundraising their pre-seed round, Retapp is seeking investors who understand the circular economy and recognise this as a genuine business opportunity. With EU circular economy regulations tightening and extended producer responsibility (EPR) becoming mandatory, the timing couldn't be better. Listen to the full episode on the Cambridge Tech Podcast and subscribe for weekly updates on the region's most exciting founders and innovations.Headline sponsor Holden Polestar#CamTechPod

Cambridge Tech Podcast latest episode is with Bill Yost talking cement, startups, and the differences in building businesses either side of the Atlantic. Cement is the second most used material on Earth with 4 billion tonnes produced annually, and conventional cement production accounts for 7% of global CO2 emissions. If the cement industry were a country, it would rank behind only the US and China in carbon output. That's the scale of the opportunity.Enter Reclinker, a Cambridge-based startup that converts reclaimed cement into clinker using electric arc furnaces already used in steel recycling. Rather than building expensive new infrastructure, they're partnering with existing steel manufacturers. Bill talks about the funding journey, how to demonstrate the process at industrial scale, and how they have secured important supply chain agreements.Whether you're fascinated by climate tech, curious about fundraising strategy, or interested in how to build in Cambridge's ecosystem, this episode delivers real insights from someone who's done it multiple times, on both continents.Tune in on your preferred podcast platform and subscribe to join the weekly conversation. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar#CamTechPod

The latest episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast features Tim Ansor, leader of the Intelligent Services Business Unit at Cambridge Consultants, discussing the rapidly evolving world of physical AI and robotics. If you're building in this space or investing in it, this conversation is essential listening.What Is Physical AI, Anyway?Tim cuts through the hype to define physical AI simply: AI that understands the physical world and its properties. Unlike ChatGPT or Claude which are trained on text and images, physical AI systems grasp that objects exist even when hidden, that some things are squishy and others hard, and that gravity works.It's the missing piece that's making humanoid robots genuinely viable now, not just sci-fi fantasy.What This Means for Your Team - New skills are coming. Future managers won't just lead people, they'll manage AI agents and robotic collaborators too. Education needs to evolve from "learn to code" to "be fluent with AI tools."Listen now to learn more!Headline sponsor Holden Polestar.

Michael Meeks joins us the week to talk about competing with Microsoft, and why Open Source Wins. Some of the highlights of our conversation include: On organic growth: "Unlike many VC-backed companies, we're organic, we're profitable and we have a mission which is to drive open source."The business model is counterintuitive but brilliant. By giving away free software, Collabora builds massive brand recognition and deployment. Users try it at home, fall in love with it, and when they need enterprise support, they know exactly who to call.On digital sovereignty: In an increasingly geopolitical world, Michael argues open source is the only path to true sovereignty. "The only way to have true digital sovereignty...is to use open source because then it is for the world. It is both local and a collaboration internationally."One of the most interesting technical insights: Collabora keeps documents on the server rather than downloading them to clients. This enables server-side policy enforcement - no copy-paste, no printing, no downloads, plus watermarking for traceability.Michael's remote-first approach is worth noting: rather than have some staff in an office and others remote (which creates two-tier communication), Collabora went fully distributed globally. They do maintain a Cambridge base with internships at Hills Road sixth form college, giving back to the community that shaped him.Whether you're a founder wrestling with funding strategy, a VC evaluating open source investments, or simply curious about how to build a profitable, mission-driven company without VC pressure, this episode delivers real insights.Ready to dive deeper? Download Collabora Office from your app store and listen to the full conversation on the Cambridge Tech Podcast. You'll leave thinking differently about competition, sovereignty, and what sustainable growth actually looks like.Headline sponsor Holden Polestar#CamTechPod

Welcome to Cambridge Tech Week Kickstarter, the event that's putting Cambridge firmly on the global innovation map. This year's theme? How Deep Tech Changes the World. If you're a founder, investor, or tech enthusiast, tune in to find out more about the week, and to hear the panel discussion at the kickstarter event.The episode starts with updates from Kathryn Chapman (Innovate Cambridge), Rob Bridge (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority), Mike Short and Michaela Eschbach (Cambridge Wireless).We then cover the highlights of the panel discussion that asks “What Does a World-Class Deep Tech Ecosystem Actually Look Like?” Kathryn Chapman hosts, with panelists Professor Sir John Aston (University of Cambridge), Jo Slota-Newson (Almanac Ventures) and Lucy Yu (CEO, Centre for Net Zero, Octopus Energy Group). Cambridge isn't just another tech hub. It's a deliberate ecosystem where world-class research, creative thinking, and bold partnerships converge. The government is backing it. The talent is there. Will you be there to hear more during Cambridge Tech Week this September?

The latest Cambridge Tech Podcast episode packed a punch with exciting announcements from the Cambridge ecosystem, followed by an in-depth conversation with Jean Michel Van, founder of Ryse Flow, a company building the next generation of AI-powered sales automation.The real gem of this episode is Jean Michel's journey from corporate product management to founding Ryse Flow. His story is refreshingly honest about the fears and decision-making that come with entrepreneurship.Jean Michel's background is unconventional. Born in Paris to parents who fled the Cambodian genocide, he spent 15 years in pharma and tech before making the leap to entrepreneurship. His early career in pharmaceutical finance eventually led him into tech through a pivotal acquisition role, where he discovered his passion for product management.After 15 years climbing the corporate ladder, Jean Michel reached a turning point. Rather than waiting for the ‘perfect idea’. he decided to take the leap.Ryse Flow's premise is compelling: AI won't simply be bolted onto existing software, it will fundamentally reshape how sales automation works."AI is going to disrupt most of the legacy players in the market in the same way cloud disrupted client-server implementations in the early 2000s."Jean Michel's strategy is pragmatic:·       Currently leveraging 70% existing tools while building proprietary IP·       Only pursuing paid pilots - ensuring customer commitment and real feedback·       Maintaining a lean, self-funded team to preserve long-term decision-making autonomy·       Already profitable despite being early-stageThis episode captures the real tension between corporate comfort and entrepreneurial ambition. Jean Michel's willingness to discuss both his fears and his conviction offers genuine insight for founders considering the leap. Tune in on your preferred podcast platform, and subscribe to join the weekly conversation. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar#CamTechPod