Cambridge Tech Podcast

This week, we have an insightful conversation with Tony Quested about the recent annual #BusinessWeeklyAwards, and about what being a journalist means in an environment where there is so much access to and pressure to deliver news.Working with Tony and the team at Business Weekly is much more than sending press releases – they have a unique role in opening doors and helping companies develop and grow. Tony shares his thoughts with us in this episode.Now in their 33rd year, we look back at the legacy of Business of the Year companies and showcase some of the 2023 winners.Produced by Carl Homer

In this episode, we talk to VividQ COO and co-founder Aleksandra Pedraszewska.Aleks talks to us about the six-year journey to date at VividQ, how there are five co-founders, and the natural evolution as the team continues to expand.Aleks talks to us about how VividQ is leading the visual revolution of #AR by integrating innovative and immersive holographic display technology into every conceivable consumer device.Tune in for an open discussion about how a global team operates in such an exciting new technology area, while keeping their feet firmly on Cambridge soil.Produced by Carl Homer, Cambridge TV

Financial journalist and author, James Ashton joins us to talk about his book ‘The Everything Blueprint: The Microchip Design that Changed the World’.James tells the Arm story - a big corporate story, of global and high impact, with products used by 70% of the world’s population.From producing a better chip for Acorn Computers, tension and competition with Intel and other corporate interactions, how the relationship with Nokia embraced the mobile opportunity, the human pursuit of creating great things, and other topics from Arm’s 33-year history so far.The Everything Blueprint: The Microchip Design that Changed the World is available in all good book shops, and as an audio book.Produced by Carl Homer, Cambridge TV

From an engineering degree, digital media product development, Paris to New York, Tech City to Tech Nation, Brexit and other inflection points, this week’s guest Gerard Grech provides a fascinating insight on tech in a national (UK) context.From the start of Tech City with 200 software companies to bringing government and tech entrepreneurs closer together. Moving to Tech Nation with 20 clusters across the UK – find out about some regional specialisms and how the ecosystem has grown 16x in value over the last 10 years.With 1/3rd all UK tech unicorns having gone through a Tech Nation programme, Gerard shares some great insights for anyone working in or building a tech ecosystem locally, nationally and internationally.Founders Forum has acquired all the assets of Tech Nation – and we’re advised to watch this space for the next era of activities as the value of the UK ecosystem is predicted to be worth $4trn by 2033.And obviously, we ask Gerard about Cambridge and its role in the national and international ecosystem - “Cambridge has always been a huge cluster of innovation, and science and technology” - we think you’ll find his comments really engaging. Produced by Carl Homer, Cambridge TV

After a first rainy visit to Cambridge, in 2019 Gary Brotman made the decision to move his family here to take on a great opportunity with a startup.Gary joined as VP product and marketing and set straight to rebranding the company to Secondmind. He added discipline in product development and commercialisation, and a real sense of purpose, resulting in an opportunity to take on the role of CEO.Gary talks to us about the move to the UK, navigating changes in direction, restructuring, funding and operating in and after a pandemic, plus so much more.We also find out about how the Machine Learning company helps engineers in the automotive industry make better decisions (see also a report by analyst house Frost & Sullivan about the future of automotive product development, featuring Secondmind https://www.secondmind.ai/insights/cloud-based-ml-the-catalyst-transforming-automotive-product-development/)Produced by Carl Homer, Cambridge TV.

Much of our audience is outside Cambridge, so we thought we’d invite the encyclopaedic-knowledgeable David Gill to talk us through the history of innovation in this great city. Tune in to discover more about our city's ‘magic sauce’ - a research base, people with vision, and the ability to build a broad coalition - and much more.Produced by Carl Homer, Cambridge TV

Qureight is a digital healthcare company focused on applying AI-enabled lung image analysis in the treatment of severe respiratory diseasesCEO and co-founder, Muhunthan Thillai, talks with Faye about the company and how it came about, technology, funding, the recent announcement with Astra Zeneca, and a whole host of other things, including some great tips for entrepreneurs starting their journey, and a passion for family and reading. Produced by Carl Homer.

This week we bring you a live recording from Cambridge Tech Week. James hosted a panel discussion on the Cambridge Tech Ecosystem, that features Henry Whorwood from Beauhurst, Tabitha Goldstaub, Director, Innovate Cambridge and Christine Martin, Head of Seed Funds, Cambridge Enterprise.Produced by Carl Homer.

Many people, both locally and globally, will know this week’s guest, Peter Cowley, as an international angel investor, but here we dig deeper – much deeper. With permission, we were very privileged to talk to Peter about his personal life – living with cancer, family bereavement, and removing the stigma of suicide. We also celebrate his recent marriage to Lis before talking about his career and the advice he openly shares.Peter is a distinguished serial entrepreneur – from running a mobile discotheque when he was a student to a 40-year-old tech company owner with all the ups and downs you’d expect; as well as a portfolio of businesses from publishing and property. He tells us how he stumbled into becoming an angel, with that first ‘exit’ with Martin Kleppman, that made it all possible. And shares some of the successes and failures likening angel investment to a ‘marriage contract you can’t break’.Tune in for a unique insight into a remarkable man.Produced by Carl Homer.