Cambridge Tech Podcast

Episode 174 of the Cambridge Tech Podcast reveals an extraordinary approach to drug discovery that sounds like science fiction but is very much reality. If you've ever wondered how we might make pharmaceutical manufacturing greener without sacrificing innovation, this week's episode delivers some genuinely exciting answers. HotHouse Therapeutics, a Norwich-based biotech spinout, is harnessing AI a...

Ben Stanton from Deloitte makes his record setting fourth appearance on the podcast to walk us through Deloitte's 2026 Tech (and Media and Telecoms) predictions. The discussion isn’t just a forecast - it’s a sharp analysis of current market trends, user adoption, and technology realities. Key Highlights & Insights: Surging GenAI Adoption – But Reality Lags the Hype: • “Standalone daily usage o...

As we wrap up an extraordinary year for both AI and climate innovation, this week’s episode delivers an unmissable debate straight from Cambridge Tech Week: “Is climate good or bad for AI?” This thought-provoking episode is essential listening for founders, investors, and anyone passionate about the intersection of technology and sustainability. The lively panel features: • Sara Jones, Head of Mar...

This week we sit down with Samantha Woods, Director of Technology, Media and Telecoms for UK Corporate Banking at Barclays, to explore how Eagle Labs and innovation banking are lighting the way for startups, scale-ups, and the entire local ecosystem. “Banking for all its pretense and purpose is moving money, receiving money, sending money… What I really want to do is enable my clients to do that i...

This week’s episode features a rapid-fire yet insightful interview with Kathryn Chapman and Michael Anstey from Innovate Cambridge. “It’s been a really good year for Cambridge. There’s a huge amount of momentum, inclusive innovation, and people really getting behind the agenda.” Here are the key takeaways A more united Cambridge tech cluster Innovate Cambridge has helped align the ecosystem around...

In another of our exclusive recording from Cambridge Tech Week we hear from leading experts as they explore the frameworks, policies, and innovations shaping the ethical expansion of AI. As leaders race to integrate AI, ensuring safety, ethics, and trust is more critical than ever. How can we scale AI responsibly while mitigating risks, avoiding bias, and maintaining transparency? The expert panel...

This week on Cambridge Tech Podcast, we sit down with David Fyfe and Kamil Sokolowski from Kodiaq Technologies for a conversation that left us excited about the future of energy storage. Key insights Metal-Free, Organic Electrolytes: Kodiaq is developing next-gen organic electrolytes for flow batteries, avoiding the supply chain risks and costs tied to traditional metals like vanadium. Enhanced En...

This week’s episode is a deep-dive interview with Finn Stevenson, cofounder and CEO of Flok Health, who brings a unique combination of medical expertise, startup experience, and relentless ambition to solve one of healthcare’s biggest headaches: scalable, accessible physiotherapy. Key Takeaways: Drawing on his experiences as an Olympic-level rower and healthtech professional, Finn noticed a gap: “...

This week’s episode features Dr. Margaret Heffernan’s powerful keynote from Cambridge Tech Week, giving a call to arms for anyone building or funding the next wave of innovation. She challenges the tech sector to resist “the rhetoric of inevitability” surrounding AI. Key Takeaways: On the myth of inevitability in AI: “What we’re hearing is a kind of ugly, aggressive language of inevitability. AI i...

We’re joined by Rupert Elston, who shares his journey from Oxford to leading the London AI Hub - a new centre driving collaboration across the UK’s fast-growing AI startup scene. Rupert explains how London’s 3,000+ AI startups were once scattered across disconnected clusters: “That fragmentation was stopping the UK from really leading the charge in AI.” The London AI Hub is changing that. It’s now...

In the second of our exclusive recordings from Cambridge Tech Week 2025, we turn the spotlight on photonics - a sector critical to the future of compute, AI, quantum, and more. Hosted by Dr Andy Sellars of Cornerstone, the expert panel features Elizabeth Patterson (Seagate Technology), Dr Gwen Wyatt-Moon (Prospectral), Dr Josh Silverstone (Hartley Ultrafast), Mark Rushworth (Finchetto Ltd), and Ma...

Owen Thompson, CEO and Founder of Cambridge Future Tech (CFT), returns to the podcast for a fast-paced, candid conversation on how CFT has evolved from an an ambitious venture builder to one of the UK’s most active deep tech venture studios. 💡Highlights CFT is now creating 8–10 companies a year, having just incorporated its 17th and on track to hit 20 by year-end. The team takes a hands-on approa...

We have been given permission by the Cambridge Tech Week team to share content from the conference over the coming weeks and months. Today we begin with one of our favourite sessions from startup to scaleup day, where Amelia Armour of Amadeus Capital Partners interviewed Kristian Segerstrale from Super Evil Mega Corp who is currently navigating the Cambridge ecosystem on a quest to understand how...

This week James chats with Marco De Novellis, Group Editor at Founders Forum Group and Tech Nation, about the current state and future of AI in the UK. Here are some key takeaways: • The UK AI sector has reached a combined valuation of $230 billion, surpassing France and Germany combined. Marco notes, “AI is increasingly becoming a national security question,” highlighting its importance beyond ju...

In this week’s episode we discover more about the innovative work being done at Forefront RF. Dr. Leo Laughlin and Dr. Alexander Doust share their journey in developing cutting-edge technology for mobile devices. Here are some key takeaways: • The Challenge of Signal Management: Leo explains, “Mobile phones need to transmit a powerful signal while simultaneously receiving a weak one. Our technolog...

James sits down with Shai Vyakarnam to explore his journey from a diverse upbringing to becoming a key player in entrepreneurship education. Shai shares invaluable lessons learned throughout his career, particularly in fostering entrepreneurial mindsets among students and aspiring founders. Key takeaways: • The Importance of Milestones: Shai emphasises the significance of externally driven milesto...

This week on the Cambridge Tech Podcast, hosts Faye Holland and James Parton look back at the highlights of Cambridge Tech Week. From standout moments to personal reflections, they capture the energy of a week that brought together innovators, startups, and investors from across the tech community. If you couldn’t make it to #CamTechWeek, this episode is a great way to catch up on what you missed....

It's Cambridge Tech Week! As the vibrant atmosphere of Cambridge Tech Week unfolds, Faye Holland and James Parton bring us a concise yet impactful episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast. This week, they dive into the latest happenings in the tech ecosystem, highlighting significant developments. Key Highlights from the Episode: Cambridge Tech Week Buzz: The hosts share their excitement about the on...

In this episode we dive into the exciting world of speech technology with Ricardo Herreros-Symons, Chief Strategy Officer at Speechmatics. We discuss: • The Evolution of Speech Technology: Ricardo noted, “In the last decade, it has absolutely transformed... We are interacting with speech technology everywhere.” This shift is evident in everyday applications, from subtitles on TV to voice-activated...

In this week’s episode we catch up with Seb Lessware. Seb shares his fascinating journey from a software engineer to CTO at 1Spatial, a company that has been at the forefront of geospatial data management for over two decades. We discuss: • Career Evolution: Seb emphasises the importance of adaptability in one’s career. “I never had a five-year plan; I just took opportunities as they arose,” he sh...

Mark Slack shares his journey from gynecologist to co-founder of CMR Surgical, a company dedicated to making surgery safer and more accessible through robotics. The conversation covers: The Birth of CMR Surgical A Vision for Robotics Challenges in MedTech The Future of Surgical Robotics Commitment to Ethical Practices Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Paula Rogers-Brown joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming Cambridge Tech Week, set to take place from 15th to 19th September. This year's theme, "Seizing the AI Advantage," reflects the growing importance of AI across multiple sectors, including climate tech and clean tech. What to Expect at Cambridge Tech Week: • Diverse Programming: The week will feature a variety of events, including keynote...

In this week’s episode we dive into the exciting world of battery technology with Christoph Schnedermann, the founder and CEO of Illumion. Christoph shares his academic journey, which spans from Jena to Oxford, Harvard, and finally Cambridge. He reflects on how these diverse environments shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. We discuss: • Illumion's Mission: Illumion focuses on revolutionising batte...

This week we are joined by Josephin Holstein, founder and CTO of Evoralis an early stage spin out from Cambridge University with the mission to enable true and sustainable plastic recycling. Josephin shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, detailing how Evoralis is revolutionising plastic recycling through innovative enzyme technology. Key insights: Josephin and her team, originally...

In this week’s episode, Andrew Williamson, Managing Partner of Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), shares his insights on the UK government’s spin-out review and the evolving landscape of venture capital in Cambridge. Some standout moments include: • The importance of proof-of-concept funding: Andrew highlights the critical need for proof-of-concept funding to bridge the gap between fundamental re...