Cambridge Tech Podcast

This week we talk to Cian Hughes, Partner at Sure Valley Ventures to find out about the inner workings of a VC – of course it’s about providing money to startups, but also about providing a platform to access other investors, partners, and experts. Investing predominantly at mid-seed stage, Sure Valley Ventures helps to identify gaps and fill them at acritical stage of development. We talk about ·...

We talk to Farbod Shakouri who is the Co-Founder and CEO at Phantom Technology, a Cambridge-based start-up elevating human capabilities with AI wearable technology. Having spotted a trend of 3D graphics being used in applications other than games, Phantom Technology was founded in 2019 to improve the ‘contextual awareness’ issue with #AR which, in reality, is more of an AI problem. The company is...

In this episode we hear from all eight finalists of The Trinity Bradfield Prize, with the live announcement of the three winners made by Sir Greg Winter at the end of the event. The pitches covered a broad range of innovative ideas – (1) targeting T cell therapies for solid tumours (Alceus Bio); (2) developing a next-generation platform for spectral imaging (ProSpectral); (3) creating new class of...

This episode we are joined by Pam Garside, chair of Cambridge Angels. Pam introduces us to Cambridge Angels and how they handle deals. She shares her priorities as chair of the Cambridge Angels ‘network’, and we learn about Pam’s unique background, and her journey into investing. We also delve into the Health tech space, and how AI and automation is revolutionising the sector but requires caution...

Epidemiologist to business leader. A pack of crisps and a diet coke, and next thing this episode’s guest is COO of #QuantumComputing company Riverlane. Of course, we talk about Quantum, and the huge potential and reality of what we can expect. But we also have a great conversation about: ·       availing yourself of the tech ecosystem in Cambridge – ‘the best pla...

Kieren Paterson started his career in 1998 at significant Cambridge employer Marshall majoring in engineer and technology and working with major #aerospace companies. He then moved into management within the business, and then, as part of company’s constant innovation, the idea of FutureWorx was born and Kieren found himself there. FutureWorx looks at the Horizon Three (10+year) space and aims to...

Ben Stanton, Insights Manager at Deloitte returns to talk to us about the 2024 #TMT Predictions, and to look back on the 2023 predictions to see what was a hit, and what was a miss. The four main prediction themes are: #GenerativeAI #Sustainability #Media #Entertainment and #Sports #Telecom and #Technology Tune in for a whistlestop, and insightful tour of the insights and let us know which you thi...

This is a short episode, looking at some of the things we’ve done in 2023, and some of the plans for 2024. Neatly sandwiched in the middle are a short selection of bloopers, fluffs (or bluffs!) to make you giggle. Season’s Greetings to all our listeners, and we wish you all good health and happiness. Produced by Carl Homer, Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we recorded at the Form the Future annual conference held on 1st December at the Moller Centre in Cambridge. Many of us are responsible for hiring, and certainly working with colleagues of all generations, so this was an insightful day on how we can better engage. We had a fantastic time listening to the sessions, and talking to politicians, teachers, employers and academics who ar...

This week we were delighted to be on site at the Cambridge Wireless International Conference #CWIC2023 as the official podcast provider. Paul Crane introduces the conference ‘From the moon to the deep blue sea’. Then we talk to Peter Kibutu of TTP ‘At Altitude’ about #NTN; ‘Terrestrial’ with Nick Johnson of UKTIN; James Thomas of Jet Connectivity about #MarineTech, and finally Ben Timmons of Qualc...

Our two guests this week are Michelle Lim, Behavioural Scientist at Cambridge Consultants and Micol Spitale, Post Doctoral Researcher at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Computer Science and Technology investigating #robotics. A collaboration between academia and business, the duo has collaborated on using #technology to address one of the biggest challenges in society – in this in...

Today we are introduced to Hydrogen Storage and Carbon Capture – what it means and why it is needed. We start with a detailed explanation of the challenges and opportunity from Aurelia Li and David Fairen-Jiminez. We learn how Immaterial is working to address the expense of decarbonisation and enable companies to achieve net zero targets with their advanced materials and systems solutions, particu...

We are joined by Shamus Husheer and Oriane Chausiaux who are co-founders of Heartfelt Technologies. Heart failure is a chronic condition costing the NHS £2bn a year, and most hospitalisations are preventable. And that’s where Heartfelt Technologies comes in with their #AI and non-invasive tracking system. Tune in to find out more about the AI solution and their experiences with setting up business...

It’s the 2023 Chris Abell Post Doc Business Plan competition and we’re joined by Christine Martin from Cambridge Enterprise. We hear from the six finalists before finding out who picks up the 2023 prizes. Watch out for these people, who are certainly ones to watch of the future - Mark E. Carrington, Oxonium Energy; Abolfazal Mostaani, XinaTec; Ismail Sami, Mostli; Molly Haugen, Aetosense; Kamil So...

Whilst we have huge opportunities and wealth in Cambridge, there is a side of the city that is struggling. In fact, inequality in Cambridge holds the unforgivable moniker of being the most unequal city in the UK. And that is a label that we want to actively start to eliminate. In this episode, we are joined by a panel of speakers who will shed light on the issues and discuss how we can make a long...

This episode we are joined by Dominic Vergine, CEO of Monumo who is now emerging from ‘stealth mode’ with a plan to reinvent the electric motor. The automotive market is challenged not to be the next Kodak, and the market is awash with new potential car manufacturers such as Apple, LG and Sony – all looking for something that will give an edge. And that’s where Monumo comes in. Based on experience...

With over two decades of helping businesses succeed in China, Ting Zhang, CEO of Crayfish talks to us about Chinese culture and the Chinese economy, how to approach doing business with China (including how to protect and commercialise IP), and how things have changed over the last 20 years. Many startups and scaleups are now much more aware of the opportunity of trading in China and the likes of H...

Alan Patterson and Darren Garvey take us on their journey to date - linking the appeal of small companies, their passion optimising and automating things, and their desire to show how tools fit together to solve bigger and bigger problems. With over half a dozen exits to the likes of Rolls Royce, Amazon, BT, Oracle, and Google they don’t believe in optimizing for an exit, but in building value and...

To remain globally competitive, Cambridge needed to refocus its innovation aspirations over the next 10-15 years. Formed in 2022, Innovate Cambridge has been a collaborative approach that has brought together different actors and participants in Cambridge. Collectively they have developed a new agenda and in this episode Tabitha Goldstaub, Executive Director of Innovate Cambridge; and Diarmuid O'B...

For our first anniversary 🎂🎉, we are joined by UK Angel Investor Simon Thorpe. Simon talks to us about his portfolio and what he looks for in an investment. With 150-200 rounds in 60 companies and 10 successful trade exists under his belt, Simon discusses identifying investments and managing risk, advising his investments, and building relationships with his portfolio companies. We discuss some...

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...

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 conceivab...

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,...

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...

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. G...