Why CIC?
We were set up with one aim: to increase the successful commercialisation of life sciences and deep tech innovation
Since 2014 we've been matching the objectives of innovators with the expectations of investors to create companies that contribute to society – raising over £0.6 billion along the way and helping around 40 companies, whose innovations are set to transform the lives of many.
Investment
Wherever you’re going, you need someone who knows where you’re coming from.
Early stage
Seed through Series A is a critical stage in company development
CIC's early stage funds are focused on Seed funding to accelerate your ideas, and Series A to further develop your company.
During these early stages CIC helps entrepreneurs balance the demands of technology development with business growth. The company's founders are rapidly developing from entrepreneurs to leaders.
Later stage
Continuing support during growth
CIC's opportunity and growth funds support later stage companies providing scale-up capital, technical knowledge and commercial experience, and draw on our connections within and beyond the Cambridge ecosystem.
Companies
Hear what our companies have to say about us
Entrepreneur in Residence
Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Programme
The Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) programme is a cornerstone of CIC’s strategy to identify and commercialise breakthrough technologies in Deep Tech and Life Sciences.
EIRs work alongside the CIC team to identify technologies with commercial potential, develop business plans, build founding teams, and launch new ventures.
Our EIRs come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some are experienced entrepreneurs who have founded, scaled and exited previous businesses. Others are experienced technologists with a track record of commercialising early-stage innovation.
A key component of our EIR programme is CIC’s unique partnership with the University of Cambridge. Our EIRs have access to Cambridge’s academic community, research and IP pipeline, enabling us to match experienced entrepreneurs with world-class researchers.
If you’re passionate about building the future and want to lead a venture at the frontier of DeepTech and Life Sciences, we’d love to hear from you. Please email: eir@cic.vc
Meet some of our EIRs
Damian Crowther – Life Sciences Team
Damian trained as a clinician-scientist in Cambridge and Oxford (PhD FRCP), practiced neurology in Nottingham and Cambridge, and led a neuroscience research group at the University of Cambridge for over a decade. He later held an honorary appointment at UCL, completing the “Golden Triangle” of UK research institutions. After leaving academia, Damian led early drug discovery at AstraZeneca Neuroscience and co-founded the HealthTech startup GPnotebook. At CIC, Damian has co-founded TRIMTECH Therapeutics, a startup using Cambridge technology to combat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s.
Ferenc Huszár – DeepTech Team
Ferenc is an AI researcher and deep-tech innovator with experience in both startups and venture capital. He was the lead researcher at Magic Pony Technology, a London-based deep learning startup acquired by Twitter in 2016. He later held AI research leadership roles at Twitter before becoming a Professor of Computer Science at Cambridge.
Mihriban Tuna – Life Sciences Team
Mihri is CEO of CIC portfolio company Immutrin and brings 20 years’ experience in biologics drug development across biotech and pharma. Prior to joining CIC, Mihriban was Chief Scientific Officer at Adaptate Biotherapeutics (acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company), Senior Vice President of Drug Discovery at F-star Therapeutics, and an early employee at Domantis Ltd. (acquired by GSK).
Accelerators
Identifying potential star performers to provide early access to investment opportunities
We worked with key stakeholders in the ecosystem to establish two accelerators: Start Codon for life sciences and healthcare businesses, and Deeptech Labs for technology businesses.
The aim of these early business accelerators is to fuel the progress of research by compressing years of learning into structured and intensive programmes.
The Cambridge ecosystem, as a centre of academic excellence and innovation, has an extraordinary track record for building category-leading life sciences and technology businesses. But more businesses succeed when there is sufficient dedicated, hands-on support to bridge the gap between translational research and Series A ready businesses.
Companies in the accelerators join groups benefitting from resources to develop their ideas and complete the programme with demonstrations of their discovery, process, or product.
Start Codon
Start something amazing
Start Codon is a Life Sciences venture builder which has invested in 28 disruptive therapeutics, medtech and healthtech companies across the UK. It is now wholly owned by Cambridge Innovation Capital. Start Codon is not able to process new applications at this stage.
Find out moreDeeptech Labs
The catalyst for deeptech success
Deeptech Labs is a partnership between Cambridge Innovation Capital, ARM, the University of Cambridge, and Marshalls, providing seed funding, mentorship, and access to resources to help entrepreneurs develop their ideas.
Twice a year, a cohort of start-ups enter a powerful network of successful entrepreneurs, expert practitioners, leading researchers, and deeptech organisations worldwide, with many opportunities to meet and learn from others and increase the chances and speed of success.