Our eight future stars are all led by women, including three cofounded by Ruth McKernan.

Draig Therapeutics

  • Founded by Ruth McKernan, Ivana Magovcevic-Liebisch
  • Location Cardiff
  • Founded in 2024 from research at Cardiff University’s Medicines Discovery Institute, Draig has raised $140 million from investors to develop treatments for depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders, with its first trials with patients just starting.

AstronauTx

  • Founded by Ruth McKernan, Jane Rhodes
  • Location London
  • This UCL spinout develops small molecule therapeutics to slow chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s by targeting brain activity during sleep. Raised $48 million in 2023 from investors including Bristol Myers Squibb.

Alchemab

  • Founded by Ruth McKernan, Rachael Bashford-Rogers, Jane Osbourn
  • Location London
  • Studies the natural antibody responses of people who are highly resilient to disease, identifying antibodies that could be used in treatments for others. Has raised $114 million in venture capital and licensed one of its discoveries to Eli Lilly in May in a deal worth $415 million.

NatureMetrics

  • Founded by Kat Bruce, Dimple Patel
  • Location Guildford
  • Recognised by the Prince of Wales as a 2024 Earthshot Prize finalist, this company pioneered DNA-based biodiversity assessments and now runs a comprehensive data and impact platform. Last year, it raised £20 million from investors including the former US vice-president Al Gore’s fund, Just Climate.

FYLD

  • Founded by Shelley Copsey
  • Location London
  • Its real-time field operations platform helps infrastructure and energy customers run large workforces safely and efficiently. Backed by the likes of SGN, the gas distributor, Boston Consulting Group and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

Cambridge GaN Devices

  • Founded by Giorgia Longobardi
  • Location Cambridge
  • Raised $32 million from investors last year to further develop its gallium nitride (GaN)-based power devices, which are used to control and convert electricity with significant energy savings. It is expanding its global footprint in the UK, Taiwan, Europe and North America. Longobardi moved from her chief executive role to chief marketing officer earlier this month.

Clue Software

  • Founded by Clare Elford
  • Location Bristol
  • This sister and brother-led software supplier helps government departments, regulators, police, sports organisations and companies investigate and tackle threats, fraud, insider threat and corruption through its software platform. It raised £4 million from venture fund Frog Capital in 2024.

Solasta Bio

  • Founded by Shireen Davies
  • Location Glasgow
  • This University of Glasgow spinout develops green insecticides. It has secured patents, raised $14 million in venture capital and gained “biochemical-like classification” from the US Environmental Protection Agency as it prepares to launch its crop protection products.