Cambridge"s leading tech startups

Jing Zhang (1), director of operations,
and Roger Coulston (2) CSO
Aqdot

Company launched: 2012

What it does Aqdot has developed and patented new technology for creating microcapsules filled with a range of active ingredients.

These ingredients can then be released, under control – a technique that can be tuned to myriad applications.

“The early priorities are the home care, personal care, nutraceuticals and agrochemicals markets,” says Zhang

Why Cambridge? The company has close links to the University of Cambridge chemistry department, while the city’s ability to attract talent is also beneficial, as is its accommodating and supportive entrepreneurial community. “This is ideal for a young start-up like us,” says Zhang.

Future Plans The next few years should see Aqdot develop significantly. “The primary opportunity is for us to grow by licensing the technology,” says Zhang. “This would be among a variety of other business models including straight licensing, joint development agreements, joint ventures and production of our product.” Work is currently underway to commercialise the technology.

Steve Greaves (3), CEO, co-founder
Cambridge Communication Systems (CCS)

Company launched: 2010

What it does Mobile traffic is currently reliant on “macro-cells” – base stations with high-level antennas covering large areas. But with mobile data exploding, cells covering smaller areas are required.

CCS has harnessed microwaves to create a flexible, cost-effective small-cell system that uses street level antennas and boasts a self-organising network.

The company secured £1.3m seed funding in December 2011. “In less than a year the company had completed laboratory trials and had deployments of pilot systems with two of the world’s largest mobile operators,” says Greaves.

Why Cambridge? Many of the company’s members have long been associated with research and businesses in Cambridge, making it the logical location for CCS.

Future plans Further pilot networks are planned, with larger-scale small-cell deployments expected in 2014/2015.

Emily MacKay (4), founder
Crowdsurfer

Company launched: 2012

What it does Crowdsurfer is a search website for alternative finance options. “There are hundreds of crowd finance and peer-to-peer finance platforms available, and more launching all the time,” explains MacKay. “It’s currently impossible to search and extremely hard to analyse. We’re solving those problems.”

Why Cambridge? While Mackay values the wealth of tech talent and support for startups Cambridge offers, she also feels the attraction of London.

“There’s some real momentum in fintech innovation in east London, so you’re as likely to see us in Old Street,” she says.

Future plans “Our aim is to be the market authority, globally, for alternative finance,” says MacKay.

As well as raising the visibility of platforms, Crowdsurfer will benefit all those brands, fundraisers, investors and economists who are wanting to analyse the market, from examining the flow of money to spotting the next big thing.

Michael Priestnall (6), CTO, co-founder
Cambridge Carbon Capture

Company launched: 2010

What it does The company uses electrochemical technology to produce energy while combining carbon dioxide with calcium or magnesium materials to form carbonates, similar to limestone.

“We are locking [CO2] up as a solid and we have a process whereby we can turn it into magnesium bicarbonate in the sea,” reveals Priestnall. This is important for controlling emissions from ships.

Why Cambridge? “We work extremely closely with Cambridge University,” says Priestnall. The proximity of the Judge Business School and the Institute of Manufacturing, together with top-class students, was also a draw.

Future Plans A strategic link-up with a producer of calcium and magnesium materials could be the next step.

“There’s a lot of strategic interest in addressing this big problem of industrial CO2 sequestration, but in this case the interest is coming from those who are going to provide the materials,” says Priestnall.

Simon Bransfield-Garth (7), former CEO Eight19
now CEO
Azuri

Company launched: 2010

What it does Eight19 produces flexible, lightweight printed plastic solar cells.

Why Cambridge? With the technology originally pioneered by Professor Sir Richard Friend’s team in the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge was the natural choice for Eight19. The thriving tech base offered further incentive.

Future plans “Eight19 continues to develop flexible printed plastic solar with a view to supply into a wide range of applications from consumer electronics to indoor, battery free devices,” says Bransfield-Garth.

Last year it spun out a separate company, Azuri Technologies, that offers pay-as-you-go solar technology to consumers living in rural areas without mains electricity.

Eben Upton (8), co-founder
Raspberry Pi Foundation/Raspberry Pi Trading

Launched: 2009

What it does Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized computer that has inspired swathes of youngsters to learn how to code.

“On the trading side we make the computer, we make a camera accessory, we do an enormous amount of software work,” explains Upton. The foundation side is engaged in a wide range of activities from developing educational material to lobbying the government.

Why Cambridge? Already based in Cambridge, it was logical for Upton and his colleagues to set up Raspberry Pi there. Cambridge’s ability to attract talented graduates from across the country was also positive.

Future plans “The biggest piece of work I am doing at the moment is trying to sand off the corners, trying to make the platform easier for non-technical people to get to grips with,” says Upton.

Paulo Ferreira de Castro (9), CTO Knowledge Transmission

Company launched: 2010

What it does: Knowledge Transmission brings high-quality learning materials to students at low cost through tablets, mobiles and other such communications technology. “Emerging economies struggle with delivering education to large populations through the limited resources of teachers, schools and universities. Knowledge Transmission helps fix that,” says Ferreira de Castro.

Why Cambridge? A pool of talented software engineers is a boon. “We are also an educational technology company and have access to some of the greatest education resources in the world, both people and content, by being based in Cambridge,” says de Castro.

Future plans The company is focused on broadening access to education in emerging economies. “We want to try and tap the lower-income groups and give them access to affordable education products via mobile devices using micro payments for content and bundled as part of schools’ and universities’ broadband packages,” de Castro says.

Vivian Chan (10) and Nilu Satharasinghe (12), co-founders
Sparrho

Company launched: 2013

What it does “Sparrho is an intelligent discovery platform for science, we help users stay up-to-date on relevant scientific developments,” says Chan. The website provides scientific updates and recommendations tailored to your interests and enables you to share them with others.

Why Cambridge? “The problem Sparrho is solving arose when I was doing my PhD here, so we wanted to be close to our initial target audience,” says Chan. The multidisciplinary talent is also a draw, as is the city’s ethos.

“I love the fact that nearly everyone rocks up to a meeting on their bike!” adds Chan.

Future Plans Making Sparrho the “go-to” platform for those wanting to keep tabs on relevant research.

Steve Huxter (11), managing director and co-founder
Darktrace

Company launched: 2013

What it does Cyber security company Darktrace provides technology for companies to keep tabs on the threats posed to their networks and data from both inside and outside the business. The approach uses mathematics to spot unusual behaviour as it happens.

Why Cambridge? The high concentration of top technical specialists holds a strong appeal.

Future plans Expansion is on the cards, “Darktrace will be increasing its presence in Europe and the United States in 2014,” says Huxter. There are also plans to expand into Asia.

Steve Jackson (13), CSO, co-founder
MISSION Therapeutics

Company launched: 2011

What it does MISSION Therapeutics aims to develop new drugs that can be incorporated into pills or injections to fight many types of cancer. “There are some exciting opportunities for coming up with drugs that would kill cancer cells but not normal cells and that’s what you really want to achieve in cancer therapy,” says Jackson.

Why Cambridge? Jackson’s laboratory is based at Cambridge University’s Gurdon Institute and the co-founders are also in the area, making Mission’s location logical. The wealth of pharmaceutical companies, talented individuals, opportunities for commercial collaborations and hubs such as the Babraham Research Campus were among the attractions.

“I think the other thing for me is a can-do kind of attitude,” Jackson says.

Future plans “Our goal is to develop compounds ready to go into man and then secure financing that will allow us to take them into man either alone, or in collaboration with a pharmaceutical partner,” says Jackson.

Shankar Balasubramanian (14), co-founder
Cambridge Epigenetix (CEGX)

Company launched: 2012

What it does Balasubramanian previously developed a technique to sequence the four bases of DNA as a founder of the company Solexa. Now CEGX is creating technology to identify bases that have been chemically altered, and their exact location in the DNA, starting with the “C” base.

“[This] can be chemically modified to subtly different forms which do not change the genetic code b ut they change the way the double helix is seen and read by other components in biology,” explains Balasubramanian. Such changes are called “epigenetic” and have implications in many fields ranging from stem cell biology to cancer research.

Why Cambridge? As a professor at Cambridge University, the city was an obvious choice for Balasubramanian. “It’s always good to grow something close to the people who actually understood the nuts and bolts that got it started in the first place,” he says. Cambridge is also home to world-class research into epigenetics, stem cells and cancer biology.

Future Plans With the first products launched earlier this year, CEGX is primed for growth. “I see this as the next frontier for science and medicine that’s related to DNA,” says Balasubramanian.

Sam Bose (15), CEO, founder
IntelliSense.io

Company launched: 2013

What it does Embracing the “internet of things”, IntelliSense.io hooks up wireless-enabled sensors to industrial equipment and processes. When linked to analytics apps, efficiencies can be scrutinised, processes improved and performance predicted.

Why Cambridge? As well as its boasting useful networks, cutting-edge research and talented individuals, Bose has another reason for favouring the fen: “There are fewer distractions for our team to focus on the problem solving,” he says.

Future plans For Bose it’s a double-pronged approach. “Extend the number of apps/solutions and target new industries,” he says.

Chris Mitchell (16), founder
Audio Analytic

Company launched: 2009

What it does Audio Analytic produces software that uses computer analysis to identify specific sounds, ranging from car alarms to a baby’s wail, even in noisy situations. “Audio Analytic technology is deployed in several consumer electronic markets such as home automation and security,” Mitchell says.

Why Cambridge? Capital and talented individuals were important attractions, but there are other bonuses: “The presence of incubators such as Idea Space gives the flexibility and support needed at this early stage of the business,” Mitchell says.

Future plans Extending Audio Analytic’s reach across a wide range of professional and consumer markets.

Emmanuel Carraud (17), CEO, co-founder
Magicsolver

Company launched: 2009

What it does Magicsolver is all about apps – helping consumers get the best ones for free on Apple and Android devices, and promoting apps produced by the best developers. Magicsolver also develops its own apps.

Why Cambridge? With 90% of Magicsolver’s clients outside the UK, Cambridge’s reputation is a leading factor. “[The] Cambridge brand gives us credibility working with major companies overseas,” Carraud says.

Future plans Magicsolver is set to expand on its success, teaming up with new partners and developing new apps. Its 2013 Advent Calendar featuring mini games and 25 new, free apps launched yesterday.

Barnaby Perks (19), CEO, Sue Wright (21) and Nadine Field (20), co-founders Psychology Online

Company launched: 2011

What it does Psychology Online offers a secure messaging service for patients to undertake cognitive behavioural therapy with a therapist.

“This way [patients] are comfortable, they can do it from home, they can do it at a time that suits them,” says Perks. The results show the system has higher recovery rates, and takes fewer sessions, than face-to-face therapy and has been commissioned by five NHS clinical commissioning groups.

Why Cambridge? For Psychology Online, based just outside the city, Cambridge has the right environment and support networks, including lawyers, accountants and non-executive directors. “When I looked at the skills we needed, the software development skills, the clinical management skills, here was the best place and all the best people were here,” says Perks.

Future plans “Last year our main project in Surrey had 100 patients over a six-month period. This year we’re getting 100 patients every month and we expect a similar change in scale next year,” says Perks.

Robert Young (18) co-founder and
Stan Boland (5), CEO
Neul

Launched: 2010

What it does Neul develops telecommunications equipment to facilitate the internet of things (IoT). “Neul delivers everything from the end-points, to the base stations and the cloud-based Connected Device Platform which enable end-users to pull data from, push data to and manage their IoT devices in the field,” they say.

Why Cambridge? With Neul’s founders drawn from another Cambridge-based company, CSR, Cambridge was a natural choice, while the rich talent pool is a bonus. “We also have good links with other Cambridge technology companies and with the university,” they say.

Cambridge"s leading tech startups