- Liang Wang with project Kvasir
- Giorgio Divitini with project SynBioSeas
- Myriam Ouberai with project Spirea
- Setu Kasera with project ‘optical sensing platform technology’
- Maximilian Bock with project Netwookie
- Liang Wang with project Array Resolution
- Hannah Sore with project PHARMeNABLE
- Giorgia Longobardi with project Cambridge GaN Devices
- Mélanie Despeisse with project ‘environmental learning games’
The postdocs and their nine projects will now advance to the next stage, which will include three individual meetings with an experienced mentor to improve each of the business plans and help the contestants develop the key business skills they will need to make their projects grow.
Up to six finalists will compete at the grand finale and awards ceremony on Thursday 27 October 2016, pitching their business plans to the judges who are experts in spin-out investment. The winning project will be awarded £20,000 in funding and the runner-up will get £10,000. There is also a cash prize of £7,500 to be awarded to one finalist, sponsored by Coca-Cola.
The first place winner will also have the opportunity to pitch at the next Cambridge Enterprise Venture Partners dinner, an investor forum of venture capitalists and business angels with more than £4 billion of funds under management by members.
The response to the competition was even greater than last year, and the field of candidates was strong. We would like to thank all the participants and congratulate the semi-finalists.
On to the finale!