Start & scale your tech business in Cambridge. Crowned the UK’s leading regional tech capital, Cambridge has the highest proportion per capita of start-ups and scale-ups in the UK. Described by an investor as “the safest place to grow high risk businesses”, the Cambridge Cluster has a track record of success in establishing a supportive environment to help start-ups grow and scale.
Universities, research institutes, investors, incubators, accelerators, VCs, professional advisors, consultancies and networks, all work together to provide a vibrant eco-system, creating an atmosphere of entrepreneurship, collaboration, and accessibility. This, in turn, is artificially seeded by the Cambridge Network and other sector-specific networks.
Incubators and accelerators
There is support in Cambridge for every stage of a company’s journey, not just in office and lab space, but in business support from incubators and accelerators:
- Accelerate@Babraham
- Allia Future Business Centre
- Barclays Eagle Labs
- Barn4
- Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
- Cambridge Barclays Eagle Lab
- Co-Labs by Journey
- Deeptech Labs
- ideaSpace City
- ideaSpace South
- ideaSpace West
- Founders at the University of Cambridge
- Judge Business School
- The Bradfield Centre
- South Cambs Connect
- Start Codon
- St John’s Innovation Centre
Finance
There is a variety of funding sources in the cluster, such as Cambridge Capital Group, Cambridge Angels, Cambridge Enterprise, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Amadeus, IQ Capital. More examples can be found in our member finance listings.
Incentives
The key incentive for joining the cluster is the existing eco-system of access to finance, mentors and spaces appropriate for each life stage of your company. Grants and subsidies are available in the Cambridge region, but there is high demand in this competitive environment. Innovate UK often has competitions for relevant themes, as does the European Commission.
Networks
In addition to the Cambridge Network, there are over 30 networking groups in Cambridge, and strategic research initiatives from Cambridge University. Networks include One Nucleus, a Life Sciences & Healthcare membership organisation, CW (Cambridge Wireless), a community for companies involved in the development & application of wireless technologies. Cambridge Ahead, a business & academic member group dedicated to the successful growth of Cambridge, Agri-TechE, connecting farmers and growers with scientists and tech entrepreneurs to create a global innovation hub in agri-tech and Cambridge Cleantech, which connects companies in sustainability technologies.
IP Lawyers, Accountants, Advisors
With the decades of economic success, professional advisors have developed their specialisms in high growth tech businesses. Often professional advisors give an initial consultation free of charge to investors in the cluster. For examples of such advisors, please use our directory listings.
Offices & Labs
Cambridge has a variety of flexible office and lab space to assist with the changing requirements of growth businesses; including Europe’s first innovation centre.
Interested in meeting potential partners or investors? Contact us at enquiry@cambridgenetwork.co.uk