AI has the potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
But to make that happen, we need people who can turn that potential into a reality.
As the University’s innovation arm, Cambridge Enterprise, helps brilliant researchers start new ventures that take AI out of the lab and into the real world. Their aim is to address some of our most intractable problems, such as hard-to-treat diseases and the climate emergency.
Meet 10 of these spinouts, all hoping to harness the potential of AI for the good of the planet and its people.
Cambridge Vision Technology
Screening for Alzheimer’s using AI and retinal imaging
“Cambridge Vision Technology’s success will transform how we detect and manage Alzheimer’s.
By enabling early diagnosis through a simple eye exam, we empower individuals to take control of their health, access timely interventions, and improve their quality of life.
“This technology has the potential to revolutionise healthcare systems worldwide, reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s on individuals, families and society as a whole.”
Dr Andrew Kadis, Co-founder, Cambridge Vision Technology
Academic founder: Dr Andrew Kadis, Department of Engineering, Clare Hall (2018)
Carbon Re
AI-powered industrial decarbonisation
“Carbon Re is connecting the biggest challenge of our time, climate change, with the biggest opportunity, advances in AI.
We have built a technology that directly reduces CO2 emissions today and is helping the industries that literally support our modern world – cement, steel, glass, transition to a net-zero future.
Our mission is to have gigatonnes of impact, starting with kilotonnes of real-world reductions today. With each evolution of our product, we move closer to achieving that goal.”
Dr Daniel Summerbell, Co-founder and CSO, Carbon Re
Academic founder: Dr Daniel Summerbell, Department of Engineering, Gonville & Caius (2006)
CardiaTec Biosciences
Developing next-generation cardiovascular treatments with AI
“CardiaTec is redefining cardiovascular drug discovery by taking a radically different approach. Powered by our network of more than 65 hospitals across the US and the UK, we are building the largest proprietary human heart tissue multiomics dataset.
By integrating insights across genetics, gene expression, epigenetics, and proteomics, we aim to construct a comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms, paving the way for first-in-class therapeutics.”
Thelma Zablocki, Co-founder and COO, CardiaTec
Academic co-founders: Thelma Zablocki, COO, MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise, Selwyn College (2020), Raphael Peralta, CEO, MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise and Professor Namshik Han, CTO, Milner Therapeutics Institute
Concr
Transforming cancer care with astrophysics AI
“The uncertainty of knowing whether a treatment will be effective for a cancer patient is one of the cruellest and most damaging aspects of the disease.
Concr was founded to directly address that problem. Our cutting-edge technology integrates oncology research and clinical data to simulate cancer biology, enabling precise therapeutic predictions with minimal diagnostic input.
Our mission is to give more confidence to patients, clinicians, and drug developers in understanding whether and how their treatment will be effective to help each individual receive treatment that works best for them.”
Dr Matthew Griffiths, Co-founder and CTO, Concr
Academic founder: Dr Matthew Griffiths, Department of Physics, Trinity College (2009)
Intellegens
AI-powered innovation for more efficient R&D
“Machine learning is transforming R&D by enabling faster, more efficient innovation. Traditional experimentation is slow and costly, often limited by the sheer complexity of materials, chemicals, and life sciences research.
With advanced AI, we can extract deep insights from existing data, guiding researchers toward the best solutions with fewer experiments. This accelerates discovery, reduces costs, and allows for breakthroughs that would otherwise take years.
Our roots in the University of Cambridge drive us to push the boundaries of AI in science and engineering, ensuring that machine learning becomes a fundamental tool for the next generation of researchers and innovators.”
Dr Gareth Conduit, Co-founder and CTO, Intellegens
Academic founder: Dr Gareth Conduit, Department of Physics, Selwyn College (2002)
Matnex
Discovering sustainable materials with AI and quantum mechanics
“The clock is ticking in the fight against climate change. At Matnex, we’re united by a vision of green cities powered by clean energy, and we see novel sustainable materials as the most impactful way to get there.
We’re revolutionising materials discovery, replacing the expensive, decades-long, status quo with our AI- and quantum mechanics-powered approach to deliver rapid, cost-effective innovation, enabling the sustainable future that we urgently need, and may otherwise never see.”
Dr Robert Forrest, Co-founder and CTO, Matnex
Academic founder: Dr Robert Forrest, Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, Girton College (2018)
PharmEnable
At the frontier of small molecule medicines
“Small molecule therapeutics have been the front-runner in drug discovery for centuries. Today, however, there has been an explosion of new drug modalities and small molecules risk being overlooked.
At PharmEnable, we want to make small molecules shine again by pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with a small-molecule medicine.
We are using AI to discover and develop novel small molecules with new properties to provide patients with safer and more effective treatments that can be taken from the comfort of their homes.”
Dr Hannah Sore, Co-founder and CEO, PharmEnable
Academic founder: Dr Hannah Sore, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Gonville & Caius (2006)
Prospectral
Extracting more data from light
“With the right datasets, vision algorithms have immense potential to unlock insights that the human eye, and conventional cameras, can’t detect.
These include optimising agricultural yields or advancing environmental monitoring to enhancing healthcare diagnostics or ensuring product quality.
Prospectral’s mission is to democratise the technology that collects and processes this data, with scalable, ultra-compact camera modules that interface with computer vision in a fundamentally more efficient way.”
Gwenhivir Wyatt-Moon, Co-founder and CEO, Prospectral
Academic co-founders: Gwenhivir Wyatt-Moon, CEO, Thomas Albrow-Owen, CTO, Queens’ (2014), Dr Oliver Burton, CSO, Fitzwilliam (2015) and Dr Peter Christopher, CIO, Peterhouse (2016), all Department of Engineering
RoboK
Making industrial workplaces safer with AI-driven vision technology
“At RoboK, we’re all about helping people on the ground work safely and with confidence. Our AI-powered computer vision technology transforms existing CCTV into a smart tool that supports workers, not watches them.
By providing useful insights, we help teams stay aware of potential risks, prevent incidents, and create a safer, more efficient workplace. We believe technology should empower people, and we’re committed to using AI responsibly to support those who keep industries running.”
Hao Zheng, Co-founder and CEO, RoboK
Academic co-founders: Hao Zheng, CEO, Faculty of Economics, King’s College (2016), Liangchuan Gu and Chao Gao, both Department of Computer Science and Technology
xWatts
Optimising systems and operations through AI
“Now more than ever, commercial and industrial businesses need to focus on improving their energy management.
Running their buildings accounts for 30% of global final energy consumption and 26% of global energy-related emissions.
xWatts is uniquely positioned to help businesses significantly reduce carbon emissions whilst also making their operations more profitable.”
Alexander Allen, Co-founder, xWatts
Academic co-founders: Alexander Allen, Department of Engineering and Yigit Akar, CEO, MBA, Cambridge Judge Business School, Hughes Hall (2018)
Originally published by the University of Cambridge, discover more about how Cambridge is shaping AI for everyone by clicking here.
The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Photography
Banner: Getty Images. Credit: dlewis33
Cambridge Vision Technology: Adobe Stock
Carbon Re: Getty Images. Credit: Wirestock
CardiaTec Biosciences: Shutterstock
Concr: Credit: Concr
Intellegens: Unsplash. Credit: Milad Fakurian
Matnex: Credit: Matnex
PharmEnable: Credit: PharmEnable
Prospectral: Credit: Ryo Mizuta Graphics
RoboK: Unsplash
xWatts: Unsplash
