Seed Funds

As Head of Seed Funds, Christine oversees our investment activities, with the team investing over £5 million each year in young companies.

With expertise in Life Science investment, Christine has a focus on drug discovery with a broad portfolio of technologies, including University of Cambridge spin-outs Carrick, STORM, Z-factor, PhoreMost, Qkine, and PolyProX. Christine was featured in BioBeat’s 50 Movers and Shakers in BioBusiness 2018.

Previously, Christine worked for six years in the Life Sciences Tech Transfer team managing licensing of University IP. Christine also managed the University of Cambridge-GSK open innovation drug discovery initiative based at the SBC, working closely with academics to gain funding to develop translational projects.

Prior to that, she enjoyed 11 years working for Biotica, a biotechnology spin-out from the University of Cambridge as Department Director and Project Leader.

Christine has an MA and DPhil from the University of Oxford. She is the author of over 20 peer reviewed journal articles and over 20 patents. She was also the recipient of the Arthur E. Schwarting award for the best article published in the Journal of Natural Products in 2006.

Christine joined Cambridge Enterprise in September 2011.

Elaine is an Investment Director in the Seed Funds team, focusing on spin-out opportunities emerging from the physical sciences.

Since joining Cambridge Enterprise, she has spun-out nine new companies and worked on several follow-on funding rounds. She has held many director positions and currently sits on the boards of PervasID, Intellegens, Sorex, Xampla and CB2Tech as well as being an observer of Audiotelligence and Riverlane.

She has extensive experience in all stages of the investment process including due diligence, financial modelling, deal negotiation and investment management.

Elaine has worked in early-stage tech investing since 2001. At Dresdner Kleinwort Capital, she sourced new investment opportunities and managed the direct-investment portfolio for early-stage tech deals as well as leading on a £2bn fund of funds secondary sale. At PUK Ventures she focused on early-stage tech opportunities emerging from the public sector and UK universities.

Elaine has a BSc in Laser Physics and Optoelectronics (University of Strathclyde), a PhD in Physics (Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton) and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) in 2000.

Elaine Joined Cambridge Enterprise in December 2015.

Amanda is Deputy Head of Seed Funds team at Cambridge Enterprise.

Since joining Cambridge Enterprise she has worked with both the Technology Transfer and Seed Funds teams to build and support early stage companies who are accessing University technology. Amanda has spun out six new companies and worked on several follow-on funding rounds and exits.

She currently sits on the boards of PredictImmune Limited and Kalium Health Limited and previously served on the board of Sphere Fluidics Limited for six years. She has considerable experience in all stages of the investment process from deal sourcing to due diligence, deal negotiation, investment management and beyond.

Outside of Cambridge Enterprise, Amanda is Deputy Chair of the BBSRC Follow on Fund Committee.

Previously Amanda worked for Acambis as the UK Director of Business Development where she notably secured a Phase III out licensing agreement with Sanofi Pasteur and managed the sale of a business unit to Crucell. While working for the Wellcome Trust in a forerunner of the Innovations team, she served as the Wellcome Trust observer to the board for three start-up biotechnology companies.

Amanda has a PhD in molecular endocrinology (University of Cambridge) and enjoyed post-doctoral research positions both at Cambridge and in industry.

Amanda joined Cambridge Enterprise Life Sciences Technology Transfer in January 2009, became Deputy Head of Life Sciences in 2012. She joined the Seed Funds team in 2021 as an Investment Director focusing on spin-out opportunities emerging from the life sciences and moved to her current role in 2023.

Chris is an Investment Manager in the Seed Funds team focusing on spin-out opportunities emerging from the physical sciences.

Chris has spent over 15 years in UK high tech spin-outs and technology transfer. While Head of Engineering at CMR Fuel Cells in Cambridge, Chris led multi-disciplinary teams developing and delivering cleantech products to major multinational partners. He also co-founded Amalyst, a spin-out from University College London where, as Chief Technology Officer, he led its efforts in novel catalyst development for the energy transition. Chris joined UCL Business as a Senior Business Manager in 2016 where he helped commercialise a broad range of technologies from the physical sciences including the successful spin-out Bramble Energy.

Chris studied Chemical Engineering earning his BSc at the University of Tennessee with a magna cum laude distinction and his MSc from the University of South Carolina. He is passionate about the 21st century energy transition especially increasing hydrogen as an energy vector.

Chris joined Cambridge Enterprise in September 2020.

Fátima is a Investment Manager in the Life Sciences and joined the Seed Funds team in 2020

Within her time at Cambridge Enterprise, she has worked with several University of Cambridge spin-out companies to develop investable propositions across Therapeutics, Life Sciences Technologies, Sustainability, AI and Drug Discovery, and Medtech.

Fátima works across all stages of the investment process from deal sourcing and due-diligence to negotiation and investment management. She supports her existing investments through strategic and operational input and currently sits on the boards of Semarion Ltd, HexagonFab Ltd, Colorifix Ltd and CamRegen Ltd.

As a keen networker, Fatima manages the engagement of national and international investors through the Cambridge Enterprise Venture Partners (CEVP) programme, and within Cambridge promotes interactions between spin-outs and Judge Business School students.

Prior to joining Cambridge Enterprise, Fátima worked for Oxford University Innovation, Cancer Research Horizons/CRUK and as Commercialisation Manager for the Babraham Institute in Cambridge. Her working career, however, started as a passionate researcher in Oxford where she held a MRC Career Development Fellowship after completing a DPhil from the Medical Sciences division also at the University of Oxford.

Fátima holds a Biology degree from the University of Porto

Desmond is a Senior Investment Analyst in the Seed Funds team, focusing on spin-out opportunities within the physical sciences domain.

Prior to joining Cambridge Enterprise, Desmond was a consultant at a technical and product development consultancy for over 4 years. He is a named co-inventor on 3 patents (1 granted, 2 pending), and has led projects ranging from strategic scoping and product definition work, to concept to prototype development programmes for start-ups, multinationals and internal TTP investments in areas spanning drug delivery, digital health, advanced therapies and AI-enabled diagnostics.

Desmond holds a MEng in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London, and has completed his master’s thesis at Airbus UK to help develop tools for designing next-generation winglets.

Desmond joined Cambridge Enterprise in April 2022.

Polly is an Investment Analyst in the Seed Funds team, focusing on spinning out opportunities from the life sciences.

Prior to joining Cambridge Enterprise, Polly completed her doctorate in Biological Sciences at the Babraham Institute, University of Cambridge, where her project focused on whole body glucose homeostasis and cell migration.

Polly joined Cambridge Enterprise in October 2022.

Loukik is an Investment Associate in the Seed Funds team with a focus on early-stage life science spin-outs.

Prior to joining Cambridge Enterprise, Loukik has worked as project fellow in Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and as a freelance R&D consultant and technical content creator with several life science/biotech companies.

He has obtained a PhD in Medicine/Pharmacology from the National University of Singapore. During his PhD he also worked as an intern at the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed). He has recently finished his MSc in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology management from Strathclyde Business School. Previously, he has done his Masters in Biomedical Science and Bachelors in Pharmacy from the University of Delhi.

Loukik joined Cambridge Enterprise in September 2021.

General Counsel (Seed Funds) Part Time

Julie advises on legal matters associated with investments by the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Enterprise. She has more than 20 years experience advising on corporate legal matters especially for investments into spin outs of the University in the technology and life sciences sectors and also MBOs, mergers and acquisitions.

Julie remains in her role as a senior Solicitor and a Principal Assistant Registrary part time in the legal Services Division at the University providing legal advice on a wide variety of Commercial and International matters.

Julie holds a BA from York University and an MA from Cambridge University.

Julie is on the Roll of solicitors in England and Wales and a member of the Law Society.

Julie joined Cambridge Enterprise on 1 November 2021.

Helen ensures that data relating to Seed Funds projects and investments is captured and updated effectively.

Prior to joining Cambridge Enterprise, Helen worked as a Data Coordinator in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Addenbrooke’s hospital.

Helen has an MSc in Information Systems Design from Kingston University and a BSc in Psychology from Northumbria University.

Helen joined Cambridge Enterprise in July 2019.

Emily is an investment analyst working on building the Seed Fund’s ability to invest in and support social ventures.

Prior to joining Cambridge Enterprise, Emily worked in management consulting supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems in the U.S. where she led projects for Fortune 500 Companies, oversaw the creation of a 400+ page curriculum for South Korean startups entering the U.S. market, helped first-time funds create investment strategies and secure their first $10M. She also helped launch several startup accelerators, empowering founders with disabilities, underrepresented founders, veteran founders, and more, across a variety of industries. She was named to the Washington Business Journal’s 25 under 25 list in 2020, and as one of the Northern Virginia Tech Council’s NextGen Leaders in 2021.

She holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge, and she studied English, Environmental Studies, and Entrepreneurship at Georgetown University, where she was named a Baker Scholar (awarded to 5-10 students in each year for demonstrated leadership, academic excellence, and commitment to community service).

Emily joined Cambridge Enterprise in June 2023.

Vicky job shares the role of PA to the Seed Funds team with Caroline Tann. Together they provide seamless PA and administrative support to the team.

Vicky is also a member of the company-wide Professional Assistants Team which provides a high level of personal, efficient and confidential admin support to Cambridge Enterprise.

Vicky is very involved with the organisation of the monthly Investment Committee meetings. She also assisted with the formation of the Professional Assistants Team and remains involved in the continuing development of this team.

Before joining Cambridge Enterprise, Vicky previously worked for the Physics Department in the University of Cambridge where she acted as PA to three senior staff and administrative support for the rest of the group. Prior to this, she was a PA to the Director of a regional building contractor and PA/Administrator to a computer consultancy firm.

Vicky holds an NVQ In Business Administration which she completed with a distinction.

Vicky joined Cambridge Enterprise in March 2017.