Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, response to the 2020 Postdoc Business Plan Competition has been outstanding. The applications for entry were every bit as strong in 2020 as they have been in previous years.
We would like to offer a big thank you to all those who participated, especially given the stressful circumstances this year.
And now it’s our pleasure to announce that the twelve semi-finalist projects for 2020 are:
These semi-finalist projects—and their teams—now advance to the next phase of the competition. Postdocs will be matched with a seasoned mentor from Cambridge Enterprise’s network of experts. Each team will have three (virtual) one-to-one meetings with their mentor to help develop key business skills and hone their business plans.
Up to six finalists will then go on to compete at the online Grand Finale event, which will take place on Thursday 12 November 2020. Each team will pitch its business plan to a panel of judges who are experts in spin-out investment.
Three prizes will be awarded: £20,000, £10,000, and £5,000 in funding. The first and second place prizes are sponsored by Cambridge Enterprise, with the third prize sponsored by our sister organisation, Cambridge Innovation Capital.
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.
On to the finale!