Supporting social ventures for the benefit of all
A social venture is a business that prioritises a social good along with business success. They represent a hybrid form of organisations that involve taking business-like, innovative approaches to deliver public services.
We support social ventures originating from the University of Cambridge at every stage, from the initial idea to investment and beyond.
Cambridge collaborators
We are part of a University community that supports social ventures in Cambridge. We work closely with others in this area, including:
- Judge Business School, including Cambridge Social Ventures
- Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
A social ventures partnership between Cambridge Enterprise and Cambridge Social Ventures launched in 2017 to provide early-stage funding for University of Cambridge social enterprises participating in the Cambridge Social Ventures Incubator.
The partnership combines Cambridge Social Ventures’ expert incubation and evidence-led approach to social and environmental impact with the early investment capabilities and business support of Cambridge Enterprise, and is driving global societal reform through research, expertise and social entrepreneurship. So far, the partnership has brought to market social innovations in health, finance, employment, corporate social responsibility and more.
Together we can invest up to £20,000 in these businesses, with returns reinvested in future social ventures.
Impact U
The University of Cambridge is a key member of Impact U, a collaboration of twelve partner universities across the Midlands to create opportunities for social enterprise companies emerging from our combined entrepreneurial ecosystems. This collaboration focuses on ventures whose impact is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Some of the social ventures we have supported
Aspuna
Aspuna Group is a fast-growing social impact commodities business with its head quarters in London and operations in The Gambia and across the African continent.
Kalamna CIC
Kalamna CIC is a UK-based social enterprise which provides Arabic language classes for children and parents in bi-lingual families. Kalamna in Arabic means ‘our words’ and reflects a focus on spoken communication as a reflection of Arabic culture.
Obliquity
Obliquity Group develops data-driven tools for corporate social responsibility, designed to empower business leaders to work collaboratively with their employees on the topics that matter most to the workforce.
Waterscope
Waterscope has developed an innovative 3D-printable microscope and image-recognition software, which tracks the growth of bacteria and gives communities the tools to test their own water.
Xampla
Xampla has developed a technique to make a range of materials from plant-proteins, allowing single-use plastics to be replaced with natural, biodegradable products.
