Latest News New Head at Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds

Cambridge Enterprise, the commercialisation arm of the University of Cambridge, has announced the appointment of Dr Christine Martin as Head of Seed Funds, effective 1 April 2022.

Christine has served as Interim Head of Seed Funds since February 2021. She brings a broad range of experience to the role, drawing particularly on previous positions within Cambridge Enterprise. These include Deputy Head of Seed Funds and Technology Transfer Manager for Drug Discovery. Prior to joining Cambridge Enterprise, Christine was a Senior Director at Biotica Technology Ltd. Christine holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Oxford.

The work of the Seed Funds team is central to Cambridge Enterprise’s ambition to create societal and economic impact from research at the University of Cambridge. Seed Funds identifies and invests in new companies formed to realise opportunities arising from the £600 million of research funding invested across the University annually.

Over the last decade Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds has established a portfolio of over 125 companies that have, in turn, raised in excess of £2.7 billion. Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds has an excellent track record of 12% internal rate of return over both five- and ten-year terms. This is a money multiple superior to that of many European VC funds. Having started with £8 million, the combined portfolio is now valued at £107 million.

Christine starts her new role having successfully raised £30 million of new investment from the University of Cambridge. She has an ambitious vision for the journey ahead, with an expansive remit to extend and enhance the investment outcomes on behalf of the University.

Christine takes over as Head of Seed Funds from Dr Anne Dobrée, who oversaw the dramatic and successful growth of the portfolio since her own appointment in 2011. Anne moves into a newly-formed role at Cambridge Enterprise as Director of Programming, with responsibility for developing new innovation deal flows from within the University.

Photo: Seedlings by Steven Lilley.

I am delighted with the appointment of Christine to the role of the Head of Seed Funds. We carried out an extensive search for the ideal candidate. After interviewing external and internal candidates, I am convinced we have the right person to deliver on our ambitious vision for Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds over the coming years. I am also thrilled that Anne is remaining at Cambridge Enterprise. I know she will bring real expertise and energy to our new programming vision.

Diarmuid O’Brien, Chief Executive, Cambridge Enterprise

Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds is a critical part of the Cambridge Cluster and in the positioning of Cambridge as a global leader in research commercialisation. It supports investment in new companies coming out of our research base and, through active syndication, builds alliances of like-minded investors. I know Christine will build on Seed Funds’ proven track record of supporting Cambridge staff- and faculty-founded businesses that positively change the world.

Andy Neely, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Business Relations, University of Cambridge
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Image: Seedlings by Steven Lilley