Cambridge Tech Podcast

Hosted by James Parton & Faye Holland

Business Science

Website RSS feed

Episodes

207

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Your weekly tech news download from in and around Cambridge, plus in-depth conversations with the founders, innovators, and enablers within the Cambridge tech ecosystem. Published every week and hosted by James Parton and Faye Holland. Get in touch with the show via info@cambridgetechpodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 18, 202648 min

Dr Chiraz Ennaceur: Building CorrosionRADAR Into a Global Deep Tech Leader

What if the biggest threat to the world's energy infrastructure is something you can't even look at? Dr Chiraz Ennaceur , CEO and Co-founder of Cambridge-based CorrosionRADAR , joined James and Faye for one of our most compelling conversations to date - a masterclass in deep tech entrepreneurship, customer-led product development, and building a global business from a genuinely unglamorous industrial problem. Corrosion costs the global economy an estimated $3 trillion every year, and by 2030, replacing corroded steel is projected to account for up to 9% of greenhouse gas emissions. CorrosionRADAR tackles one particularly stubborn variant: corrosion under insulation (CUI), where the very material designed to protect industrial pipelines and vessels creates the perfect conditions for hidden decay. "We are the doctor of things rather than the doctor of people. We go, we look, we diagnose, and we find solutions to make sure that things are running in a safe way." The company's sensor technology - including what it claims is the world's longest CUI sensor at 50 metres - installs beneath insulation and feeds real-time data into its Clarity software platform, delivering granular risk assessment without ever needing to remove the insulation itself. Key highlights from the episode: The founding story: Chiraz worked at TWI (The Welding Institute) for a decade before leaving in 2016 to pursue the entrepreneurial dream she'd had since her PhD in France. A two-weekend programme for female entrepreneurs gave her the confidence to act. The Cranfield connection: CorrosionRADAR is a spinout from Cranfield University , where co-founder Dr Prafull Sharma developed the core electromagnetic guided radar technology that underpins the product. Capital efficiency: The company has raised $14 million across multiple rounds - modest by deep tech standards - because it prioritised paying customers from day one. First customer signed within six months of founding. First investor secured in the same year. Who's backing them: Aramco Ventures - the investment arm of the world's largest oil company - started as a customer and became an investor. ADNOC and Chevron are also in the customer base. The team: CorrosionRADAR now employs nearly 50 people across Cambridge, the Middle East and a growing US operation, including newly appointed CMO Steve Tongish , previously of IQGeo, RealVNC and AVEVA. What's next: Three strategic pillars - moving from predictive to autonomous AI (powered by an in-house engine called Hakima), global expansion, and positioning for the new build energy transition market. The founder's advice to founders: "Don't wait for a perfect product. Go and find your early adopters - the ones happy to try something that isn't 100% working. Because there is a huge difference between your nice, clean lab and the crude places where this technology actually gets used." This is a rare window into what disciplined, customer-obsessed deep tech company building actually looks like. CorrosionRADAR didn't chase the AI hype cycle or raise money it didn't need. It built hardware when everyone said to avoid hardware, stayed focused on five key customers when it could have spread thin, and turned a niche industrial problem into global market leadership. If you're building in the industrial IoT, energy tech or sensor space - or you're an investor trying to understand what genuine product-market fit looks like in enterprise deep tech - this episode is essential listening. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 14, 20263 min

Weekly News Drop - 14th August 2026

This week's Cambridge Tech Pod Weekly News Drop Cambridge Aerospace raises $300M at a $3.4 billion valuation; The finalists for the Cambridge Science & Technology Torchbearer Award at this year's Business Weekly Awards are in: Congrats to Bicycle Therapeutics, Cyclana Bio, OtoImmune and Owlstone Medical. Cambridge Tech Week 2026 (14-18 September) has published its full agenda - five days bringing together founders, researchers, policymakers and investors to debate the boundaries shaping next-generation technology. The speaker roster is seriously impressive. Tickets at cambridgetechweek.co.uk. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 11, 202639 min

David Cleevely - Part 2

In part 2 of our conversation with David Cleevely in 2024, David shares the essence of what makes Cambridge a global tech hub. David, a serial entrepreneur and investor, is a fixture in the Cambridge innovation scene. With experiences spanning public policy, founding organisations, and shaping impactful programmes. In this engaging episode, David sheds light on the importance of creating networks and fostering serendipitous encounters to drive innovation. Here’s what you can expect: The Power of Networking : David recounts the founding of Cambridge Network in 1998, a community-centric initiative aimed at connecting innovators, investors, and academics. He recalls that this network sparked numerous collaborative projects, saying, “We need to do something about networking Cambridge together, and everyone agreed.” Today, it remains a cornerstone of the Cambridge ecosystem, fuelling partnerships and growth. Don’t forget to buy his book – Serendipity – and tune into episode 146 for an even deeper dive. Founding Cambridge Wireless : David also co-founded Cambridge Wireless in 2001 to ensure Cambridge stayed at the forefront of technological advancements. Originally focused on 3G deployment, it has since grown to encompass wireless and 5G technologies, enabling Cambridge to become a major tech testing ground. Supporting Startups through Cambridge Angels : David’s role as a founding member of Cambridge Angels has helped bring early-stage funding to ambitious tech companies. For him, Cambridge Angels are “engineered to create a bridge between budding startups and experienced investors,” laying the groundwork for many success stories. Serendipity in Innovation : David is a firm believer in engineered serendipity - creating environments where chance encounters can lead to groundbreaking collaborations. “Serendipity is not just about chance but about creating opportunities for unexpected meetings that can change everything,” he says. Programmes like the Impulse Programme , a Cambridge initiative for innovation, embody this philosophy with its tagline, “Where chance encounters happen.” For tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about the future of innovation, this episode is a must-listen. David’s insights offer valuable lessons on scaling with purpose, fostering community, and creating an environment ripe for serendipity. Listen to the full episode on the Cambridge Tech Podcast and subscribe for weekly updates on the region's most exciting founders and innovations. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 4, 202644 min

David Cleevely - Part 1

Noone can ever tire of hearing David Cleevely speak, so this week we revisit our recording with David from November 2024. The Cambridge Ecosystem Advantage : “Cambridge is the fastest-growing city the UK has ever seen,” Cleevely states. He highlights Cambridge’s unique position as a centre for innovation, drawing on an ecosystem rich in tech, life sciences, and academic ties. Infrastructure & Growth Challenges : Cambridge’s rapid growth has outpaced its infrastructure. David warns, “Cambridge cannot grow unless you sort out the infrastructure first.” Key areas like education, transport, and water supply need to be addressed to sustain Cambridge’s expansion. The Power of Serendipity in Business : David describes how luck, timing, and chance encounters have been pivotal throughout his career. Cambridge Angels, for example, was born from a casual neighbourhood chat with co-founder Robert Sansom. Building Networks and Legacy : Cleevely co-founded Cambridge Angels, a network dedicated to supporting startups. This group has played a pivotal role in Cambridge’s tech ecosystem by connecting startups with seasoned investors. Career Reflections and Advice : From his experiences with companies like Abcam and Analysis, David notes the importance of resilience, vision, and having the right people onboard. His advice for startup founders seeking a board chair is to find someone who is “an extraordinarily good listener” and can balance strategic guidance with a supportive role. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 31, 20262 min

Weekly News Drop – 31 July 2026

Weekly News Drop – 31 July Welcome to our weekly news segment available on both our audio feed and a video version on our YouTube channel. Here are your headlines: British pharma giant GSK is moving to Cambridge in a £400 million investment. Qureight announced a $20 million Series B, led by Molten Ventures. Arm has smashed its Q1 profit records with total revenue up 22%yoy to £1.29 billion. Cambridge Tech Week announces Innovation Alley Pitching Competition finalists - HotHouse Therapeutics, HutanBio, Lambda Energy, Myonerv, Xplore Intelligence. Tune in on Tuesday when we’ll be revisiting our previous episodes with David Cleevely. Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechWeek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 28, 202626 min

What if we got AI right? With Dr Eleanor Drage

When Dr. Eleanor Drage walks into a room, you know you're about to have a conversation that challenges everything you think you know about AI. And that's exactly what happened when we sat down with one of the world's leading AI ethicists on the Cambridge Tech Podcast this week. Here's something that should worry every founder: the people building your AI systems and the people talking about AI ethics are speaking completely different languages. Dr. Drage spent two years interviewing AI engineers about bias. Their answer? "It's the intercept between the x and y axis." Technically correct. Meaningless to the conversation happening in the media and boardrooms. "These conversations we're having in the media about bias and debiasing are completely meaningless to the actual people making these technologies." So what does good practice actually look like? Dr. Drage and her team created HEAT - a framework that distils the EU AI Act into something founders can actually use. Key principles: Human-centred design (talk to your users, not just your engineers) Ethical development at every stage Accountable processes Transparency throughout It's not linear. Ethics isn't a box to tick at the start - it's cyclical and constant. Whether you're a founder, investor, or engineer, this episode challenges you to think harder about what "doing AI right" actually means. It's not about grand gestures or impressive statements. It's about having difficult conversations, listening to your engineers, and building systems that reflect real human values. Dr. Drage's new book, What if We Got AI Right?, explores these ideas in depth with practical examples from around the world - from pollution monitoring in the Niger Delta to sustainable cloud computing in Latin America. Ready to challenge your assumptions? Hit subscribe and tune in. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 24, 20266 min

Weekly News Drop – 24 July 2026

Welcome to our weekly news segment available on both our audio feed and a video version on our YouTube channel. The big news this week is from Cusp AI who announced a $450 million Series B fundraise which values the company at $2.6 billion. The raise has been led by Kleiner Perkins and New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with significant participation from Jeff Bezos’ Bezos Expeditions. Listen back to episode 191 to learn all about Cusp AI. Cambridge companies Quantinuum and Riverlane have joined forces with Rolls-Royce and EPCC (which is the UK National Supercomputing Centre based at The University of Edinburgh), to explore the quantum computing capabilities required in future industrial workflows, such as gas turbine design. If you’re in Manchester or Cambridge - ideally both - The Cambridge x Manchester Partnership is building a showcase of startups and scaleups, and will be selecting six for inclusion at their presence at Cambridge Tech Week. You can find out more via the links on The Cambridge x Manchester Partnership LinkedIn page. Tune in on Tuesday when we’ll be talking to Dr Eleanor Drage, about her thought provoking new book - What If We Got AI Right? Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechWeek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 21, 202633 min

Breaking Into Asia: How UK Life Sciences Companies Are Finding Their Next Growth Market

The latest episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast features a fascinating panel discussion on international trade recorded live at this year’s Cambridge Wide Open Week. Steven Lynch, Director of International Trade at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), opens with a sobering statistic: whilst only 10% of British businesses export, the BCC's network achieves a remarkable 45%. This disparity represents a significant untapped opportunity. As Lynch points out, "If we increased UK exports by 2%, we could improve UK GDP by 0.6%." The problem isn't a lack of innovation or ambition; it's a delivery gap. UK founders and scientists often lack the business expertise and market clarity needed to confidently enter international markets. This is where the new trade accelerator comes in. Rather than offering generic webinars about exporting, the BCC has created something fundamentally different: an end-to-end, process-driven accelerator specifically targeting life sciences companies interested in Singapore. Singapore might not be the obvious first choice for UK startups - the US typically dominates - but it's positioned as a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia. With a population of 6 million, Singapore punches well above its weight as a hub for healthcare innovation and life sciences. Jay Sadanandan, a Singapore life sciences expert, highlights the market's unique advantages: The Health Sciences Authority recently launched a close collaboration with the UK's MHRA, enabling regulatory expediency for innovative technologies Access to world-class clinical research infrastructure and patient populations Singapore's ambitious government vision to solve prevention through treatment across healthcare The 10 selected companies span pre-seed to Series C stages and focus on areas where UK strength aligns with Singapore opportunity: genomics, molecular diagnostics, advanced therapeutics, and enabling technologies like biologic stabilisation. Importantly, companies aren't required to relocate or abandon UK operations. Instead, they use Singapore as a commercial testbed, a lower-risk environment to validate their business model before scaling across Asia Pacific, the US, or beyond. What's Next? The pilot launches in September 2026, but the ambitions extend far beyond Singapore. Lynch reveals plans to scale to Hong Kong, the Gulf, and other strategic markets. The ultimate goal? Moving from 15 businesses entering one market annually to 15 businesses entering different markets each month. For UK startup founders and investors watching the export opportunity, this episode offers genuine insight into how the next generation of British life sciences companies might achieve global scale, and why Singapore might be the launchpad you haven't considered yet. Listen to the full episode on the Cambridge Tech Podcast to hear the complete discussion, including audience Q&A and practical advice for companies considering international expansion. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 17, 20267 min

Weekly News Drop – 17 July 2026

Welcome to our new weekly news segment available on both our audio feed and a video version on our YouTube channel. Regular updates included Tech.uk and Cambridge Wireless, David Roach at Allia, the Internet Watch Foundation, and Unit M, Innovate Cambridge and podcast friend, Simon Thorpe. Headlines from this week’s news include: Erin Meryl McGurk and co-founder David Khachaturov, two founders from the University of Cambridge who are being backed by Y Combinator in Silicon Valley to build Egoist Machines. Cambridge video games company Infinity Fiction are raising cash and broadening their UK team from a local base under the guidance of a brother-founder team of Alex and Alastair Chamorro. Companies with locations in Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Stevenage are among the beneficiaries of the UK's escalating defence programme, backed by European allies. Cambridge Aerospace, Frankenburg Technologies and Greenjets have been awarded £3 million by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to develop low‑cost interceptors designed to shoot down drones. ZeroAvia, a transatlantic leader in hydrogen-electric aviation, and Cambridge-based engineering company Marshall Aerospace are collaborating to develop hydrogen-electric capability for defence platforms. The Kings Award for Enterprise application window is now open until 8 September, and you can put in for one of four categories - international trade, innovation, sustainable development, or promoting opportunity through social mobility. There is also a fifth category of you’re an 18-25 year old entrepreneur. Tune in on Tuesday as normal for our next interview – this time recorded during Cambridge Wide Open Week with the British Chambers of Commerce as they shared details of a trade mission to Singapore. Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 14, 202656 min

Pragmatic Semiconductor's Vision in Britain's Tech Future

Cambridge Tech Podcast hits a significant milestone this week with its 200th episode, and they marked the occasion by revisiting Pragmatic Semiconductor, the company that featured in their very first show. This time, co-founder and CTO Richard Price joined hosts Faye Holland and James Parton to discuss how the company has evolved from a scrappy six-person startup in a Cambridge shoebox office to a 300-strong powerhouse reshaping the semiconductor industry. Richard Price's journey is a masterclass in deep tech entrepreneurship. Starting with a chemistry kit that "ruined a number of carpets" as a child, he progressed through organic light-emitting diode research before co-founding Pragmatic in 2011 with Scott White and four other talented founders. Richard shared with us details of some of their key innovations: Thin-film semiconductor layers on flexible substrates (not silicon-based) Manufacturing cycle times measured in days, not months Lower temperatures, less water, fewer chemicals = genuine sustainability benefits Current applications in RFID smart labels for anti-counterfeiting and EU digital product passport compliance The roadmap is ambitious. Generation 3 chips launch this year, followed by a CMOS platform at the end of next year, the first complementary metal oxide semiconductor offering from the company. Beyond that lies the "fab as a service" model, potentially deploying manufacturing facilities globally to compress supply chains and boost resilience. For founders and VCs, Pragmatic's story offers valuable lessons: the importance of finding the right co-founder (Richard and Scott have been together 15 years), the critical role of ecosystem and location, and the patience required to build deep tech companies. Headline sponsor Holden Polestar Produced by Cambridge TV #CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.