Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) backs world-leading life sciences and technology companies linked to the Cambridge ecosystem. Founded by the University of Cambridge in 2013, it serves as a preferred investor for university spinouts and early-stage ventures, providing trusted, local capital. CIC is an exemplar of effective collaboration between universities and investors to support scaleup growth.

In the period from January 2018 to June 2025, CIC has participated in 61 fundraisings in 35 companies. The average turnover of these companies where £3.52m with an average employee count of 62. 

Cambridge Innovation Capital has a long history of investing in scaleups with the most recent being in late 2023 such as Pragmatic, a firm that manufactures semiconductors wherein CIC participated in a funding round worth £162m and Secondmind, a firm that develops machine learning algorithms wherein CIC participated in a funding round worth £12.6m.

Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) has had a landmark 2025, heavily reinforcing its central role in the UK’s deep tech and life sciences ecosystem. In a major move to address the UK’s scale-up funding gap, CIC launched a new £100 million Opportunity Fund in February/March, anchored by investors including Aviva Investors and British Patient Capital, to invest up to £20 million per investment into growth-stage companies. Building on this, CIC launched its latest early-stage fund, Fund III (totaling £250 million), which includes a specific commitment of at least £100 million dedicated to investing in University of Cambridge spinout companies. To facilitate these spinouts, the firm introduced a new Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) programme in partnership with the university, matching experienced executives with high-potential academic IP to accelerate commercialisation. 

CIC continues to work closely with key stakeholders such as the Babraham Research Campus, endorsed by the ScaleUp Institute, to strengthen the innovation ecosystem. It manages Start Codon, launched in 2019 to support life sciences and healthcare ventures with investment, mentoring and lab access. CIC also co-founded and co-owns Deeptech Labs, a post-seed accelerator helping deep tech firms become Series A-ready. In partnership with Cambridge Enterprise and the University of Cambridge, CIC launched Innovate Cambridge, which now leads a 10-year vision to double the region’s innovation output, investment and unicorn pipeline.

Its team brings deep operational and sector expertise from backgrounds in entrepreneurship, science, investment and industry. It takes a hands-on approach, supporting portfolio companies with board participation, commercial planning, executive recruitment and scaleup execution.

Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) website