Cambridge Innovation Capital
Cambridge Innovation Capital is a venture capital firm investing in deep tech and life sciences companies emerging from the University of Cambridge ecosystem. The firm manages over £600 million across multiple funds and has backed more than 40 businesses, supporting over 115 founders. Its portfolio spans AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, genomics, MedTech, and therapeutics. Notable exits include the $1.5 billion acquisition of Gyroscope Therapeutics by Novartis. CIC invests from seed through to later stages via its dedicated Opportunity Fund.
Focus Areas
Portfolio
3 companies in our directory
Cambridge GaN Devices
HiringCambridge GaN Devices was spun out from Cambridge University's Department of Engineering in 2016 by Dr Giorgia Longobardi (CEO) and Professor Florin Udrea (CTO). The fabless semiconductor company designs and commercialises gallium nitride power transistors and integrated circuits through its proprietary ICeGaN technology, enabling energy efficiency levels exceeding 99% and reducing energy consumption by up to 50% in applications including data centre power supplies and automotive electric vehicles. The technology builds on decades of GaN research at Cambridge, with Udrea's work recognised through induction into the ISPSD Hall of Fame. The company raised $32M in a Series C in February 2025, bringing total funding to over $60M from investors including IQ Capital, ParkWalk, BGF, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Foresight Group, and British Patient Capital.
Robok
Robok is a Cambridge-based startup that develops AI-powered computer vision software to transform existing industrial CCTV systems into intelligent monitoring platforms. Founded in 2017 by Hao Zheng and Liangchuan Gu as a spinout from the University of Cambridge, the company's technology detects safety breaches and provides operational insights for ports, warehouses, and critical infrastructure sites. Robok's customers include Bristol Port Company and other major logistics operators. The company has raised £3.3M to date from investors including Amadeus Capital, DeepTech Labs, Martlet Capital, Parkwalk Advisors, and Cambridge Innovation Capital, plus grant funding from UKRI and Innovate UK.
Salience Labs
HiringSalience Labs develops silicon photonics-based optical switches for AI data centres, enabling all-optical connectivity between compute nodes to overcome data-movement bottlenecks. Spun out from the University of Oxford and University of Munster in 2021, the company was co-founded by Vaysh Kewada, Johannes Feldmann, Harish Bhaskaran, and Wolfram Pernice. Its OC-32M all-optical switch delivers 10ns latency (20x lower than electronic alternatives) at under 1W per port, with 32-, 64-, and 128-port variants in development. Salience has raised $88M to date, including a $30M Series A led by Applied Ventures and ICM HPQC Fund. The company was ranked #28 in Sifted's AI 100 and #2 in Hardware. It is headquartered in Oxford with an office in San Jose.