Five UK startups have been selected to compete in the live Cambridge Tech Week Pitching Competition this September. The finalists were chosen following a judging process from a shortlist of 20 companies.
The finalists are HotHouse Therapeutics, HutanBio, Lambda Energy, Myonerv, and Xplore Intelligence. HotHouse Therapeutics, spun out of Professor Anne Osbourn’s laboratory at the John Innes Centre, is developing an AI-led, IP-protected transient plant expression platform for drug discovery. HutanBio has discovered a new class of algae that enables sustainable fuel production at cost parity, with its proprietary Sphaerica algae generating oil at 25 times the productivity of current leading strains.
Lambda Energy has developed GloGro, a greenhouse additive designed to increase crop yields by around 20%, and has secured pilot manufacturing and grower trials for high-value crops across the UK. Myonerv has developed a wearable neurostimulator that can remotely monitor and treat stroke-induced paralysis, and has demonstrated remote control of hand movement between Cambridge and Greece. Xplore Intelligence is building infrastructure to train and evaluate AI agents through its Forge platform, and has secured its first contract worth more than £1 million.
The five finalists were selected from a shortlist representing 20 UK companies across artificial intelligence, biotechnology, sustainable energy, medtech, and agritech. The independent judging panel included representatives from BDO, HSBC Innovation Banking, Grow Beyond Borders, Parkwalk Advisors, and Twin Path Ventures.
The live Pitching Competition, sponsored by Mills & Reeve, PwC, and Julius & Clark, will be held during Startup to Scaleup Day on Wednesday, September 16, at the Corn Exchange. A separate judging panel for the live event will include representatives from Mills & Reeve, Metaxi Catalyst Ventures, Foresight Group, and Cambridge Angels.
KEY QUOTES:
The standard of this year’s competition has been exceptionally high from the start, which will make the final selection process incredibly challenging. As sponsors of the Pitching Competition, Mills & Reeve is delighted to support a platform that shines a spotlight on the next generation of innovative businesses, and we are looking forward very much to seeing the finalists pitch live at Cambridge Tech Week.
Zickie Lim, Partner and Head of VC & Investments, Mills & Reeve
This year’s finalists demonstrate the extraordinary depth of innovation emerging from the UK’s technology ecosystem, and are among the strongest we’ve seen. They all represent the kind of ambitious, globally relevant businesses that have the potential to create real impact. PwC is proud to support entrepreneurs at this critical stage of their growth journey.
Simon de Young, Market Senior Partner, PwC
