Cambridge Innovation Capital to curate Start Codon future

CIC Partner Michael Anstey, who specialises in life sciences and healthcare investments, was formerly among a group of entrepreneurs in the US who spotted the need for a West Coast-style accelerator in Cambridge.

That formula would require seed funding, experienced management and advisers as well as office and lab space and The Milner Therapeutics Institute, championed by Tony Kouzarides, was a perfect home for the venture.

So when Anstey came to CIC in the UK in 2017 it was among the first tasks on his ‘to do’ list. CIC worked closely with Genentech, the Babraham Research Campus and Jonathan Milner to establish Start Codon. Jason Mellad became an inspired and hard-working CEO, Ian Tomlinson a superb chairman and Start Codon hasn’t looked back.

CIC led the raise for a £15 million fund with a five-year investment period and when that expired in January with over £50m raised by the portfolio, Start Codon was absorbed into the Cambridge Innovation Capital business – along with a terrific array of supported businesses.

Under its own steam Start Codon invested in 28 companies and there is confidence that under its new ‘parents’ the enterprise will continue to thrive.

Mellad remains an adviser to Start Codon but has relinquished the CEO role to largely focus on a similar position with an as yet publicly unnamed in-stealth startup.

Anstey tells us: “Jason remains an ardent supporter and key adviser to the Start Codon venture and remains committed to ensure continued progress. There is a lot of global talent and value in the cohort.”

CIC has already invested in some of the best Start Codon companies and Anstey says that it will continue to monitor the portfolio, adding: “There are very high quality businesses with terrific potential in the Start Codon portfolio and we will do everything we can to help as many of them as possible push on to secure even more success.”