Parkwalk Advisors and Cambridge Enterprise launch UCEF X
Managed by Parkwalk, UCEF X offers investors the opportunity to support breakthrough companies commercialising pioneering discoveries from the University of Cambridge, backed by the significant benefits of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).
Cambridge, home to one of Europe’s most productive technology clusters, has been pivotal in shaping the global tech landscape with more than 20 companies valued at over $1 billion, including Featurespace, Arm, Xaar, and Abcam.
At the heart of this innovation is Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s tech transfer arm, which plays a key role in transforming academic research into scalable businesses.
For more than a decade, Cambridge Enterprise Funds, led by Parkwalk, have invested in more than 100 cutting-edge businesses that are redefining industries. Successes include:-
- Paragraf, the first company to mass-produce graphene-based electronic devices
- Cytora, transforming insurance underwriting using Generative AI
- PhoreMost, a biopharma company dedicated to ‘Drugging the Undruggable’ disease targets
- Cambridge GaN Devices, revolutionising power electronics through high-performance semiconductors
- Psyomics, specialising in improving the diagnosis of mental health conditions through enhanced pre-assessment digital questionnaires
- Riverlane, the global leader in quantum error correction technology, helping unlock useful quantum computing
UCEF-backed companies have seen substantial exits, from the £28 million acquisition of Flusso in 2022 to the $383m acquisition of Horizon Discovery, providing further proof of the role these funds play in generating significant economic value.
As the new Labour government prioritises economic growth as one of its most central missions, Cambridge is the place where some of the country’s most exciting prospects are becoming a reality.
UCEF X demonstrates how science-driven startups can help deliver on national ambitions by channelling vital investment into the development of globally impactful businesses.
Cambridge Enterprise, at the heart of the university’s ecosystem, is pivotal in catalysing innovation. Through a unique combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, and access to capital, the University of Cambridge creates the perfect environment to translate research into thriving businesses. This has positioned Cambridge as a leader not only in the UK but on the global stage.
The Cambridge Enterprise Ventures team invests University of Cambridge capital into high impact, high growth Cambridge spinouts and startups. Over the lifetime of its funds, it has invested over £42 million in purposeful and successful University spinouts, who in turn have collectively raised over £3 billion in follow-on funding since 1995.
Dr Christine Martin, Head of Ventures, Cambridge Enterprise, said: “It is fantastic to see the launch of UCEF X and to continue our longstanding partnership with Parkwalk Advisors in supporting early stage University of Cambridge-originated companies addressing global challenges.
“Our joint portfolio of 65 companies is tackling challenges as diverse as decarbonising the cement industry to developing treatments for amyloidosis, and we look forward to building the next cohort of companies with support from UCEF X.”
Anne Dobree, Investment Director at Parkwalk Advisors, added: “We are delighted to mark the launch of our tenth fund with Cambridge Enterprise. Together we've invested £26.8 million to date to grow some of the country’s most exciting deep tech spinouts.
“Cambridge Enterprise really is a leader in the UK's innovation ecosystem, and we're proud to play a part in ensuring the UK’s brightest opportunities come to life. This latest fund - UCEF X - will help accelerate this even further, and play a vital role in the Government’s mission for growth.”
• Parkwalk Advisors, the UK’s largest growth EIS Fund Manager with £500 million of assets under management, is committed to backing the next wave of entrepreneurs. By supporting world-changing technologies from the UK’s leading universities, including Cambridge, Parkwalk has become a key player in the university spinout ecosystem.
