Paula Rogers-Brown joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming Cambridge Tech Week, set to take place from 15th to 19th September. This year's theme, "Seizing the AI Advantage," reflects the growing importance of AI across multiple sectors, including climate tech and clean tech.

What to Expect at Cambridge Tech Week:

• Diverse Programming: The week will feature a variety of events, including keynotes from industry leaders like Sir Nick Clegg and Margaret Heffernan, as well as a pitching competition showcasing five innovative startups.

• Innovation Alley: This year, Innovation Alley will span two days, allowing attendees to engage with over 50 exhibitors and explore cutting-edge technologies. As the beating heart of Cambridge Tech Week, Faye encourages everyone to participate: "Get that bolt-on ticket and make sure you visit Innovation Alley."

• Networking Opportunities: Attendees can look forward to a Tech Leaders Dinner and a gala reception, providing excellent opportunities to connect with fellow tech enthusiasts and industry leaders.

Book your ticket here: https://cambridgetechweek.co.uk/

Produced by Cambridge TV

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In this week’s episode we dive into the exciting world of battery technology with Christoph Schnedermann, the founder and CEO of Illumion.

Christoph shares his academic journey, which spans from Jena to Oxford, Harvard, and finally Cambridge. He reflects on how these diverse environments shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.

We discuss:

• Illumion's Mission: Illumion focuses on revolutionising battery research with its charge photometry platform, which allows real-time analysis of ion movement within batteries. Christoph explains, “We wanted to provide a lens into the inner workings of a battery at the R&D stage, where there is a critical gap.”

• Market Opportunities: The R&D sector for batteries presents a significant market opportunity, especially as the demand for innovative battery materials grows.

• Challenges and Triumphs: Christoph candidly discusses the challenges of startup life, particularly in securing funding during tough market conditions. “Last year was very, very hard to raise. It is ultimately a very, very hard job and you can only do it if you're tenacious and believe in the idea that you have.”

• Future Plans: Looking ahead, Illumion aims to scale its manufacturing capabilities and expand its market reach. Christoph emphasises the importance of maintaining control over production: “It gives us the agility to respond quickly to different demands.”

Produced by Cambridge TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are joined by Josephin Holstein, founder and CTO of Evoralis an early stage spin out from Cambridge University with the mission to enable true and sustainable plastic recycling.

Josephin shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, detailing how Evoralis is revolutionising plastic recycling through innovative enzyme technology.

Key insights:

• Josephin and her team, originally postdocs at the University of Cambridge, recognised the potential for their research in biochemistry to impact the circular economy.
• Evoralis develops enzymes that can efficiently break down various types of plastics, particularly in the textile industry. Josephin explains, “We can screen up to 10 million enzyme candidates per day, which is 1,000 times faster than conventional methods.” This rapid screening process is crucial for identifying effective solutions to plastic waste.
• The company is currently in the R&D phase, aiming to deliver its first enzymes within a year. Josephin emphasises the importance of collaboration, stating, “We need someone to produce our enzymes... we don’t want to build our own factory to recycle plastics.”
• Josephin candidly discusses the hurdles in the biotech landscape, particularly in securing investment. “You have to be persistent and patient,” she advises, sharing her experience of navigating investor conversations and the importance of demonstrating traction in the market.

Produced by Cambridge TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.