Vaysh Kewada

Today's publication of Tony Hickson's review for UK Research and Innovation , "Deepening University-Investor Links," arrives at a critical moment for UK innovation. I welcome this comprehensive examination of our university spin-out ecosystem. The findings validate what many of us working in early-stage university commercialization have long observed: we have world-class research, a thriving investor community, and genuine progress in spin-out formation. But we're not converting this foundation into the economic growth our country desperately needs. The report is clear-eyed about the challenges. Regional investment disparities persist. Pre-incorporation and pre-seed funding remains desperately inadequate. Specialist capital for deeptech and life sciences is scarce outside London and the Golden Triangle. And critically, we're still not retaining and scaling companies in the UK at the pace required to compete globally. Here's what strikes me most: we already know what needs to be done. Many of these recommendations echo previous reviews that have gathered dust. The fragmentation Tony identifies across UKRI's well-intentioned programmes creates confusion rather than clarity for founders and investors alike. The question is no longer what to do, but whether we have the political will to do it. We need: • Significantly increased pre-seed and seed funding NOW, not in 18 months • A genuine regional strategy that moves beyond lip service to meaningful capital deployment outside the Southeast • Specialist investor capacity aligned with the Industrial Strategy's eight priority sectors • Long-term commitment to programmes that work, not constant reinvention As someone working daily with early-stage university spinouts across a six-university consortium, I see extraordinary founders with breakthrough technologies struggling to access the capital that would be readily available in Boston or California. We're losing companies not because they're weak, but because our system is fragmented and undercapitalized at the critical early stages. Tony Hickson rightly calls the UK's scientific innovation "a tightly coiled spring poised for release." But springs don't release themselves. They require force, direction, and decisive action. The time for reviews is over. The time for action is now. QantX, University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd, University of Exeter, University of Southampton, University of Surrey #UKInnovation #UniversitySpinouts #VentureCapital #EarlyStageInvesting #RegionalGrowth #UKRI

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Really pleased to see Arqit highlighted in AlbionVC’s new Future of Compute report. New models for computing are evolving fast and the UK is taking a pioneering role, with funding levels reflecting that lead. With AI and Quantum developing rapidly the associated silicon, networking, infrastructure and security are iterating also - a new generation of computing is arriving right now. #FutureofCompute #startups #DeepTech Notion Capital https://lnkd.in/eTkakpsm

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"Printed Silicon Nanoribbon-Based Temperature Sensors on Flexible Substrates". Read our latest article published in IEEE Sensors Letters - https://lnkd.in/eycxz7Zx. This paper presents doped silicon nanoribbons (Si NRs) based miniaturised (≈315 μm2), highly sensitive temperature sensors printed onto flexible substrates. The arrays of temperature sensors based on p–i–n junctions formed along the length of the doped Si NRs are obtained on flexible substrates using custom-built direct roll printing method combined with a few conventional microfabrication process steps. In the constant current mode, the presented sensors exhibit a high thermal sensitivity of −1mV ± 0.3/°C (extracted from voltages at specific currents) over the tested temperature range of 5°C and 75°C, along with excellent repeatability with no hysteresis over multiple cycles. Furthermore, the printed temperature sensor demonstrates ∼9.4% increase in current per °C, highlighting its excellent response to temperature variations. These results are promising wider application of presented temperature sensors in application such as e-skin in areas such as health monitoring, robotics, digital agriculture etc. Congratulations Ayoub Zumeit et al. Ravinder S. Dahiya Northeastern University Northeastern University College of Engineering ECE Northeastern University #flexibleelectronics #sensors #electronics #printedelectronics #temperature #advancedmaterials #advancedmanufacturing #additivemanufacturing #r2r

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Great to see Cambridge Wireless Board Member Tim Ensor featured in this BBC piece on 'common sense' robots and physical AI. Cambridge Consultants show how giving machines a feel for permanence and material properties could unlock safer, more versatile automation across industries. Jane Hutchins also provides her views on what's ahead at Cambridge Science Park in 2026 and how the alignment of central and local governments will support the new masterplan. I personally am VERY pleased to learn about the plans to move the sewage works outside our building :-). Link in the comments. #PhysicalAI #Robotics #AI #DeepTech #Cambridge #CambridgeWireless

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https://lnkd.in/du9-6Vxh A very interesting read for everyone focused on the UK's modern industrial strategy, digital & technologies - especially page 40 🤔 SCI Semiconductor https://lnkd.in/du9-6Vxh

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Quantum computing is moving from research ambition to strategic necessity - and sovereign capability in core hardware has never mattered more. That’s why we’re delighted to announce Blackfinch Ventures’ investment in Quantcore, a University of Glasgow spinout building next-generation superconducting processors and resonators critical to quantum computing and advanced sensing applications. Quantcore’s use of niobium, rather than conventional aluminium-based alternatives, enables higher temperature operation and enhanced scalability - positioning the company at the forefront of next-generation quantum hardware. Dr. Jack Brennan, together with co-founders Prof. Martin Weides, Wridhdhisom Karar and Dr. Valentino Seferai, combine deep technical expertise with clear commercial ambition. They’re not just building components; they’re helping lay the foundations of a sovereign UK quantum supply chain. We’re proud to be co-leading this £2.5m round alongside PXN Group and investing with Scottish Enterprise, Quantum Exponential and STAC. Excited to support the team on the journey ahead. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eSDtHbqA

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London Tech Week this year was a surreal experience... Particularly seeing Jensen Huang open the event with Kier Starmer. Then, by far the most amazing talk I've sever seen from Prof. Brian Cox about black holes and what they're teaching us about quantum computing. For a look behind the scenes and some snippets of science & tech from the rest of the conference, you can watch my video here (~20 mins): https://lnkd.in/ePuzpcBS A few other highlights: - Making it first in line for the event keynote (only to be overtaken by an army of VIPs) - Meeting Lara Lewington and my picture making the first picture on her LinkedIn post! https://lnkd.in/eT2it8Si - Meeting Sabelo Moshesh and catching up with Sam Bax

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🚀 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗖𝗡𝗖, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗠𝗥𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱. Partnering with Dr Rob Ward, an industrial research fellow at the AMRC, we’re backing this groundbreaking venture to transform advanced manufacturing through the power of artificial intelligence. Professor Ben Morgan, interim CEO at The University of Sheffield AMRC, perfectly captures why we’re so passionate about supporting innovation in Sheffield and South Yorkshire: it’s about creating globally competitive solutions right here at home. At Yorkshire AI Labs LLP AI Labs, we’re committed to nurturing these transformative ideas, positioning our region at the forefront of manufacturing innovation. #YorkshireAILabs #DigitalCNC #AMRC #AI #AdvancedManufacturing #Sheffield #Innovation #SpinOut #SouthYorkshire

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With a confusing two tier funding market - AI hyped (mostly), everything else normal (kind of) - here's what I'm excited about at Playfair 📽 Hardware and difficult to build stuff - things like verticalised robotics & novel manufacturing processes where tech meets proper, manual work 🤖 Regulated industries - regulatory approval risks are now, if you get it right, moats and buyer credibility that shrinks your competitor pool 🤏 Companies using AI where if you scratched the word 'AI' from the deck you've still got a clear problem & solution with a 10 year+ vision 👀 Thanks Seb Johnson 📊at ETS Live for the great conversation Link to the full episode in the comments 👇 #Founder #funding #business #investing #vc #venturecapital #entrepreneur #startup

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I've been developing software products for decades, and I wholeheartedly agree with David Mumford about having that instinctive drive to do something meaningful; which for me, is to build. People talk a lot about AI taking all the jobs. But is it? Maybe the better way to look at it is that the jobs have changed. For me, I haven't written single line of code in the past year -- AI writes the code for me. But, I'm still the architect. AI code generators are not replacing me. Instead, they are just another tool in my toolbox; albeit, ones that boost my productivity by 10x or more. I still have a job. It's just different. I have this conversation about AI taking jobs way more than I should need to. I keep quoting that joke "you don't need to outrun a bear, you just need to outrun your friend." And of course the bears here are LLMs. Embrace AI. Leverage AI. Because if you don't, then yes, you will be the one that gets eaten. I for one am glad my job has changed. I'm now fully entrenched with AI every day as I build MascotGO with my cofounder Helen Fu Thomas, and I love every minute of it. My job in this new era is more exciting than ever with all the power and productivity I gain with AI. We are the new bears!

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Just had an initial read of the #UKTIN Future Telecommunications Roadmap. Here is a link for anyone who is interested https://lnkd.in/ehiXM_aH A few things that I found interesting were: - Its great to see Photonic ICs recognized at the top of the list for target key technology areas where the UK is well positioned to be a world leader (page 2, recommendation 1) - Generally, a common theme is that the UK is strong in design, components, architectures, etc. but behind in terms of manufacturing/production across PICs, Optical Networking, hollow-core fibres etc. (page 30-35). It would be great to have more domestic capabilities in this regard (as recommended by UKTIN) - The emergence of high altitude platforms (HAPs) as a supplement to terrestrial-networks and non-terrestrial-networks is an exciting new area where the UK could be a significant contributor (page 16). It will be interesting to watch this space grow and see if any domestic operators emerge. -- It will be especially interesting to see what synergies exist here with the robust UK space industry and other strengths like free space optics (FSO) - noted on page 33)

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💻 Mercia Ventures has led a £2.5million investment round into SCI Semiconductor. The UK start-up that aims to win the race to develop the world’s first ‘memory safe’ computer chip will use the funding to build a team of engineers in Sheffield and bring its product to market. Current attempts to achieve memory safety, such as transitioning to more modern languages or introducing stricter development methods, are often too costly or impractical. SCI’s chip will enforce security by dividing memory into compartments and tightly controlling how it is accessed. The product, which would be used in conjunction with open source software and development tools, would reduce cybersecurity costs and remove the need for constant patching. SCI aims to resolve the problem of ‘memory safety’ which is the key factor in around 70% of cyber attacks. Haydn Povey, CEO, said: “Cybersecurity is second only to global conflict in terms of factors affecting the economy. Developing a new generation of chips here in the UK will also help to ensure supply chain security and restore the country’s position as a leader in semiconductor technology.” SCI received the funding from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) and also angel investors from the UK and Silicon Valley. Read more (link in comments) ⏬ #NPIF #SemiConductors #CyberSecurity #Sheffield #Investment #VC #Innovation #TechForGood | British Business Bank North of England

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⏮️ Last week £182m was announced across 13 UK venture rounds Some highlights from the Soapbox platform 💻 and newsletter 🗞️ include... Spectral Compute secured a £4.5m seed round led by Costanoa Ventures to help companies run Nvidia-based code on alternative chips, avoiding hardware backlogs and lock-ins. Adclear raised an oversubscribed £2m seed round led by Outward VC. The platform is used by top finance brands and banks to deliver compliance feedback on social and marketing content. Limetrack landed £1.3m from Innovate UK and various angels to scale its IoT-enabled “SMART” bin that automatically weighs and reports commercial food waste. Aloudable secured £270k pre-seed led by SFC Capital to authenticate its text-to-conversation tool for businesses to launch pro podcasts with AI. AI Score launches from GALLOS Technologies venture studio with a £750k pre-seed to help organisations govern AI systems safely and responsibly.

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🎙️ Episode 11 is live! In this episode of The Research Adventure Podcast we meet Philip Orr, CEO and founder of Synaptec, a University of Strathclyde spinout providing cutting-edge fiber optic monitoring systems to the global power industry. Philip shares his journey from a 25-year-old postdoc to the CEO of a 40-person high growth spinout, including: 🚀 Launching his journey with a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship. 💰 Transforming research from an industry collaboration into a university spinout. 🤝 Leveraging industry contracts to fund initial product development. 🎯 Leading the company through 5 rounds of investment and significant growth. Philip doesn't sugarcoat the reality that entrepreneurship is hard, stressful, and sometimes lonely. But he also reveals why it's been one of the most fulfilling experiences of his life, from the satisfaction of creating something real to watching it become self-sustaining, to his personal growth and transformation as a leader. This episode is packed with insights, wisdom and practical advice for anyone commercialising university research—especially in hardware and deep tech. I hope you get as much out of this conversation as we did! You can listen to the full episode here: 🎧 https://lnkd.in/eJdbJJXR Also available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

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I am genuinely looking forward to this session. The next three months matter. January to March is the point in the year when #SEIS and #EIS capital moves fastest as investors look to complete deals before the end of the tax year. That creates what is effectively a cheap money (read: expensive dilution) season. It is striking that so much of a tech ecosystem is governed by what is a personal tax cycle, yet that is the reality that a founder must navigate, and in doing so, understand motivations on both sides of the table. For founders seeking funding, this period can be helpful or harmful. Done well, it can provide the right capital on sensible terms for a long lasting, fruitful, relationship. Done poorly, short term decisions made under time pressure can lock in constraints that are hard to undo. In Scotland, where we already have a scale up problem, that #risk is real and cumulative. This event is important because it focuses on alternatives and context. Not every business is suited to the same funding path, and not every founder has the same safety net. Understanding options beyond default #VC or rushed SEIS EIS rounds is essential if we want stronger, more resilient companies. If you are thinking about raising capital, or questioning whether you should at all, this is a conversation worth being in.

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We are launching our first online course on Fundamental Analog Circuits, specifically crafted to bridge this gap for 1st/2nd year EE students seeking the practical edge needed for their first co-ops/interns, as well as STEM professionals from Physics, MEng or Programming backgrounds looking to pivot into hardware electronics and semiconductors. Giving so many excellent resources available now, we designed this course targeting to move beyond passive watching, and integrated a structured curriculum with tangible exercises into a scaffolding learning management system that actively guides your progress and ensures true comprehension. Join our Kickstarter campaign to be part of the first cohort redefining technical excellence. https://lnkd.in/gev9Xg6p

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Semiconductors are one of the five critical technologies identified by the UK Government. They are also deeply complementary to many types of microsystems, enabling devices to sense, compute, and interact with the world. This major new report, the result of 7,000+ hours of collaboration with over 800 experts from academia and industry, outlines how the UK can lead in this critical technology area. The UK Microsystems Network strongly support efforts by the EPSRC eFutures Network+ to build resilience, talent pipelines, and research capacity across all enabling technologies. If you're working at the interface of microsystems and semiconductors, this is worth your attention. #Semiconductors #UKTechStrategy #Microsystems #Innovation #ResearchAndDevelopment #AdvancedManufacturing

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Great discussion at the recent #STIQRobotics networking event! 🤖 The panel discussed a crucial question: How can the UK carve out a significant share of the global humanoid robotics boom, especially with current fundraising heavily favouring US & China? Key insights from our brilliant panelists: 💠 Sotirios (of thehumanoid.ai) highlighted lessons from China's strategic government support and the need for policies to bolster the UK's supply chain and R&D. 💠 Brennand (of Kinisi Robotics)offered a pragmatic view on leveraging UK's incredible talent pool while acknowledging the current fundraising and industry-building challenges compared to the US. 💠 Bruce (of Jabil) emphasized the importance of identifying and nurturing specific UK tech niches (like actuation & advanced manufacturing) that can give us a competitive edge. Thanks to STIQ Ltd and Thomas for organising a jam-packed networking event and hosting a thought-provoking panel discussion!

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