This week’s episode features Dr. Margaret Heffernan’s powerful keynote from Cambridge Tech Week, giving a call to arms for anyone building or funding the next wave of innovation. She challenges the tech sector to resist “the rhetoric of inevitability” surrounding AI.

Key Takeaways:

On the myth of inevitability in AI:

“What we’re hearing is a kind of ugly, aggressive language of inevitability. AI is coming, it’s going to do what it’s going to do. If you don’t like it, get out of the way.”

The real cost to creators:

“What we’re seeing right now in AI is the greatest level of industrial ID destruction in human history… Artists’ work is all being scraped so that it can feed large language models.”

Copy, consent, and credit:

Dr. Heffernan highlights the necessity of strong copyright for artists to keep their livelihood, identity, and voice. Without it, “no income, no reputation, no control, no consent, no identity.”

The tech sector must act like grown-ups:

“We’re not an infantile adolescent industry anymore… we now have choices in front of us that we have to take with some kind of adult responsibility.”

Opportunity, not inevitability:

The big prompt: Use technology to strengthen copyright protections and ensure creators are part of the value chain.

Produced by Cambridge TV

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We’re joined by Rupert Elston, who shares his journey from Oxford to leading the London AI Hub - a new centre driving collaboration across the UK’s fast-growing AI startup scene.

Rupert explains how London’s 3,000+ AI startups were once scattered across disconnected clusters:

“That fragmentation was stopping the UK from really leading the charge in AI.”

The London AI Hub is changing that. It’s now a go-to space for founders, policymakers, and researchers to meet, collaborate, and shape the future of UK AI.

In just eight months:

40 events hosted and 3,000 participants engaged

15 resident startups across healthtech, SaaS, wearables, and more

9 of 12 startups expanded their teams, and 5 secured funding rounds

Cross-sector collaboration is sparking fresh ideas and new partnerships

Looking ahead:

The Hub isn’t staying local. Rupert shares plans to connect with hubs across the UK - from Glasgow to Manchester - and to record and share events nationwide. There’s also active engagement with government through policy roundtables giving founders a direct voice in shaping AI regulation.

“It’s about putting founders and regulators in the same room and letting them be heard.”

What’s next?

Expect another 5–10 startups joining the Hub, new themed event series (like investor demo days and sessions on AI in decarbonisation), and better ways to keep the community in the loop.

Produced by Cambridge TV

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

In the second of our exclusive recordings from Cambridge Tech Week 2025, we turn the spotlight on photonics - a sector critical to the future of compute, AI, quantum, and more.

Hosted by Dr Andy Sellars of Cornerstone, the expert panel features Elizabeth Patterson (Seagate Technology), Dr Gwen Wyatt-Moon (Prospectral), Dr Josh Silverstone (Hartley Ultrafast), Mark Rushworth (Finchetto Ltd), and Matthew Anderson (Wave Photonics), sharing insights on how the UK is building global strength in this critical field.

Key takeaways:

Silicon photonics is hitting its stride. After years of promise, it’s now mature enough for large-scale deployment, opening up new opportunities for data centre performance and bandwidth through wafer-scale integration.

Photonics at the heart of AI and data storage. Seagate’s Mosaic 4 Plus drive, using photonic HAMR technology, already stores 30TB with ambitions to exceed 100TB.

A quantum leap. Photonics will be central to scaling different modalities of quantum computers, serving as the critical interface for next-generation systems.

Why the UK, why now? The UK is carving out a niche in photonics that doesn’t depend on leading-edge foundries. With its strengths in packaging technology, materials science, rapid prototyping, and strong university partnerships, manufacturing here is realistic - especially with facilities like Cornerstone in Southampton.

Room for growth. The ecosystem from idea to prototype is world-class, though challenges remain in scaling production and keeping skilled talent local.

💡 Keynote spotlight

Professor Andrew Fitzgibbon opened the session with a thought-provoking talk that connected technology and humanity. His message: innovation should serve core human needs - food, health, and shelter - so that we can spend the rest of our time creating art and exploring what makes us human. It was a powerful reminder of the “why” behind all this progress.

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Owen Thompson, CEO and Founder of Cambridge Future Tech (CFT), returns to the podcast for a fast-paced, candid conversation on how CFT has evolved from an an ambitious venture builder to one of the UK’s most active deep tech venture studios.

💡Highlights

CFT is now creating 8–10 companies a year, having just incorporated its 17th and on track to hit 20 by year-end. The team takes a hands-on approach to IP scouting, spinning out from both universities and corporate R&D labs.

From the future of compute and quantum technologies to cooling systems and energy optimisation, CFT’s portfolio covers some of the most advanced sectors shaping UK innovation. With partnerships spanning 25+ universities - from Glasgow to Southampton - the studio’s reach is truly national.

CFT builds “mini ecosystems” around each startup, often bringing in experienced industry leaders as CEOs. As Owen puts it, “We’ve learned we’re not just a tech company - we’re a people company.”

The studio is expanding into investment with a new sister fund, Future Tech VC, launching soon marking a shift from simply building ventures to backing them through later stages.

🚀 Looking Ahead

CFT is tackling the ongoing challenge of fundraising in 2025 head-on, engaging family offices and developing tailored capital strategies. With initiatives like the Mansion House Act and British Business Bank signalling progress, the team sees major opportunities ahead—especially in dual-use defence tech, the next quantum wave, and sustainability innovation.

Tune in for an honest look at what it takes to build deep tech companies in today’s UK landscape - and why, as Owen says, “It’s all about the quality of relationships you’re building.”

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This week James chats with Marco De Novellis, Group Editor at Founders Forum Group and Tech Nation, about the current state and future of AI in the UK.

Here are some key takeaways:

• The UK AI sector has reached a combined valuation of $230 billion, surpassing France and Germany combined. Marco notes, “AI is increasingly becoming a national security question,” highlighting its importance beyond just business.

• The demand for AI talent is skyrocketing, with companies offering lucrative packages to attract top researchers. Marco points out, “AI researchers are in massive demand,” and the competition is fierce, with salaries reaching up to £1 million.

• AI startups accounted for 27% of all UK venture capital funding in 2024. Marco emphasises, “Every company is becoming an AI company,” indicating that AI is no longer a niche but a necessity across sectors.

• To maintain its leadership in AI, the UK must create conditions that encourage startups to scale and remain based in the country. Marco states, “We need to stop the exodus of talent at growth stages going to the US.”

The conversation not only highlights the challenges and opportunities within the sector but also underscores the importance of collaboration and support for startups.

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In this week’s episode we discover more about the innovative work being done at Forefront RF. Dr. Leo Laughlin and Dr. Alexander Doust share their journey in developing cutting-edge technology for mobile devices. Here are some key takeaways:

• The Challenge of Signal Management: Leo explains, “Mobile phones need to transmit a powerful signal while simultaneously receiving a weak one. Our technology addresses this by using advanced signal cancellation methods.” This innovation allows for a more efficient and compact design in mobile devices.

• Tunable Filters: Their solution replaces multiple fixed-frequency filters with a single tunable component, significantly reducing complexity and size. “This opens up new use cases for devices that require cellular connectivity,” Alexander adds.

• Sustainability Focus: The technology not only simplifies device design but also contributes to sustainability by reducing the number of components needed. “We’re helping manufacturers create a single global variant of their products, which is a game changer,” Leo remarks.

• Navigating the Semiconductor Landscape: The duo discusses the challenges of scaling in the semiconductor industry, highlighting the importance of having a credible team and a clear strategy for market entry. “It’s about executing our plans and getting our product in front of customers,” Alexander states.

As Forefront RF gears up for its first product launch, the excitement is palpable. The team is focused on securing partnerships with manufacturers and getting their technology integrated into next-generation devices.

Produced by Cambridge TV

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James sits down with Shai Vyakarnam to explore his journey from a diverse upbringing to becoming a key player in entrepreneurship education. Shai shares invaluable lessons learned throughout his career, particularly in fostering entrepreneurial mindsets among students and aspiring founders.

Key takeaways:

• The Importance of Milestones: Shai emphasises the significance of externally driven milestones in guiding team behaviour and company progress. “If it wasn’t for those milestones, they may not have made as much progress,” he notes, highlighting how crucial it is for teams to stay aligned with their goals.

• Nurturing Early-Stage Startups: Shai points out that while funding often shifts towards scale-ups, it’s vital to continue supporting early-stage startups. “We need to ensure that we’re nurturing the early-stage startup with the type of funds that are required,” he stresses.

• Role Models in Entrepreneurship: Shai advocates for celebrating successful entrepreneurial figures within academia, suggesting that these role models can inspire the next generation of innovators. “Let’s make our successful entrepreneurial professors into role models and heroes,” he urges.

Produced by Cambridge TV

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This week on the Cambridge Tech Podcast, hosts Faye Holland and James Parton look back at the highlights of Cambridge Tech Week.

From standout moments to personal reflections, they capture the energy of a week that brought together innovators, startups, and investors from across the tech community.

If you couldn’t make it to #CamTechWeek, this episode is a great way to catch up on what you missed. And keep an eye out - panel sessions and talks from the week will be released soon.

Produced by Cambridge TV

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