The next wave of DeepTech innovation will fundamentally change the way the world works.
Cambridge Future Tech
works to make this happen.
The CFT Venture Builder is tailored to the unique needs of each venture.
We believe that a one-size-fits-all approach does not align with the needs of an early-stage DeepTech company.
We assess each company individually and tailor our support accordingly. The route to commercialisation varies with each technology or team and therefore so does our approach. Our Venture Builder model is uniquely suited to navigate the challenge of commercialising innovation.
We combine the disruptive agility of a startup with the essential structure and economics of an established team. This allows us to deploy the resources, network and commercial acumen required to build successful companies.
The Cambridge Future Tech Venture Builder provides inventors, innovators and founders with the tools and collaboration required to succeed in building a DeepTech company.
Business Model Development:
Talent:
Finance And Fundraising:
Commercial And Marketing:
Mentoring And Advisors
Business Model Development:
CFT helps identify the right business model for each venture.
When working in DeepTech,the technology readiness level (TRL) should not come hand-in-hand with low business model maturity and proposition. We believe that assessing and analysing the shape of that future business is essential in the earliest stages of the company lifecycle, Understanding the opportunity and how best to position the company is a key part of the first iteration of a startups strategy. We drive the process of forward planning to ensure all members of the team have a clear understanding as to the resources required and when.
We work with founders as founders and partners from Day-Zero to prepare the company for future success.
Talent:
CFT directly gets hands on to support our ventures. We also build the strong dynamic teams to commercialise the technology.
Early-stage technology startups are typically resource-light, with small teams and few assets. Startups built on foundational intellectual property often find themselves well equipped with technologist but light on commercial and operational expertise. In particular industry, customer and investment networks are often lacking.
We work with founders to identify the exceptional human resource required and then use people from our network to introduce that talent directly into the business. The core CFT team will be engaged directly within the company operations, consistently working to support key functions (such as finance and marketing) and advising on crucial decisions.
Finance And Fundraising:
CFT gets ventures funded.
We have a substantial network of investors who focus on all areas of Deep Tech and all lifecycle stages. We help founders become investment-ready: coaching the pitch, building the deck and making relevant introductions. In the later stages of an investment round, we will be intimately involved in the structure and negotiation of terms, the due diligence process and the execution of the deal.
We help companies to manage and plan their financial operating environment, utilising digital tools and professional advisers to ensure that the fundamental economics necessary to operate the business is robust.
In addition to investor support, we work to support grant/competition applications, in particular, Innovate UK and R&D tax credits.
Commercial And Marketing:
CFT’s commercial and marketing experts help our ventures get early traction.
In DeepTech, one of the biggest challenges is the commercialisation of the fundamental technology and often this challenge is most acute in the transition from a research project to a company. We introduce industry partners and advisors, including future customers, to help the company develop a commercially desirable proposition.
As early as possible in the company lifecycle, we will work with the technical founder to identify long term commercial partners, customers or acquirors in industry. These key relationships are then established at an early stage, ensuring effective product-market fit.
The marketing, messaging and communication of an early-stage company is essential: initially to generate the interest required to raise funds, later to support commercial activity. We develop the key messaging of the company early on, knowing that communication about novel technology is often a challenge. We have years of experience in communicating complicated concepts in a straight-forward, compelling narrative.
Mentoring And Advisors
The CFT team comprises entrepreneurs, operators and experienced business professionals. We know that mentoring and quality advice is essential and we help our founders to build advisory relationships that will complement the needs of the company.
CFT has a wide range of Entrepreneurs in Residence with different backgrounds willing to get involved and support our ventures.
