Summer update from CFT

CFT news
Written By Bhumit Masrani

Huge wins recently across the portfolio. This quarter, we’ve gained major press coverage and closed our largest-ever rounds, whilst doubling-down on venture support and been awarded Early Stage Investor of The Year.

Venture news

We’ve seen huge progress across the CFT portfolio, with several ventures reaching key commercial and funding milestones. Mission Decisions is closing its pre-seed raise whilst continuing to win new defence and civil contracts, RemePhy is preparing to close a £1m pre-seed round, and OmniBuds has strong international traction, including advanced conversations with US based manufacturers and VCs. SAIF Autonomy tripled their team and closed new contracts with the RAF, DSTL, and the Advanced Propulsion Centre.

Rounds are currently open across ten CFT companies – reach out here if you’d like access to the CFT Pitch Book. 

A specialist Talent Function at CFT has been established to strengthen and scale our venture portfolio. This quarter we’ve placed three exceptional CEOs into portfolio companies, each the product of an extensive global search. Our approach to leadership hiring is highly curated and increasingly recognised as one of our biggest value-adds to both founders and investors.

INTRODUCING:

(From left to right) Grant Budge, CEO of PeroCycle, Bart Slager, CEO of GravTech and Ben Carter, CEO of OmniBuds.

Coming soon

We’ve built the UK’s leading pre-incorporation tech scouting mechanism. Our research team are currently spinning tech out of 10 UK universities simultaneously, whilst diligencing hundreds of new opportunities in academic and corporate research groups. Here’s some really cool tech we’re working on right now…

INTRODUCING

  • AmorphiQ Quantum machine learning architecture with unique capabilities for processing temporal data, developed by researchers at multiple leading UK universities.

  • Dew Point Systems Super performance dew point cooler with >10x increased coefficient of performance compared to existing technologies, developed at the University of Hull.

ON THE HORIZON

  • Scalable, cost-effective and sustainable porous silicon for next generation lithium-ion batteries.

  • Virtual platform to design and test million-qubit quantum systems, accelerating hardware development.

  • Sustainable bricks and cements made from carbonised urea, lowering emissions in construction.

CURRENTLY EXPLORING

  • Quantum radio using atomic sensing, offering 100x sensitivity for passive, secure signal detection.

  • Nanoscale imaging system using structured light and AI for sub-atomic precision in manufacturing.

  • Advanced sputtering method for uniform metal oxide films, powering next-gen memory and electronics.

Corporate partnerships

  • Building on behalf of our partnership with Anglo American, PeroCycle appoints an industry leading CEO and launches its £4m funding round – including pre-seed investment from CFT.

  • Working with a Fortune 500 company to validate an AI technology, including finding promising applications within financial services to boost the sector’s ability to harness AI while satisfying regulators.

  • Supporting a proprietary trading firm to build new capabilities and attract top talent by harnessing scientific innovations from UK and EU universities.

Inside CFT

INTRODUCING MARTINA & ISSY

Pleased to welcome two new Venture Analysts to CFT:

Martina Sardelli (left), ex-Genomics England, with a focus on strategy and data-driven comms and Isobel Dodds (right), Oxford DPhil with research in synthetic biology and bioinformatics.

In other great news, Maxim & Josh have been promoted to Venture Associates!

Thank you all for the brilliant turnout at our Annual Summer BBQ and panel event, ‘Where does UK deep tech go from here?’. Another year bringing together our community of founders, investors and friends. Special thanks also to our panellists: tech journalist Mike Butcher, early-stage investor Isabel Fox (Hoxton Ventures), venture partner Michael Jackson (Wilbe), General Partner Katie Underwood (CFT’s own Future Tech VC), and Chris Wiles (Foresight Group).

The discussion tackled how the UK can sharpen its global edge - from fixing spinout terms and regional gaps to backing sovereign tech and dual-use innovation. AI, quantum, and founder-investor alignment emerged as key themes shaping what’s next. Read the press coverage here.

Here in Cambridge and gearing up for the launch of FTVC, Katie shared insights with over 100 VCs at the Fund Construction Masterclass, hosted by Carta. James was joined by In-Q-Tel and Fusion Fund on the Cambridge Judge Future Forum to discuss UK innovation, whilst Ines and Bethany presented to Cambridge Judge Business School’s Enterprise WOMEN – a programme we are proud to sponsor.

Our Deep Tech Coffees, co-hosted with Cambridge Enterprise Ventures and IQ Capital, continue to bring our growing community together on the Science Park. Sven and Katie were delighted to host national leaders from the Forward Institute for a cross-sector dialogue on AI, innovation and future of compute, whilst Ines hosted O2H guests at CFT HQ during Cambridge Wide Open Week. Meanwhile, Owen went up on stage to receive CEO of The Year (Highly Commended) at the Cambridge Independent Science and Tech Awards.

We’ve continued to travel widely, building network and opportunities. Grace championed Mission Decisions at DSET in Bristol, while Literal Labs and Mimicrete pitched at SXSW London’s Venture Spotlight finals. Owen and Katie were invited to speak in Montenegro at the ESG Adria Summit, sharing insights on the Cambridge Ecosystem, and met LPs at SuperVenture in Berlin. In London, Steve and Owen connected with global CVCs at the GCV Symposium, whilst James met leading investors at the NATO DIANA Janus accelerator event. As a team we’ve really taken to the skies – with summer socials including gliding, wake boarding and axe throwing…

SAVE THE DATE!

Wednesday 17th September: We are hosting deep tech investor drinks on the rooftop during Cambridge Tech Week. Invites will be going out shortly.

Reach out to hear more about investment opportunities in the CFT portfolio and across our new initiatives.

Bhumit Masrani
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