The next wave of deep tech won’t just be built on breakthrough science. Crucially, it’ll be unlocked by those who know how to scale it.

Commercialisation is tough. Government funding is slow. And traditional VC models often don’t fit.

Still, there is real belief in the UK and Europe’s technical depth and momentum is growing around patient capital, enabling tools and strategic partnerships.

@mikebutcher.bsky.social, #IsabelFox, #KatieUnderwood and #ChrisWiles sat down with #OwenThompson and explored the massive potential of quantum, photonics, AI safety, and dual-use defence, but also the barriers standing in the way.

CFT wins Early Stage Investor of the Year! 🥇

Thrilled to be recognised by the @businessgreen.bsky.social judges for our work uniting industry, investors and academia to support the next generation of deep tech ventures.

#deeptech #venturebuilder #greenbusinessawards

Deep tech is resilient, ambitious and still securing capital. 🚀

“Deep tech companies typically operate on longer timelines, so the immediate impact of macroeconomic declines isn’t felt in quite the same way..."

Owen Thompson, in #TechFundingNews this week: techfundingnews.com/can-europes-...

#CambridgeMindTechnologies is transforming mental health support with Cami, an always-on Al companion delivering personalised, evidence-based care for adolescents.
Learn more about them here: www.camfuturetech.com/portfolio/ca...

#portfolio #venturebuilder #ai

📣 Shortlisted! CFT has been named a finalist in two categories at this year’s UK Green Business Awards:

⚡Early-Stage Investor of the Year

⚡Owen Thompson for Leader of the Year

A big congratulations to Owen and the team for this one 👏 Winners announced 11th June!

#UKGBA #BusinessGreen #deeptech

We're delighted to share that Joshua Daniel and Maxim Vreeswijk have been promoted to Venture Associates.

Since joining, both have stepped up to lead on projects across ventures, dealflow and consulting, playing a key role in our continued growth. 🚀
#deeptech #venturebuilder

Ines Almeida & Bethany Bland joined the #EnterpriseWOMEN programme at @jbs.cam.ac.uk - sharing practical advice with early-stage founders on building investor-ready models & navigating term sheets.

Proud to support this brilliant initiative. ⚡️

#VentureBuilder #FounderSupport

Congrats to #SAIFAutonomy, named finalists in the #DualTech Challenge at #IT2EC2025!
That’s two years running for a CFT portfolio company - after last year’s win by #MissionDecisions. Great to see Tim Colebrooke back as host, catching up with SAIF’s Matthew Harris.
#DefenceTech #venturebuilder

📣 Finalists! Owen Thompson has been shortlisted for #CEOoftheYear at this year's #CambridgeIndependent Science and Technology Awards.

Winners will be announced on 15th May 🤞

Congratulations, Owen! 🚀

#SciTechAwards #deeptech #venturebuilder

🎉 We’re thrilled to share that Joshua Daniel & Maxim Vreeswijk have been promoted to Venture Associates!
Both have led across ventures, dealflow & consulting - playing a big part in CFT’s continued growth. 🚀 Congrats both!
#cambridge #deeptech #venturebuilder

#MissionDecisions is transforming defence with AI-powered analytics, turning complex data into faster, smarter & more secure decision-making.

🔍 Learn more: lnkd.in/ebmAckft

📸 Tim Colebrooke, COO at the CFT 2024 Annual Investor Pitch Event

#CFT #deeptech #cftportfolio

The Annual Pitch Event is always a special moment for us.

“It's the culmination of months of effort by founders. Our role as a venture builder is to help world-class technical founders speak the language of investors—and vice versa.” – James Hayward, COO.

🚀 Thanks to all who joined us!

Sometimes I profile startups so early that it's worth checking in with them a little bit later...

Here's how RemePhy is getting on with its 'bioengineering plants to depollute mining land' offering.

ICYMI: #CFT has partnered with #AngloAmerican & #UniveristyofBirmingham on #PeroCycle

By enabling carbon recycling within existing steelmaking processes, it offers a transformative pathway to #decarbonisation - without requiring complete reengineering.

🔗 www.angloamerican.com/media/press-...

📣 In the press! CFT portfolio company #RemePhy featured in #TheGuardian this weekend. Their breakthrough phytoremediation tech tackles heavy metal contamination, restores land & recovers valuable materials, paving the way for sustainable mining. Great to see their impact making national headlines!🌱

“What we're really starting to see is that our deal sourcing mechanism has become really effective.”

Owen chats with @martinsfp.bsky.social at #PreSeedNow about #PeroCycle, #OmniBuds & how CFT’s expanding network is accelerating #deeptech spinouts.

preseednow.com/p/cambridge-...

#venturebuilder

CFT ventures #MissionDecisions, #SAIFAutonomy and
#LiteralLabs will all be at #DAICConnect2025 tomorrow. These ventures are driving real progress in the sector! If you’re attending, reach out to connect with them.

#deeptech #defenceai #venturebuilder #defencetech #daic

$1.2M secured. US expansion underway.

CFT portfolio company #SAIFAutonomy is scaling fast, closing a $1.2M pre-seed round led by #FusionFund to drive safer autonomous systems.

www.camfuturetech.com/articles/sai...

#deeptech #autonomousai #ai #cft

Led by the best tech scouting function in the country.

We lead cutting-edge deep tech out of the lab and into the commercial world.

www.camfuturetech.com

#deeptech #venturebuilder #cambridge #uktech