Five of the UK’s most innovative startups have been selected to compete in the live Cambridge Tech Week Pitching Competition this September.
Following a rigorous judging process from a shortlist of 20 pioneering companies, the finalists are:
- HotHouse Therapeutics – Spun out of Professor Anne Osbourn’s laboratory at the John Innes Centre, Hothouse Therapeutics is transforming drug discovery through an AI-led, IP-protected transient plant expression platform which turns living plants into programmable factories for entirely new medicines.
- HutanBio - HutanBio has discovered a new class of algae that enables sustainable fuel production at cost parity for the first time. Its proprietary Sphaerica algae generate oil at 25 times the productivity of current leading strains and can be grown in seawater on non-agricultural coastal land using only sunlight and CO₂, supporting the production of sustainable aviation fuel and biodiesel.
- Lambda Energy - Lambda Energy has developed GloGro, a next-generation greenhouse additive designed to increase crop yields by around 20%. The product has demonstrated strong commercial potential through compatibility with existing greenhouse materials and has secured pilot manufacturing and grower trials for high-value crops across the UK.
- Myonerv - Myonerv has developed a wearable neurostimulator which can remotely monitor and treat stroke-induced paralysis. Using reusable electrode arrays, the technology enables real-time movement of paralysed fingers and has already demonstrated remote control of hand movement between Cambridge and Greece, paving the way for a new generation of tele-rehabilitation.
- Xplore Intelligence - Xplore Intelligence is building the infrastructure to train and evaluate AI agents. Its Forge platform simulates real operational environments to train and benchmark entire AI agent systems rather than simply optimising prompts, making AI behaviour traceable and reducing hallucinations before deployment. The Edinburgh-based company has secured its first £1 million-plus contract and was recently recognised in Tech Nation’s Breakout 50.
Finalists Chosen From 20 Deep Tech Innovators
The five finalists were selected from a shortlist representing 20 of the UK’s most exciting, deep tech innovations across artificial intelligence, biotechnology, sustainable energy, medtech and Agritech. The independent judging panel included Paul Hughes, Managing Director - Life Sciences & Technology, BDO; Jamie Bignal, Director, HSBC Innovation Banking; Mayank Shah, co-founder and CEO, Grow Beyond Borders; Anne Dobree, Investment Director, Parkwalk Advisors; Isabelle O’Keeffe, Venture Partner, Twin Path Ventures and the Chief Technology Officer for His Majesty's Government Communications Centre (HMGCC), who cannot be named for security reasons.
Live Competition Set for September 16
The live Pitching Competition, sponsored by Mills & Reeve, PwC and Julius & Clark, will be judged by a separate judging panel to determine the overall winner. It will be held between 12:35 -14.45 at the Corn Exchange during Startup to Scaleup Day on Wednesday 16th September. The judging panel for the live competition will include Zickie Lim, Partner and Head of VC & Investments, Mills & Reeve; Marilena Ioannidou, Director, Metaxi Catalyst Ventures; Richard Lewis, Managing Director, Foresight Group; and Emmi Nicholl, Chief Executive Officer, Cambridge Angels.
Judges Highlight the Strength of This Year’s Finalists
Lead judge Zickie Lim said: “The standard of this year’s competition has been exceptionally high from the start, which will make the final selection process incredibly challenging. As sponsors of the Pitching Competition, Mills & Reeve is delighted to support a platform that shines a spotlight on the next generation of innovative businesses, and we are looking forward very much to seeing the finalists pitch live at Cambridge Tech Week.”
Simon de Young, Market Senior Partner, PwC, added: “This year’s finalists demonstrate the extraordinary depth of innovation emerging from the UK’s technology ecosystem, and are among the strongest we’ve seen. They all represent the kind of ambitious, globally relevant businesses that have the potential to create real impact. PwC is proud support entrepreneurs at this critical stage of their growth journey.”