51³Ô¹ÏÍø

51³Ô¹ÏÍø has launched its first Innovation Fund to invest in early-stage, high-growth, knowledge-intensive companies.

The Fund offers alumni and investors the opportunity to support the commercial development of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's discoveries into tomorrow's solutions in medicine, engineering, biochemistry, genetics, materials, quantum computing, data science and beyond.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø has a long history of producing ground-breaking scientific research and disruptive technologies, as well as a flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In the last five years, startups have doubled in number, attracting approximately £800m of new investment. Notable successes include GraphicsFuzz, sold to Google in 2018, and Magic Pony, an AI startup acquired by Twitter in 2016.

The Innovation Fund will invest in opportunities related to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø - whether founded by a member of staff or a student, or with a research or development link - to build a portfolio of (S)EIS-qualifying investing companies. It will invest at early-stage and provide follow-on funding, and will work with other investors.It may also seek matched grant funding from suitable institutions.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø has developed a strong infrastructure and support network around its entrepreneurs. Aside from the commitment and backing of the faculty and strong industry networks, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has introduced facilities and programmes including the , the , the Translation & Innovation Hub, the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Venture Mentoring Service, and the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø College Advanced Hackspace to help support new ideas. In 2019, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø took control of its technology transfer, to provide the wider investor community direct access to the College’s most innovative entrepreneurs, their ideas, and startups.

The Innovation Fund will be managed by Parkwalk, which over the past five years has been the UK's most active investor in world-changing technologies emerging from the UK's leading universities and research institutions. 

University spinouts are a unique asset class in early-stage and growth investing, because they typically have years of research and development underpinning their technologies before they seek investment to commercialise. They are well tested, with strong IP protection, developed by the leading experts in their field, and are often seeking to solve the world’s greatest challenges. This provides derisked, high-quality opportunities with a significantly lower failure rate than the wider startup community.

Professor Ian Walmsley, Provost of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, said: "Early stage investment really matters for deep science and technology startups. The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø College Innovation Fund will provide invaluable support to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø founded companies at this critical stage in their growth.

"51³Ô¹ÏÍø's thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem is unrivalled in the UK. Our staff and students are founding companies that move markets, disrupt industries, and address societal challenges. We are immensely proud of the economic and social impact they deliver for the world. This bold step will offer new ways for investors to engage with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's groundswell of entrepreneurial talent, while amplifying the impact of our work."

Moray Wright, CEO of Parkwalk, commented: "We are delighted to be managing the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø College Innovation Fund on behalf of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is one of the world's great universities, with a particularly strong reputation in deep science and technology. Its startup companies are developing disruptive technologies that can have global impact and benefit wider society, as well as create the potential for significant investor returns."

If you are interested in the fund please contact the Parkwalk team on icif@parkwalkadvisors.com or 020 7759 2285