Cambridge’s inaugural Ventures Tour, part of Cambridge Wide Open Week (CWOW), took place on June 9–10, 2025, offering a dynamic platform for startups and investors in the life sciences and tech sectors.
Hosted by o2h Group, the two-day tour featured a series of pitch sessions and presentations across key venues including the Glass House, Deloitte, Cambridge Judge Business School, Hauxton House, and the Babraham Research Campus.
A Hub for Innovation and Investment
The Ventures Tour brought together leading venture capital firms, incubators, accelerators, angel investors, and government organizations to spotlight pioneering companies in biotech, deeptech, and techbio.
Key participants included Amadeus Capital Partners, Parkwalk, Cambridge Enterprise, Babraham Research Campus/Accelerator, and Cambridge Innovation Capital.
Our Spotlight on Data and Genomics
Zetta was proud to take part with Mark Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer at Zetta Genomics, presenting on the growing importance of federated data in genomics. He showcased how XetaBase, our flagship platform, pioneering secure and scalable access to genomic data for analysis and interpretation, a vital advancement in accelerating precision medicine and research collaboration.
“I was very honoured to be part of the chosen line up of four disruptive companies presenting to a room full of engaged investors and industry leaders. Thank you also to the panel for engaging and probing questions around our business and the supportive feedback you gave. Events like these are so important to support start ups in their journey and help them raise their profiles with a broader audience and I look forward to speaking at more similar events”
Mark Hughes
Chief Commercial Officer, Zetta Genomics
“It was amazing to hear how Zetta Genomics, born from Cambridge University and Genomics England, are bringing a game changing genomics analytics platform from Cambridge to the world. Very lucky to be involved in an event that brings together everyone in the ecosystem and be a part of it.”
Sarah Bruce-White
Ecosystem Innovation & Growth Specialist, Innovate UK Business Growth
Creative Disruption Forum: Transforming Drug Discovery
Held on Monday, the Creative Disruption Forum focused on the transformation of small molecule drug discovery through innovative technologies. Hosted at Fora, the event featured thought-provoking discussions under Chatham House Rules, with speakers such as David Brown (co-inventor of Viagra), Prashant Shah (Managing Partner, o2h Group), and Hannah Sore (CEO, PharmEnable).
Networking and Community Engagement
Each day concluded with lively networking receptions, including one hosted by Form the Future at the University Museum of Zoology. These sessions provided space for collaboration, mentorship, and fresh partnerships across Cambridge’s rich innovation ecosystem.
Special thanks to Innovate UK and Cambridge Wide Open Week for having us; an inspiring couple of days full of ideas, connections, and a shared vision for the future of innovation.
