Matt Clifford

Today we announce that we have successfully raised £20million to invest in scientific startups developing breakthrough solutions for deep decarbonisation. I joined Zero Carbon Capital in August '22 and it has been incredible! I happily spend my time talking to bold and intelligent entrepreneurs, searching for high impact investment opportunities, learning about industry sectors and technologies areas, and supporting our awesome portfolio companies in their long road ahead. I feel so grateful that my job is hopeful in the midst of a climate and environmental crisis. That I get to focus on solutions and be pro-active in finding and supporting the technologies, processes, products that could take chunks out of global greenhouse emissions and get us on track to a net zero 2050. Most of all, I have found my people. What better way to spend my days than with a team of super smart, mega determined people who care about the same things that I do! Chloe Coates, Max Werny, Alex Gawley - what a joy! And Pippa Gawley - for all that and for your leadership. Your leadership in a historically male dominated VC industry is a beacon. And this extends to the whole ClimateTech ecosystem - it energises me to work in a sector of like-minded people, passionate about the work we do. The conversations, exchanges, brainstorming make the job even richer! Let's keep going! Hold on to the vision for 2050 - a healthy planet! Our goals are achievable! https://lnkd.in/erWfvwz2

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Accelerating technology translation to help researchers commercialise their work is key to creating the innovative start-ups that will address some of the key challenges facing society. More financing to support research through the proof-of-concept stage is needed to create a sustainable pipeline of investible opportunities. Karin Immergluck at Stanford also sees this as the number one challenge in the US. It's not just about funding but also about building an ecosystem that identifies and develops the talent and opportunities within universities. Industry needs to be more involved. Collaboration to pull through research into industry should be encouraged and funded. Initiatives like #MatcelerateZero bring together world-leading materials research universities, global corporations, and international investors together in a unique partnership to help address these gaps and support the transition to #NetZero. The question is not whether the opportunity exists. Public data shows there were 3600 invention disclosures to universities across the UK in 2022-2023 alone. The challenge is how the UK, and its world leading universities, can combine their offering to leverage the UK’s position as the centre of international capital to deliver a commercially innovative economy driven by scientific research. You can learn more about what #MatCelerateZero is doing to accelerate climate solutions in advanced materials here: https://lnkd.in/ezygvxn2 #DeepTech #Innovation #Investment #TranslationalFunding #VentureCapital #TechTransfer #Startups #Spinouts

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🔥🍴 Intel Ignite is still relatively new to the UK tech scene and we're keen to understand more about the VC ecosystem so last week we conducted an experiment. We hosted a dinner for a small group of investors to see what would happen. How open would people be in sharing their experiences? What are the things we can learn from each other? Would people even turn up? I can report that the event was overwhelmingly positive; conversations were flowing, everyone was engaged, we got to know each other personally, insights and lessons learnt were shared and above all, it was a fun time! Some of the things we talked about: 🛰 The rise of defence tech and dual-use investing, plus the increased amount of spacetech deal flow we’re seeing. 😇 Angel investing when you work at a fund. Is it allowed, and if so, can you only invest in companies outside of your fund’s thesis or does the fund get the right of first refusal on those deals? How do you handle conflicts of interest? 🐲 We talked about the incredible impact of DragonChasers, the community for emerging managers to find the right investors and helping LPs from around the world find the right European ventures funds to invest into. 💰 Ofer Shayo shared the story of how his start-up got acquired. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t easy at all. It was an intricate process where there were a lot of moving pieces. We also shared tactical tips with each other including how to engage with student entrepreneurs and university spin-outs, and how we conduct first calls with founders! My thanks to Isabelle O'Keeffe, Harry Morgan, Aashna Gupta and Patrick Gilday for the lively conversation. And here’s a picture of us in our “rave” sunglasses 🕶

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Great to see SIS Ventures make this list by TechRound https://lnkd.in/eDtRbggM A bit more about what we look for below. If you're a founder and these hit the mark 👇 then please get in touch Investment targets SIS Ventures is focused on high-impact, high-growth potential businesses our investee companies are innovation-led, often spun out of Scotland’s leading university innovation programmes. Portfolio companies are also carefully selected for their commitment to developing their environmental, equality and diversity, social impact and governance practices. SIS Ventures seeks to provide equity investment to: ✔ High growth potential with a global scale and intent to provide significant impact ✔ Focus on social and/or environmental impact, aligning with impact themes / at least one of the UN SDGs ✔ Product or service backed by defensible technology or proprietary know-how ✔ EIS or SEIS qualifying ✔ Low capital-intensive businesses ✔ Sector agnostic, but historically invested across Life Sciences, MedTech, Climate Tech, Circular Economy, Biotech ✔ Pre-seed – Series A ✔ Headquartered in Scotland

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"Is the UK a hard place for DeepTech funding?" I always love answering this question. The UK and Europe is one of the best places for DeepTech funding! 🤘 We have some of the best DeepTech funds based right here in Cambridge with Cambridge Innovation Capital, IQ Capital, Martlet Capital and Amadeus Capital Partners. Last year, The 2023 European DeepTech Report reported the UK was one of the top three countries to receive the most DeepTech funding across Europe seeing a total $3.4 billion raised. 💥 DeepTech is one of the most resilient funding sectors to be in right now. 🚀🚀🚀 Cambridge Future Tech Lucie Polakova #venturebuilding #deeptech #deeptechfunding #cambridge Pic: Talking careers in tech at University of Cambridge 🤘

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My thoughts below on how EdTech businesses can best position themselves for success. BGF has invested £100m+ across Education, Training & EdTech to date, and we continue to look for more exciting businesses and teams to partner with. Do reach out if you would like to discuss any of the below or hear more on how BGF funding, and our extensive value creation offering, can help unlock your next phase of growth. #BGFGoodGrowth

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I really really really enjoyed this conversation. Some things we covered: - replicant hiring 👥 - the alibis leaders tell themselves to avoid some of the hard stuff that comes back to hurt them 💣 - why you shouldn’t be using AI 😮 We also heard from Muireann Bird about why hiring for culture fit and prioritising inclusive recruitment can cause harm before she shared some specific checklists to help people put some critical techniques into practice. ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ If you'd like the recording, please do subscribe. It's full of good stuff. #inclusion #inclusiverecruitment #recruitment

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When founding ETA Technologies, choosing Cambridge as our headquarters was a decision driven by a blend of strategic and historical advantages. Here are the top five reasons why it stands out: 1, Cambridge is renowned as the intellectual property hub of the UK, fostering an environment rich in cutting-edge research. 2, Leading Europe in the creation of spin-out companies, Cambridge offers a fertile ground for entrepreneurial ventures. 3, With a remarkable track record of producing #unicorns, Cambridge is a magnificent breeding ground for high-growth #startups. 4, Cambridge's #startups generate an impressive $17 return for every $1 invested, showcasing the unparalleled efficiency and profitability of the local innovation ecosystem. 5, The Cambridge tech ecosystem boasts a valuation exceeding £150 billion, surpassing the combined worth of Italy and Spain's tech sectors. 5+1, ETA Technologies leverages psychometric testing powered by #AI to help investors identify teams with the greatest potential. Psychometric testing also has its roots in Cambridge... Cambridge isn't just our location; it's a cornerstone of our identity and a catalyst for our mission to revolutionize investment insights. https://lnkd.in/dB4m2tfS

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A HUGE thank you to everyone involved in publishing the latest report from ESG_VC and the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) today! The report is packed full of useful insights into how start-ups are actually performing across their work on environmental, social, and governance issues. There's also a brand new roadmap for ESG in start-ups with specific guidance on the initiatives to implement from Pre-Seed through to Series C and beyond. A particular shout out to everyone involved in the production including Suzi Gillespie and Ewa Skornas at the BVCA, David Strong and Dianne Skurray at Marriott Harrison, and Susannah Philipson and Nadeem Muzaffar at Seven Hills, who designed this beautiful report. I'm also massively grateful for all of the hard work that our VC contributors put into compiling data from 587 portfolio companies across the UK, Europe, and around the world - a few names to mention include Ashleigh, Shanice, Lauren, Laure, Michelle, Jason, Hessel, Emily, Beth, Joe, James, Eugenia, Alex, Grace, Emma, Emily, Lucy, Cordelia, Nina, Raj, and Rob. Thank you to you all! And thanks as ever to the remaining members of our steering group for their ongoing support of ESG_VC - Antonia at Seedcamp, Leslie at Astanor Ventures, Natalie at Lakestar, Andrew at Par Equity, and of course Karen McCormick for all of your support at Beringea! Check out the full report via the link in the comments! And let us know what you think about it! #ESG_VC #sustainability #venturecapital

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I’m happy to share one of Prolific's new endeavors: the Prolific Participant Wellbeing Report. This pioneering study explores and evaluates the mental wellbeing of online research participants, leveraging the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) to uncover insights. The findings? A reassuring confirmation that participant wellbeing on Prolific is solid, underscoring our unwavering dedication to ethical practices in research. This is a first-of-its-kind publication for our industry. It casts a spotlight on the critical importance of ensuring participant wellbeing - a timely addition to the ongoing debates about the impact of online research and AI training methodologies. Read more about our findings here: https://bit.ly/3UmnFNF EDIT: Full report is also available here: https://lnkd.in/eBVNE68J

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Survival of the Fittest in a Shifting Funding Landscape Founders are adopting a low-key approach, focusing their energy on internal growth. Armed with capital secured in 2021, many are strategically revitalising their businesses. But the big question remains: What will the dealmaking landscape look like in 2024? "Overall, capital infusion will be concentrated on a narrower spectrum of companies than in all. The private capital raising landscape is anticipated to be robust, showcasing significant improvement from 2022. However, the capital infusion will be concentrated on a narrower spectrum of companies compared to the prolific scene of 2021." Read More: https://lnkd.in/d3536qvA In the meantime, share your thoughts! Are you a founder facing a funding crunch? How are you adapting your strategy? #StartupFunding #Founders #Growth #DealMaking #SibaPanda

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I’m looking into a new (niche but important) topic at the moment: healthcare-focussed climate adaptation tech. In other words, startups that are helping healthcare systems to prepare for future: → Climate events (e.g. floods & heatwaves) → Climate-caused pandemics → Increases in certain illnesses/diseases (e.g. skin cancer and asthma) I’d like to expand my network and speak to health & med tech investors (VC, PE, infrastructure) about how the market’s currently looking. Are we seeing the words ‘climate adaptation’ and ‘healthcare resilience’ used in pitches just yet? Who should I speak to? Any and all recommendations greatly appreciated. 

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As we have been navigating the angel investment landscape lately, we're thrilled about the incredible partners we've matched with. However, we've noticed a clear pattern that's hard to ignore: diversity in angel investing isn’t quite where it needs to be. Did you know that… 📊 In the UK, only about 16-18% of angel investors are women. (according to UK Business Angels Association) 📊 In Sweden, just 30% of business owners are women. (according to Ownershift - power shift through ownership). But gladly it seems like we are making progress! 📈 In the US, the number of women angel investors has jumped from 5% in 2004 to 40% in 2022. (Center for Venture Research). Hopefully this is reflected elsewhere too! I believe we as founders should strive for diversity and promote equality within our circle of influence all the way up to ownership. Ownership is power and I believe diverse ownership leads to more innovative outcomes in society. Having diverse voices at the table will make our business stronger. —- 🔍 PS. **We, Tilda, would love to be connected to a female angel investor**, with expertise in B2B and HR, ideally based in Sweden. If you or someone, please connect with us. We have an exciting opportunity to discuss! #investment #diversity #inclusivity #angelinvestor #HR #B2B #ailearning

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If you're a scientist, engineer or founder with big ideas for tackling climate change, you should definitely take a look at Kinjani's new programme led by Caitlin Wale and team.   Kinjani aims to attract talent to address climate-related pain points within 6 key industries: * Urbanisation: infrastructure & resilience * Materials: low carbon manufacturing & construction * Oceans: Ships, Sinks and Aquaculture * Food: productivity, restoration & futureproofing * Water: waste, pollution, scarcity and resilience * Restorative mining: circular models & biodiversity These industries have historically been underfunded within the climate space, and yet continue to contribute heavily to several climate concerns within carbon removal, circularity, and climate resilience.    To build scalable, science-first ventures in key industries, this program brings together entrepreneurs with technical expertise or commercial / operational experience within Sub-Saharan Africa. We’re not afraid to get our hands dirty to keep our continent clean.

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Last week 93% Ventures brought together an incredible group of founders, operators, investors, and partners to discuss social mobility in UK tech with Dom Hallas and the Startup Coalition It's great to see more people talking openly about a problem the industry has faced for too long: UK tech has a huge socioeconomic representation issue. Key Takeaways are: 1️⃣ Data Collection and Data Coalitions: we need scalable methods to collect socioeconomic data of the UK tech workforce 2️⃣ Sponsorship Not Mentorship: how can we create a scalable solution to the "nepo-baby" problem of UK tech 3️⃣ Apprenticeship Levy Reform: create more pathways for enterprises to spend on hiring from underrepresented communities not just upskilling 4️⃣ Private Sector Engagement: scalable solutions for engagement with schools and academic institutions for greater awareness and access If you're interested in joining the next event, please drop me a note. David Black Gary Izunwa Raj Kaur Khaira Vinay Solanki Oli Tao Binda Patel James Turner Nicolas Cary Edwin Appiah Colin Jones Mark Sims Zoe Peden Zoe Stern Ambi Mistry Libby Dangoor Ellie Steel Francesca Arese Lucini Elinor Honigstein Stuart Mundy Thanks to Catherine Lenson and LocalGlobe for hosting!

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Great to speak at Alma College: Lessons on Due Diligence today alongside the fantastic Rupa Ganatra Popat of Arāya Ventures. This is one of a series of events run by Alma Angels to help angel investors who want to learn more about investing. If you are an angel investor interested in supporting female founders, please check out Alma. Link in comments shortly. #founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic More at unbundled dot vc.

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One of the podcasts I recorded earlier was on VCs, predominantly on early-stage funding within climate / construction tech. A certain part of the podcast focused on this VC's thesis around their strategy, and how they support these new start-ups. I try to do as much prep as possible. And if I do say so myself, the podcast is very good. It'll be edited. But there's certain aspects that just can't be edited; otherwise, it'd just sound odd.. And for some unknown reason, I couldn't get the word 'thesis' out. Probably about 5-6 different iterations of the word 'thesis'. It's hilarious listening back to it. It reminds me of this clip of Benedict Cumberbatch narrating a documentary on penguins, and having the same issue saying the word 'penguins'. Sign up to Climate Tech Spotlight to: 1. Learn about early-stage VC Climate/Construction Tech funding. 2. Laugh at my ability to say 'thesis'. Link in the comments. #climatetech

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Calm/Storm is all about community. We are firm believers in network effects, but we don’t just “use” our network - we try to enrich, inspire and enable within it. Thats why, from time to time, we invite founders, investors, partners and friends for dinner. The only thing a guest needs to bring is another guest who doesn’t belong to our network yet. It’s as simple as that. Never underestimate the power of community! Interested? Just reach out. #NetworkEffects #Community #Vienna #CalmStorm #Founders #VentureCapital

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There’s a lot to love about the Seed phase 🌱 My passion for Seed phase technology investing springs from a profound appreciation for this particular phase of company building. There’s an undeniable allure to being part of a company’s early growth, where progress is swift, and the potential for impact is vast. What truly captivates me is the opportunity to engage with diverse ideas, innovations, and technologies. As an investor, I leverage my expertise to collaborate with different visionaries, having a larger circle of impact and contributing to meaningful change. Beyond the excitement of innovation and growth lies the human connection inherent in early-stage investing. Witnessing a founder’s triumphs and supporting them through challenges enriches the journey. Sharing in the highs and lows with passionate founders adds a profoundly gratifying dimension to the investment process, transforming it from a mere business endeavour into a deeply personal one. https://lnkd.in/gbaPX9_j

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