As another successful cohort of science and tech researchers completes the Impulse Programme, we have many reasons to celebrate.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of Impulse, the University of Cambridge's flagship early-stage entrepreneurship programme, which has spent the past decade helping researchers and innovators explore the commercial potential of their ideas and take their first steps towards building impactful ventures.
Since launching in 2017, Impulse has supported over 350 participants from across science, engineering and technology disciplines as they have navigated the journey from laboratory to marketplace. Many have gone on to establish successful companies, secure investment, create skilled jobs and develop technologies tackling some of society's biggest challenges.
Now, happily, another cohort joins our thriving alumni community.
A Growing Community of Innovators Creating Real World Impact
This year's programme attracted more than 130 applications, with 50 participants carefully selected to join our three-month action-learning programme, making it our biggest programme ever.
Participants arrived with different technologies and ambitions but shared a common goal: understanding how their research could become products, services and businesses capable of making a difference in the real world.
Alongside researchers from the University of Cambridge and entrepreneurs from the wider Cambridge innovation ecosystem, participants travelled from universities across the UK, while this year's international cohort included innovators from Italy, Austria, Australia, the United States and South Africa.
We also successfully launched ‘Impulse AMP’ – an extended programme running alongside Impulse for participants with slightly more mature ventures ready for the next steps towards commercialisation.
Innovation Across Sectors
Our participants showed up with a diverse range of early-stage innovations. On the life sciences side, ideas included AI-powered clinical decision support, blood-based cancer diagnostics, regenerative heart therapies and next-generation drug discovery platforms.
In the tech focused groups, ideas explored covered quantum computing, accelerated semiconductor testing, creating space-ready solar cells, recycling critical minerals from electric vehicle batteries, and manufacturing lower-carbon cement.
Some other brilliant ventures also focused on societal challenges, including communication technologies for people who stutter, epilepsy care, healthier buildings, sustainable construction and trusted carbon credit trading.
Participants spent three months testing assumptions and pushing their ventures forward, all with the focus on learning how to translate their outstanding research projects into ventures with commercial potential.
For many, that process led to significant change; which we always embrace and support. Some refined their market focus. Others pivoted towards stronger commercial opportunities. Several emerged with entirely new ways of thinking about their technology and its route to impact.
Learning Beyond the Laboratory
"The Impulse Programme developed my ideas and pushed me to think outside of the box. I was a full academic until recently and I’m now an entrepreneur-in-progress and Impulse really changed my understanding about how the business world works.”
Maximiliano Portal, Impulse Participant, Koda.Bio
Throughout the programme, participants worked alongside experienced entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and business experts, gaining practical insight into everything from customer discovery and intellectual property to funding, pitching and commercial strategy.
Even before the programme concluded, several participants had already begun to see tangible outcomes from their work, including securing funding, achieving grant success and building momentum for the next stage of their ventures.
These are encouraging early milestones, but perhaps the greatest outcome is the confidence participants gain to continue developing their ideas beyond the programme.
"I think Impulse has really helped my thinking with regards to how to actually manage and build a company... because there are a lot of aspects about the tech you understand as an academic but there is a real gap in terms of how do you manage team, how you manage the finances and how do you make a sustainable business going forwards.”
Katie-Lou White, Impulse Participant
A Celebration of Progress
The programme culminated in participant pitch sessions, where founders presented their ventures to panels of experienced entrepreneurs, investors and industry specialists.
The quality of the presentations reflected the remarkable progress made over just three months. Participants received constructive feedback, new perspectives and valuable connections that will help shape the next stages of their entrepreneurial journeys.
While the pitches marked the end of the formal programme, they also represented the beginning of something much bigger.
Participants have now become part of the Impulse alumni network, an active community that offers continued opportunities to connect through alumni events, networking activities and links with wider Cambridge entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“To somebody who’s considering applying, I would say please do, and hurry!”
Sincengile Ntshingila, Impulse Participant, Nothile BioPharma
A Community Effort
The success of Impulse is built on far more than the enthusiasm of its participants.
Each year, dozens of mentors, workshop speakers, business experts, investors, alumni, facilitators, pitch panellists and partner organisations generously give their time, expertise and encouragement to help participants challenge assumptions, build confidence and accelerate their learning.
Their willingness to share experience is one of the defining characteristics of the Cambridge innovation ecosystem.
To everyone who contributed to this year's programme, thank you.
Your support continues to shape the next generation of science and technology entrepreneurs.
Looking Ahead
As Impulse celebrates its 10th anniversary, the programme continues to evolve while remaining true to its original mission of helping outstanding researchers explore entrepreneurship and transform innovative ideas into ventures capable of creating lasting impact.
Building on a decade of impact, we are growing a vibrant, globally connected community where science, innovation and business come together. Through world-class programmes, stronger partnerships and an expanding network of founders, entrepreneurial mentors and investors, Impulse will continue to inspire and support the next generation of science and technology entrepreneurs to transform breakthrough ideas into lasting impact.
Congratulations to every member of the 2026 cohort.
We look forward to following your journeys in the years ahead, and to welcoming the next generation of researchers ready to take their first steps into entrepreneurship.
