Cambridge Capital Group

At Cambridge Science Park’s sleek Bradfield Centre, a select group of founders gather for an event that has become a cornerstone of the city's thriving tech ecosystem. They're here for one reason: to pitch Cambridge Capital Group.

Anchored by founder Struan McDougall, CCG was Cambridge’s first organised private investor syndicate, connecting some 80 highly experienced angels, family offices, and small funds. Many of these investors earned their stripes building successful companies themselves. They now deploy personal capital and deep sector expertise into early-stage startups, typically investing between £150,000 and £2 million per round.

For founders eyeing CCG as a potential partner, the potential prize is clear: tap into not just capital, but a web of invaluable connections across Cambridge’s golden triangle—an area encompassing Cambridge, Oxford, and London. Unlike traditional VC firms, CCG does not manage a centralised fund. Instead, individual members join forces, pooling expertise to scrutinise deals. It’s a model demanding rigorous due diligence but also ensuring that founders pitch to a genuinely engaged audience.

The network’s model is flexible. Often, CCG steps in as a startup’s first institutional investor, willing to lead or co-lead seed-stage rounds and assemble larger syndicates by bringing in co-investors. Their sweet spot is technology-led innovation across sectors like software, AI, life sciences, and cleantech—businesses characterised by defensible intellectual property and substantial growth potential. If a startup's main selling point is consumer branding or marketing alone, CCG probably won’t bite. Their focus is distinctly on deep, defensible tech with clear routes to exit.

CCG’s alumni include SwiftKey, the predictive typing innovator acquired by Microsoft for $250 million in 2016; Phonetic Arts, snapped up by Google; and Spectral Edge, whose advanced image processing technology caught Apple’s eye. Most recently, Featurespace—another Cambridge-originated startup that battled fraud using AI—was acquired by Visa in a deal valued around $1 billion. With 22 exits under their belt, CCG has an enviable track record to date.

Yet money isn’t everything, and for founders, it’s often CCG’s broader support that stands out. The network offers regular clinics and mentorship from expert members and corporate partners. It’s this quiet dedication to hands-on support that founders repeatedly highlight as invaluable.

“The CCG process is designed in such a way that both the investors and companies have the highest possible opportunity to connect with one another in an informed and productive manner,” remarked the CEO of a 2018 portfolio company.

For ambitious founders launching deep-tech ventures in the UK’s innovation triangle, Cambridge Capital Group represents more than just another funding option. It’s an experienced, supportive network whose collaborative ethos and focused approach have shaped Cambridge’s startup story for over two decades—and continue to do so today.