Are academic founders the UK’s biggest hope?

30 Sept 2026
Stage 2
Stage 2
The UK's academic expertise is spread up and down the country, but the value driven by its university spinout base is still largely concentrated in the Golden Triangle. This panel will get into what's holding academics back from spinning out, what it will take to unlock more value outside Oxford, Cambridge and London, and why spinouts might be the UK's best shot at cashing in on Europe's deeptech boom.
Speakers
Riam Kanso
Riam Kanso, Founder and CEO - Conception X
Jack Edmondson
Jack Edmondson, Chief Investment Officer - Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE)
Tom Adeyoola
Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair - Innovate UK
Giorgia Longobardi
Giorgia Longobardi, Founder and CMO - Cambridge GaN Devices Ltd
Tom Nugent
Tom Nugent, Managing Editor - Sifted