Cambridge’s global reputation for science and technology isn’t just built on invention.
Innovation is actively engineered and fine-tuned in the city – and nowhere is this more evident than the Impulse programme, the University of Cambridge’s flagship entrepreneurship initiative.
Impulse curates a limited cohort of around 40 participants a year from all over the world, selected for their technical invention, entrepreneurial potential and societal relevance.
With direct access to investors, IP experts, business coaches, and a global network of peers, these innovators are immersed in an environment designed for rapid learning and real-world outcomes.
What sets Impulse apart from other entrepreneurship programmes is its unique powerhouse of mentors – a richly diverse and multi-disciplinary pool of world-class tech and entrepreneurial legends who know exactly what it takes to translate frontier research into market-defining ventures, and who are all committed to supporting the next generation of science and tech innovators.
These top-tier mentors and principal contributors include:
- Hermann Hauser, co-founder of Arm and Amadeus Capital Partners
- Cobra Beer founder, Lord Karan Bilimoria
- serial entrepreneur/ Analysys and Abcam founder David Cleevely
- chip revolution veteran (and Arm’s first COO), Jamie Urquhart
- seasoned entrepreneur/ Abcodia’s founding CEO & CSO, Julie Barnes
- hugely successful entrepreneur/ technology investor Phil O’Donovan, who co-founded Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd (CSR), growing it into a FTSE 250 company with an annual revenue of $1billion.
Impulse’s mentors co-create, challenge, champion and connect, matching next-generation ambition with experience.
Since inception in 2016, the Impulse programme’s 300 alumni have launched 61 ventures (tackling everything from carbon-neutral fuels to neuro-degenerative diagnostics), created 1,000+ jobs, raised £300M+ in investments and funding, and secured impactful partnerships across health, AI, sustainability, quantum and clean tech.
Over 60% of the programme’s alumni go on to commercialise their ideas, with the majority receiving investment within 12 months of completing the programme.
Previous Impulse alumni include the founders of: Riverlane, Abselion, Nu Quantum , Xampla, Echion Technologies, Wave Photonics, AllFocal Optics (formerly Lark Optics), Semarion, About:Energy.
Applications for Impulse 2026 are open now.
The Round One application deadline is 2 February 2026. Round Two application deadline is 2 March 2026. Fellowships are available for certain technology and research areas.
Find out more here.
