Cambridge Tech Week Pitch Competition Judging Gets Underway
Applications have now closed for the 2026 Cambridge Tech Week Pitch Competition, and we would like to thank every company that took the time to enter this year's competition.
Sponsored by Mills & Reeve and PwC, the Pitch Competition forms part of Innovation Alley and celebrates the pioneering startups and scaleups developing the next generation of deep technologies.
This year's competition attracted applications from businesses working across artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, health technology, climate technology, advanced engineering and other emerging sectors, highlighting the breadth and strength of innovation taking place across the UK.
Judging is Now Underway
With applications now closed, our independent judging process has officially begun.
An experienced Stage 1 Pre-Judging Panel, made up of investors, innovation specialists and industry experts, is now reviewing every application against a defined set of judging criteria, including innovation, commercial potential, scalability and market impact.
The panel includes:
- Paul Hughes, BDO
- Jamie Bignal, HSBC Innovation Banking
- Mayank Shah, Grow Beyond Borders
- Anne Dobre, Parkwalk Advisors
- Isabelle O'Keeffe, Twin Path Ventures
- Martin, HMGCC
Together, they will identify the companies that progress through to the next stage of the competition.
Thank you to all the applicants and congratulations to those who made it to the long-list for judging:
What Happens Next?
Over the coming weeks, the judging panel will complete its assessments before announcing the Top 20 companies.
From there, just five finalists will be selected to pitch live at Cambridge Tech Week on 16 September, presenting their innovations to a distinguished live judging panel of investors and venture capital leaders.
The overall winner will be crowned during the event, alongside the recipient of the People's Choice Award.
We'd like to thank every company that entered this year's competition. The standard of applications has been exceptionally high, and we're looking forward to revealing the next stage of the competition very soon.