Kin Capital initialises Cambridge fund

UK-based venture firm Kin Capital yesterday unveiled Cambridge University Ventures SEIS Fund, a new investment vehicle established with undisclosed limited partners to back businesses from University of Cambridge’s ecosystem.
Cambridge University Ventures will back seed rounds with follow-on funding available for the “most promising” companies, while benefiting from UK tax breaks including 50% tax relief under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.
The fund’s investment remit includes companies founded by students and recent graduates.
Also of interest are business models recommended by members of University of Cambridge organisations such as Cambridge Judge Business School and Cambridge University Venture Capital and Private Equity Society.
The vehicle will be advised by Cambridge University Ventures, a newly-founded organisation led by Ayla Selamoglu, chairwoman of Cambridge Venture Capital and Private Equity Society.
Cambridge University Ventures joins existing venture funds in the institution’s ecosystem including co-investment vehicle Cambridge Enterprise Fund, the latest iteration of which was announced last week.
University of Cambridge-linked businesses also enjoy the support of the $360m Cambridge Innovation Capital, as well as Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds, the early-stage subsidiary of tech transfer office Cambridge Enterprise, crowned GUV Investment Unit of the Year in 2019.
Selamoglu said: “If tomorrow a new billion-dollar business is founded in the UK, there is a good chance it will be founded in Cambridge and have strong ties to the university.
“Having harnessed the power of the Cambridge student community to source opportunities, our pool of mentors will be on hand to further screen and select the startups we back.”