Technology Investment Fund Launched by Eight Cambridge Scientists
£100 Million raised in the Ahren Fund for Technological Research​

Kiran Suain,  Nottingham 7/11/18

Current Affairs Society, University of Nottingham

Eight scientists from Cambridge have been brought together by Alice Newcome-Ellis to form a co-founding partnership for the boosting and investment of technology start-ups in the UK. This partnership is what has come to be known as the Ahren Fund.
Each partner will hold an active role in running the fund and will share his or her knowledge with the rest of them.

The Ahren Innovation Capital has raised a total of £100 Million from several investors.

Ahren’s investment will focus on:
​

• The Brain and Artificial Intelligence
• Genetics and Biotechnology
• Space and Robotics

The first investment Ahren Innovation Capital has made is a $10 million stake in Cambridge Epigenetix. The mission statement of Cambridge Epigenetix is to “change the way medicine is practised by reducing several routine and important diagnostic screening tests to a simple blood draw using the power of the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) epigenetic modification.”

This research in epigenetics is vital, and has the potential to enhance human health in a variety of different sectors including:

• Oncology
• Cardiovascular
• Neurology
• Immunology
• Reproductive health

The research conducted by Cambridge Epigenetix in diagnostic development, therapeutics and novel research tools could lead to more accurate and earlier diagnosis across the health care spectrum. Additionally, within the heath care setting there is scope for numerous other benefits to the patient and health care professionals within the field to be found. The $10M investment by the Ahren Fund’s in Cambridge Epigenetix will enable their pioneering research to be continued and further explored.

​The Ahren Fund is considering many future investments within the sector of innovation. This may include fields such as quantum technology – involving artificially intelligent software to be embedded into machine learning that can be interpreted by consumers. These investments will prove very interesting as technology develops and as research conducted uncovers more areas for further study.

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