CAMentrepreneurs Newsletter June 2025
Richard Lucas
Interview & forthcoming events:
Introduction
This newsletter has news of our forthcoming events in Athens, Cambridge, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, and Munich
We’ve been busy with events in Berne, Boston, Cambridge, London, Oxford, Paris and Taipei.
We also have an interview with Annur Ababil - founder of Oxbridge Fellowship programme.
Events
June London
Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:30 - 22:00
The Raven Tower Bridge 218 Tower Bridge Road London SE1 2UP
Investor Insights: Fueling Startup Journeys
About this event
Investor Insights: Fueling Startup Journeys
Join us at The Raven Tower Bridge for an evening of valuable insights and networking opportunities. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur/investor or just starting out, this event is perfect for gaining insights into the world of startups.
Learn from industry experts and successful entrepreneurs as they share their experiences and tips for fueling startup success.
Engage with our panel and fellow attendees over Q&A and network afterwards
A complimentary drink and nibbles is included in the ticket price.
Don't miss this chance to connect with like-minded individuals and take your investment journey to the next level!
Panellists
We have four experienced entrepreneurs who share their journeys as investors and entrepreneurs.
Carmel Rafaeli, Angel Investor and Founding Partner - The Table: Carmel is an investor and advisor in climate ventures with 15+ years experience as an entrepreneur. Carmel has also just been nominated for UKBAA Angel Investor of the year !
Angelos Pampos, Managing Partner, Pampos Ventures: Angelos has invested in over thirty ventures, with an interest in education, healthcare and sustainability
Matthew Addison, CEO of startup StepLadder UK: StepLadder UK is a venture backed by Anthemis, Seedcamp, UK FutureFund and Zinc. Matthew has also recently started as the board member of Doctor Care Anywhere.
Rafael Lajeunesse, CEO and Founder ReachX: ReachX, Rafael's venture, provides investment banking services to top institutions in the world including the top 50 PE firms, Private Debt firms, banks and growth companies.
Organised by
CAMentrepreneurs, Penn & Wharton UK Alumni Clubs
Tickets here (GBP 15)
July Hong Kong
Thursday 3 July 2025 6.00pm - 9.00pm
CAMentrepreneurs: Networking and Discussion Event
The Oxford-Cambridge Alumni Entrepreneurs Society (OCAES), in partnership with British Consulate Hong Kong, will host an exclusive networking and discussion event addressing challenges and solutions for businesses and professionals amid escalating US-China trade tensions. The event will convene entrepreneurs, investors, and cross-border specialists (legal, accounting, finance) to explore actionable strategies under current tariff regimes.
6 to 6:15pm: Registration & Welcome
6:15 to 7:15pm: Panel Discussions "Navigating Cross-Border Business In the New Era Legal strategies for tariff mitigation and supply chain resilience Financial tools for risk hedging and capital flow optimisation Case studies from UK-Asia entrepreneurs"
7:15 to 9pm: Networking Reception (Drinks & canapés)
Booking information
Location
British Consulate General 1 Supreme Court Road Admiralty Hong Kong S.A.R., China
Save the date
As well as these existing events, CAMentrepreneurs have launch events planned in three new countries
21-Jul Oxbridge A! Mixer London
9th September Athens Launch led by Victoria Kimonides & Richard Lucas Date likely but subject to confirmation
23rd September Munich Launch led by Ian Walker & Richard Lucas
25th September London Crick Science Entrepreneur Networ Fireside chat + networking
3rd October Cambridge Regional Innovation Day , West Hub Cambridge tbc but we hope to do a mixer after a day long workshop to help health care researchers engage with the entreprenuership eco system in Cambridge
20th October Kuala Lumpur Launch led by Karol Szlichcinski & Richard Lucas
22nd October London Business School Founder pitches
19th November HEC UK Founder pitches
10th December Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) Demo night
Interview with Annur Ababil - founder of Oxbridge Fellowship programme
Please introduce yourself, your background. any businesses/projects you are involved in, and why you started the Oxbridge Fellowship programme
Annur: Hi I am Ababil, A cambridge masters student originally from Bangladesh, now living in Cambridge. Previously I started two companies, an E-commerce beauty company and a fintech company. While scaling the startups I saw first hand how difficult it is to raise funds and get mentorship. That's when I started my career in VC. Being in Cambridge as well, gave me the edge of this vibrant startup ecosystem and be part of the fundraising journey of the startups from this ecosystem. As of now I am working with a few american syndicate funds and a specialised fund based in Cambridge to invest in the next generation startups from these ecosystems. I am also part of CUTEC, where the organisation scales and supports the tech startups based in Cambridge.
The Oxbridge fellowship came from a simple idea of why the UK is not a good destination to build?There are resources, there is funding and there are so many government schemes as well but why people don't know about it? A simple marketing post wouldn't help, it needs an insider overview, thus we thought why don't we bring talent, investors, founders, innovators from around the world to oxford-cambridge-london to show them the ecosystem.
Richard: What is the vision for Oxbridge Fellowship programme . What problems is it aiming to solve?
Annur: The vision of the Oxbridge Fellowship is to position Oxford, Cambridge, and London as a unified global innovation hub — the “Next Silicon Valley” — by bridging founders, investors, and institutions from East and West.It aims to solve key problems: limited access to elite UK startup ecosystems, fragmented global innovation dialogue, complexity in UK market entry, passive startup education, and unstructured networking. Through curated site visits, hands-on workshops, and high-impact connections, the Fellowship delivers deep ecosystem access in just six days.
Richard: You’ve been involved in other community activities, like CUTEC, maybe other. Please tell us more and attracts you to this type of scene in general ?
Annur:
I’ve been actively involved in communities like CUTEC (Cambridge University Technology and Enterprise Club), where I currently serve as VP of Outreach. Through CUTEC, I’ve helped connect high-potential startups with leading VCs, co-produced the CUTEC Podcast, and led initiatives like AI Demo Day and a new mentorship network.
What draws me to this scene is the energy of people building things from scratch, the intellectual depth of conversations, and the openness to collaborate across disciplines and regions. I’m naturally drawn to ecosystems where curiosity, ambition, and execution meet — and where I can contribute by connecting people, ideas, and resources to accelerate innovation.
Richard: There are many entrepreneurship programmes for groups, and entrepreneurial communities: What makes your project different ?
Annur: What makes the Oxbridge Fellowship different is that it’s not just another entrepreneurship programme — it’s a curated, on-the-ground experience of the UK’s leading innovation hubs, powered by NatWest Accelerator, Google, and various university innovation labs and accelerators.
Unlike most programmes that focus on theory or surface-level networking, we offer direct ecosystem access, hands-on workshops, and high-impact sessions with real founders, investors, and startup leaders. For example, instead of just talks, participants take part in practical sessions like 2-hour hackathons using tools like Vibe to build MVPs, helping them go from idea to execution quickly.
What truly sets us apart is the ongoing support structure. If a fellow decides to scale or build in the UK, we provide a fast-track network — from investors to accelerators and legal advisors — making the transition smoother, faster, and more impactful.
Richard: What are the main challenges?
Annur: One of the main challenges is balancing global accessibility with local depth — we’re working with international founders who often have limited time, so condensing a meaningful UK ecosystem experience into six days without making it superficial is a constant challenge.Another challenge is ensuring long-term impact beyond the fellowship. We don’t want this to be just a one-off event, so we’re investing in alumni networks, ongoing mentorship, and fast-track pathways for those who want to move to the UK to build or scale.Lastly, as we partner with major players like NatWest Accelerator, Google, and innovation labs, maintaining the right balance between structure and flexibility — making the programme personal, practical, and high-value for each fellow — is a challenge we embrace head-on.
Richard: What is the target number of participants. How many do you need to get to make it viable?
Annur:The target number of participants is 20, which allows for meaningful interactions and a high-quality experience.
To make the programme impactful, we aim to bring together a balanced mix of founders, investors, innovators, and emerging talent. This diversity is key — it ensures rich discussions, valuable peer learning, and strong collaborative opportunities throughout the fellowship.
Richard: Can you share a bit about the finances? What are the main costs? Do you expect to make money? What are your main revenue sources? Are there any sponsors who you want to thank?
Annur: We’ve designed the Oxbridge Fellowship to be a sustainable and selective programme — built for founders, investors, innovators, and entrepreneurial talent who genuinely want to engage with the UK’s innovation ecosystem.While we explored sponsorships early on and received strong non-financial support from partners like Google, NatWest Accelerator, and several innovation labs, we found that relying solely on sponsorships made the programme vulnerable to delays and uncertainty. Running a programme of this calibre purely on favours or goodwill doesn’t always work — especially when the goal is to consistently bridge Eastern and Western ecosystems at the highest level.That’s why we’ve chosen to introduce a minimal tuition fee, designed only to cover core operational costs such as venues, workshops, logistics, and ongoing community support. This model ensures that the programme remains independent, resilient, and uninterrupted, regardless of external factors — and most importantly, it stays founder-focused and mission-driven
Richard: Moving onto marketing, how do you make sure that people know about your website, and get the word out so that people who might be interested get to hear about events, or list them know you exist.?
Annur:Our marketing strategy is built around community-led growth and targeted visibility. Rather than mass outreach, we focus on reaching the right people — founders, investors, and innovators who are actively shaping or entering the startup space.
We do this through:
Strategic partnerships with accelerators, university clubs (like CUTEC), and ecosystem builders
Co-branded posts with partners like NatWest Accelerator, Google, and innovation labs to tap into trusted audiences
Social media storytelling, especially on LinkedIn, where we share fellow journeys, key moments, and behind-the-scenes content
Word of mouth and curated WhatsApp groups, which have been surprisingly powerful for global founder networks
A clean, informative website and application portal, shared through our partner networks and innovation communities
Rather than trying to reach everyone, we’re building credibility and awareness in circles that matter — so those who truly belong in this ecosystem know we exist, and want to be part of it.
Richard: What are your entry standards/quality control over participants and mentors ?
Annur: We keep the Oxbridge Fellowship highly curated, with a focus on quality over quantity.
For participants, we assess:
Clarity of intent — why they want to join and what they hope to build
Entrepreneurial drive — whether they’re founders, early-stage operators, or innovators with a strong bias toward action
Diversity of perspective — we intentionally select a global mix to enable peer learning and cultural exchange
Commitment to contribute — not just take from the ecosystem, but give back through engagement and collaboration
For mentors and speakers, we ensure:
They’ve either built, funded, or supported startups at scale
They have a hands-on mindset, offering actionable advice, not just inspiration
There’s alignment with our mission — bridging East and West through real ecosystem knowledge and access
By keeping the cohort small (around 20 people), we maintain tight control over quality, ensure meaningful interactions, and protect the integrity of the experience.
Richard: How do you assess the Oxford and Cambridge business and startup ecosystem. What’s going well and what still needs improvement.?
Annur: The Oxford and Cambridge startup ecosystems are among the most intellectually rich and globally respected in the world. With world-leading universities at their core, both cities have strong research-to-commercialisation pipelines, especially in deep tech, biotech, and AI. Initiatives like Oxford University Innovation, Cambridge Enterprise, and various university-linked accelerators have made it easier for academic breakthroughs to translate into real ventures. There's also growing support from early-stage investors, a vibrant student founder community, and increasing international collaboration.
However, challenges remain. Access to follow-on funding beyond seed rounds is still a hurdle for many startups, especially those looking to scale globally. The ecosystem, while strong, can feel fragmented — with accelerators, labs, and networks often operating in silos rather than as one cohesive unit. There's also a need to expand the ecosystem’s reach beyond the academic elite, ensuring more diversity and inclusion for founders from different backgrounds or countries. The Oxbridge Fellowship aims to address some of these gaps by making the ecosystem more accessible, connected, and navigable for top global talent.
Richard: What advice would you give someone who has recently arrived in Oxford or Cambridge, is interested in entrepreneurship and doesn't know who to talk to or where to get started?
Annur: If you've just arrived in Oxford or Cambridge and you're interested in entrepreneurship, the best advice is: start by showing up. These ecosystems can feel overwhelming at first, but they’re incredibly open to people who take initiative.
Begin with university-led spaces like the Oxford Foundry, Cambridge Judge Business School, and Cambridge Enterprise — all of which host regular workshops, talks, and founder-focused events. Student-led communities such as CUTEC, Oxford Entrepreneurs, and CAMentrepreneurs are also great entry points. They often organise pitch nights, hackathons, fireside chats, and socials where you can meet like-minded people at various stages of the startup journey.
Don’t wait until you have the perfect idea or team — just start attending events, reaching out to people, asking questions, and getting involved. Even volunteering or helping out at events can quickly plug you into the community. The earlier you immerse yourself, the faster you’ll find collaborators, mentors, and a direction.
Richard: How can people get in touch with you if they want to ask more questions?
Annur: Anyone can email at hi@e2w.global.com anytime, e2w is our management partner of thai program who is helping with managing the whole program. And anyone can reach out through officially oxbridge fellowship linkedin, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/oxbridge-fellowship_oxbridge-fellowship-is-live-think-cambridge-activity-7332053074951163904-3T5f?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACSzsBgBf0B8RvaR-D9NBi3L3FLGOvmIINU and our instagram https://www.instagram.com/oxbridgefellowship?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Richard: Anything I didn’t ask that you want to share?
Annur: One thing worth sharing is that the Oxbridge Fellowship is more than just a programme — it's part of a broader mission to redefine what cross-border innovation looks like. We’re not just showcasing the UK ecosystem; we’re building a bridge between East and West, between talent and opportunity, and between ambition and execution.We believe that the next wave of global founders won’t come from just one region or background — they’ll come from everywhere. Our goal is to help them find the right platform, community, and access to build boldly and scale globally. If that resonates with you, this isn’t just a fellowship — it’s a starting point for something much bigger.
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