This Week’s Cambridge Tech News Headlines: AI Optimism, ARM’s Growth & A Startup’s Tough Call
Here are the key highlights from the Cambridge tech ecosystem:
AI Debate: Are We Overly Optimistic? Cambridge Wireless hosted a compelling debate on AI’s long-term impact. The verdict? The audience sided with optimism, believing the benefits will outweigh the risks. However, as James points out: “The industry needs to do a better job of educating the public and shifting the negative media narrative.”
ARM’s Market Surge: UK-based semiconductor giant ARM saw its NASDAQ stock jump 7%, hitting a record market cap of $182 billion—driven by soaring AI demand.
Graphene Innovation: Cambridge startup Paragraf secured a £420k Innovate UK grant to develop graphene-based semiconductor memory, aiming for more energy-efficient computing.
Sad News for Zedify: The pioneering low-carbon delivery startup has entered administration after failing to secure new funding. Despite raising £9 million, the team couldn’t secure the next round, highlighting the challenges of scaling ventures.
New UK Trade Envoy: George Freeman has been appointed to represent the UK in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei, strengthening trade ties for East of England businesses.
Orcascan’s New Tool: A barcode label designer is simplifying barcode creation for businesses of all sizes, integrating with major printers and requiring no specialist knowledge.
21 to Watch Shortlist: A diverse lineup of Cambridge’s rising startups is competing for the 21 to Watch awards, with a strong presence from the biotech sector.
Founder Spotlight: From Smart Glasses to Fixing Our Focus
This week, Faye and James caught up with Farbod Shakouri of Phantom Technology, a returning guest who’s undergone a significant pivot in his startup’s journey. Originally focused on building an operating system for smart glasses, Farbod and his team made a bold decision: to build the entire hardware and software stack themselves.
Their mission? To help people combat smartphone addiction and improve cognitive health.
The Pivot: Why Less Tech is More
Finding the Real Problem: “AI in wearables is often a ‘nice-to-have’—we wanted to solve a real pain point.” Instead of overloading smart glasses with unnecessary tech, they identified a niche: biosensing to track focus.
Tracking Attention, Not Selling It: Unlike social media giants who monetise attention, their product helps users understand and improve their focus.
No Displays, No Distractions: “We realised that people won’t adopt smart glasses unless they look and feel like regular glasses.” By stripping away unnecessary features, they’ve created a lightweight, stylish device that’s all about personal improvement.
How It Works: Gamifying Focus
The glasses track eye movements to detect different types of focus:
Reading = Sustained Attention
Cooking = Divided Attention
Walking = Creativity Boost
Rather than nagging users to stop doom-scrolling, the product rewards good habits. “People don’t like being told what NOT to do. They prefer being rewarded for doing the right thing.”
What’s Next? Fundraising & Distribution
Farbod’s company is in production mode, with first shipments expected by late March 2025. They’re currently raising a mini funding round before launching a full seed round later in the year. They’ve also secured an exciting distribution trial in Europe, where eyewear is predominantly sold.
“Most glasses are bought within 30 minutes of an eye exam—so positioning ourselves in optical stores is key.”
Why You Should Listen
If you’re a founder, investor, or tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on:
✅ The evolving AI debate & public perception
✅ How Cambridge startups are tackling energy-efficient computing
✅ The hard truths of startup pivots & funding strategies
✅ Why attention-tracking wearables might be the next big thing
🎧 Listen now to the full episode and subscribe to the Cambridge Tech Podcast for more deep dives into innovation and entrepreneurship!
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