The latest episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast is packed with insights, from major funding news in deep tech to an exciting conversation with Andi Hektor, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at GScan.
This Week’s Headlines
£100m Boost for UK Deep Tech & Life Sciences Cambridge Innovation Capital has launched a £100 million Opportunity Fund to invest in deep tech and life sciences scale-ups, with backing from Aviva Investors and British Patience Capital. The fund’s first investments include Pragmatic Semiconductor and Riverlane, two of the UK’s most exciting tech companies.
“Developing homegrown global technology businesses is a central theme of the government’s plan to create Europe’s Silicon Valley, with Cambridge at its heart.”
Quantum Data Centre Alliance LaunchedLeading players like Cisco and Quantinuum have teamed up to form the Quantum Data Centre Alliance (QDA), focusing on scaling quantum computing infrastructure. The group will explore architecture, standardisation, and interoperability, with an inaugural event planned for 2025.
ARM’s AI Push in IoTARM has unveiled the world’s first ARMv9 AI platform optimised for IoT, boasting a 70% performance boost. With support from AWS, Siemens, and Renesas, this marks a major shift in bringing AI processing power to edge devices.
Interview Spotlight: Andi Hektor, GScan
This week’s special guest, Andi Hektor, takes us on a deep dive into his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, how GScan is tackling critical infrastructure challenges, and why he chose Cambridge as the company’s UK base.
From CERN to Startup Life
Andi started his career in particle physics, working on advanced machine learning (or as it was called back then, “data modelling”) at CERN. His transition to startup life came from a desire to see real-world impact:
“Science is amazing, but in theoretical physics, it can take decades before you see practical applications. I wanted to create something tangible.”
Transforming Construction Safety
GScan is pioneering Muon tomography, an advanced scanning technology originally used for border security but now revolutionising non-destructive testing (NDT) in construction. The technology helps detect corrosion and structural weaknesses in bridges and buildings, preventing costly and environmentally harmful demolitions.
“Bridges are often demolished as a precaution because engineers can’t see inside them. We provide that visibility, potentially doubling their lifespan.”
Why Cambridge?
Initially setting up in London, Andi quickly realised Cambridge’s startup ecosystem was the ideal home for GScan:
“London’s tech scene is great, but for deep tech, it’s easy to get lost. In Cambridge, you can build a network fast. The Bradfield Centre has been amazing.”
What’s Next for GScan?
Scaling in the UK, with National Highways and Network Rail as key clients
Expanding the sales team, including hiring a VP of Sales
Strengthening partnerships with Cambridge University for research collaboration
Continuing fundraising and growing their international footprint
Get Involved
Want to follow GScan’s journey?
Connect with Andi Hektor on LinkedIn
Learn more at GScan’s website
Catch Andi at upcoming tech meetups in Cambridge
To listen and subscribe, search for ‘Cambridge Tech Podcast’ on your favourite podcasting platform or visit cambridgetechpodcast.com.