We are delighted to introduce this year’s winners and their ventures –
£100,000 – SwiftCas Diagnostics
We have developed simple, fast diagnostic tests that use CRISPR programmable nuclease technology to identify infections caused by a wide range of infectious agents, especially bacteria. Our approach can be easily adapted to detect different diseases, making it highly flexible. CRISPR diagnostic tests are accurate, affordable, and rapid. These tests will help doctors diagnose infections and make informed treatment decisions within hours of assessing a patient, rather than after waiting several days for results. By speeding up diagnosis and improving precision, our technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare burden and limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics.
£75,000 – Monoblast Therapeutics
We are developing a first-in-class targeted therapy for Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CMML), a rare blood cancer with no effective treatments and a median survival of 18–24 months. Our approach uses novel compounds conjugated to CCL2, a protein selectively taken up by disease-causing cells in CMML. Recent findings show that our third-generation CCL2-STING conjugates trigger rapid cell death in CMML monocytes, offering potential for superior efficacy and safety margin. Targeting a ~$1Bn market with broader immuno-oncology potential, we aim to seek partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to advance these therapies with the aim of providing transformational therapy to CMML patients.
£75,000 – Fibrametric (The CMSPI Future Technologies Prize)
Every time we wash and wear our clothes, microscopic fibres are released into the environment carrying harmful chemicals including heavy metals and persistent pollutants, yet there is no standard way to monitor fibre release. We are developing an automated microfibre testing platform for textile laboratories that combines advanced imaging with repeatable analysis to accurately measure and understand fibre release. Designed to integrate directly into existing textile testing workflows, this system enables manufacturers, researchers and regulators to generate comparable evidence, support emerging standards and accelerate the development of lower-polluting textile products.
£50,000 – Grid Stability
Grid Stability Monitor (GSM) is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered solution that supports stable and secure operation of electrical power systems. As renewable generation and low-carbon technologies continue to grow to achieve decarbonisation targets, existing assessment tools struggle to evaluate network stability risks quickly enough across the huge number of possible operating conditions/contingencies. GSM enables rapid stability assessment and better understanding of potential hidden underlying risks, supporting economical, on-demand procurement of stability services where and when needed. This unlocks effective use of low carbon technologies, thereby overcoming a substantial barrier to decarbonising our energy use, while keeping the lights on.
£50,000 – RadioVision
Commercial drones increasingly exploit 4G/5G networks for long-range operations, exposing a critical security gap that traditional countermeasures miss. Our technology overcomes this challenge, leveraging advanced radio sensing with AI to passively analyse cellular network signalling—without touching user data. This allows us to instantly identify, and track network-connected drones disguised as regular mobile users for illegal activities. The system enables rapid global deployment to monitor any 4G/5G network, delivering robust, proactive protection against next-generation aerial threats to secure critical infrastructure and airspace.
These successful ventures will join a community of former winners, who have used their funding to deliver real-world impact. Alexander Stokes was one of last year’s winners as part of the Imprinted Diagnostics team – a University of Manchester spinout working to improve the accuracy of diagnoses for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. Imprinted Diagnostics is now raising seed funding to support its next stage of growth and impact.
“The University of Manchester is a public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester City Centre on Oxford Road.”
Please visit the firm link to site
