A new Cambridge Enterprise initiative called Leaps is launching to embed Cambridge-based companies in leading ecosystems, giving selected founders access to new markets, talent and investment in key geographical hotspots to enable their success.

London is the first landing spot chosen by Cambridge Enterprise, having been recognised in Dealroom’s annual Global Tech Ecosystem report as Europe’s top-performing city in AI, FinTech and life sciences, and fourth globally.

The initiative has been launched in collaboration with global partners Phoenix Court, Balderton Capital and the BioInnovation Institute Foundation (BII). With space for three companies, the London Leap will allow Cambridge startups to be embedded within the dynamic London ecosystem, which attracts not only international capital, but has a reputation for continued unicorn creation.

With Cambridge being ranked as one of the world’s top cities for innovation output per capita in Dealroom’s latest Ecosystem Index, behind only the Bay Area and Boston, the initiative will tangibly connect two powerful and complementary ecosystems. The aim is to help Cambridge-born companies turn world-renowned research from the University of Cambridge into globally significant businesses, addressing challenges ranging from climate and healthcare to quantum computing.

Companies will be invited to apply and chosen on a competitive basis by the Leap partners and an advisory board formed by investors and serial entrepreneurs with a global presence. Among them are Susan Hill, CEO of Mestag Therapeutics, Daniel Mahony, Senior Partner at Novo Holdings UK, Lord David Prior, Deputy Chairman UK and Global Senior Advisor at Lazard, Dr Bobby Yerramilli-Rao, Chief Strategy Officer at Microsoft and Dr Kaja Wasik, CEO of Echo Labs.