Unearthing Cambridge’s young innovators

Speakers at the event included Stan Karpenko, Founder and CEO, Give Vision, the start–up whose game changing software enables smart glasses to act as eyes for blind people; Steve Marsh, Founder and CEO, GeoSpock Ltd, a leader in creating databases for handling extreme scale up data in real time; Vishal Chatrath, former Chief Business Officer, VocalIQ, the speech-based artificial intelligence start-up; and David Excell, Co-Founder and CTO, Featurespace, a world leader in Adaptive Behavioural Analytics for fraud and risk management.

In a panel session chaired by Collette Johnson, Director, Medical, Plextek Consulting, speakers and delegates debated the realities of creating successful start-ups, building a team, raising money, and developing and launching world changing products and services.

‘There is often so much more insight to be gained from hearing about what went wrong during the early days of a successful company than what went right,’ said Collette Johnson. ‘It was therefore refreshing to be part of an event that allowed the speakers to really open up and discuss how they failed fast and moved on as well as built around them a team of like-minded individuals who shared their vision for the business.’

Innovative demos showcasing what inspiring entrepreneurs and some more established companies around Cambridge are working on today were on display during networking and refreshment breaks, including exhibitions of the Oculus Rift from Cambridge Consultants and the AscTec Falcon 8 drone from Anthill Drones.

“We want to be a network that appeals not just to industry leaders but also to the next gen of technology engineers and entrepreneurs,” said Abhi Naha, Head of Business Development and Marketing, CW. “CW Unplugged is the first in a long line of dynamic events and activities that encourage young innovators to share knowledge and network.”