A space to push the boundaries of healthcare
Our Cambridge Business Lounge is backing a new wave of start-ups
Boosting the UK’s global hub for life sciences
When it comes to science, tech and education, Cambridge punches well above its weight.
Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Alan Turing were among the visionaries who studied at its prestigious university, an institution that’s nurtured 125 Nobel Prize winners.
Beyond those hallowed halls, the region is a global hub for life sciences, hosting more than 600 companies from the sector, including world-leading brands changing the lives of millions of patients.
Cambridge is also a start-up super centre, and Deloitte is helping early-stage life sciences businesses to connect, grow and make a difference.
Enabling the unicorns and treatments of tomorrow
Opened in May 2024, Deloitte’s Life Sciences Catalyst Business Lounge celebrated a fantastic first year.
A hotspot where start-ups, scale-ups and established firms can drop in and catch up, its membership is free for businesses in the local life sciences ecosystem. It offers casual working areas and collaboration spaces, as well as private rooms for meetings and presentations.
It’s a place where entrepreneurs can talk to investors and founders can find partners. And with Deloitte hosting industry events and networking sessions, it’s a place where great things can happen.
In its first year, the lounge hosted more than 1,000 meetings and welcomed nearly 300 start-ups, including several focused on preventative medicine – a priority for the NHS over the next decade.
It’s also supporting the ambitions of Innovate Cambridge, the body behind plans to supercharge the impact of the Greater Cambridge area. Its goal? To achieve the same level of innovation in the coming 10 years as the past 25.
“We’re supporting a new generation of unicorns,” says Deloitte South East practice senior partner, Fran Cousins.
“Cambridge has created some of the world’s biggest names in life sciences, and the business lounge can enable the early steps of those that come next.”
“The engagement and energy from our members have exceeded all expectations, and we’re committed to evolving this space to meet the changing needs of our clients and partners.”
Julian Rae, Office Senior Partner, Deloitte Cambridge
Connecting a community
Based at our offices in the heart of the city, this first-of-its-kind space builds on the success of the Deloitte Life Sciences Catalyst. The virtual community links companies with global experts to tackle industry challenges and accelerate innovation.
Now, boosted by the lounge, more businesses can benefit from the region’s thriving ecosystem.
Indegra Therapeutics, which is developing a drug discovery platform to unlock new treatments, is a frequent user. It doesn’t have an office so, for founders Richard Hatley and Simon Macdonald, the lounge is a welcome space for client meetings and somewhere to easily bump into likeminded people.
Another regular is Verinnogen, a start-up that builds handheld tools for cancer research.
“The lounge provides a great environment for productive working, co-working with business partners and colleagues and more formal meetings,” says Verinnogen’s chief technology officer, Mike Irvine.
“During normal working hours, it’s a great place to meet other leaders and establish common interests and challenges.”
A recent visit from a US-based medical innovation expert led to an impromptu roundtable with local companies. And when some couldn’t attend in person, we hosted a webinar to make sure they could join – a reflection of our commitment to collaboration.
From inspiration to action
The lounge’s impact lies in the relationships it’s helped to build and the innovations they could lead to.
Preventative healthcare company RQ Biotechnology engineers antibodies to develop medicines that protect vulnerable patients, including newborn babies and older people.
With a small executive and senior science team scattered in different locations, it uses the space to come together for valuable face-to-face team interaction and to engage with other industry experts.
Other members include clinical-stage biotechnology company Arecor, which is transforming patient care through innovative therapies, and Cambridge NeuroWorks, a consortium of institutions accelerating bold innovation in neurotechnology.
As an Activation Partner of the UK government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), Cambridge Neuroworks is building a vibrant UK-wide neurotechnology community, with programmes that support people by offering funding, space and mentorship to accelerate technologies that tackle brain health challenges.
Looking ahead, we’ll continue to cement the lounge’s role in Cambridge’s remarkable story, connecting the scientists, entrepreneurs and investors enabling people to enjoy healthier futures.
“We’ve seen first hand how physical spaces like the business lounge have helped accelerate innovation in life sciences and beyond,” says Chris Aylott, lead partner for the Deloitte Life Sciences Catalyst.
“We’re excited to continue building this vibrant ecosystem as we enter our second year.”
“Deloitte's Life Sciences Catalyst Business Lounge now feels like home. It’s an ideal location for hot-desking, networking with other biotech entrepreneurs and meeting biotech investors on their way to or from our vibrant ecosystem.
Jason Mellad, Co- Founder and CEO, OtoImmune
