Cambridge’s innovation ecosystem is one of the most successful in the world - home to the world’s highest concentration of academic entrepreneurs and 24 ‘Unicorns’ – with a bold ambition for further growth.

But this growth must not deepen inequality, nor undermine support for Cambridge’s innovation strategy.

The Cambridge Pledge is our response to this need.

It will help address the region’s most pressing challenges – for example, radically reshaping children’s homes, improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, or helping to end homelessness – achieving real impact by nurturing innovation and offering long-term funding. 

The Cambridge Pledge will principally deploy capital through social impact investments - made to maximise social impact (alongside a modest financial return).

This will see Cambridge leading the way in social innovation, alongside our world-leading tech and life sciences innovation.

The Cambridge Pledge will also make grants to compliment the investment thesis; or where social investment is not appropriate, supporting to businesses, organisations and people to develop their ideas and grow their impact, with communities driving decision-making.

We launched at this year’s Innovate Cambridge Summit.

Cambridge innovation could generate nearly £100 millionfor the Pledge by 2031