Our start-up portfolio

We've built an incredible production line for start-up companies to bring early-stage technologies out of the research lab and translate them into patient benefit. Our start-up portfolio secures funding from investors around the world who believe in our world class science and the power of partnership.

95+

start-ups formed across therapeutics, diagnostics and medtech

24

start-up exits to date

£3.55bn+

raised by our start-up portfolio

Simon Boulton talking about his company ALTx at the Cancer Research Horizons Investor Networking Breakfast in November 2025

ALTx Therapeutics launches with £12.55m of funding

Portfolio news

Based on the pioneering work of British scientist Simon Boulton, ALTx leverages fundamental insights in cancer cell immortalisation to develop novel treatments for cancer. Spinning out of The Francis Crick Institute, ALTx will be advanced by the Slingshot accelerator in collaboration with the Crick with funding from Syncona, the Crick and our Seed Fund.

How Steve Pollard created the Trojan horse of cancer treatments

A founder's perspective

“I was very lucky that Cancer Research UK supported me with a project grant, realising that these are good model systems.”
Steve Pollard, CSO and founder of Trogenix

Steve Pollard’s research into transcription factors driving brain development has been quite the ride. Now advances in viral gene delivery – and a £70m Series A, including Cancer Research Horizons' largest ever investment – have sent a highly targeted glioblastoma immunotherapy heading toward the clinic.

Learn more