Cambridge Temperature Concepts Limited Wireless Discovering Start-Ups Winner Goes on to Global Success
CTC, founded by a group of scientists from the University of Cambridge, has developed a non-invasive DuoFertility fertility monitor to help couples start their families. It uses a wireless patch that measures physiology 20,000 times a day and transmits the results for expert analysis and advice. In a study of 99 patients who qualified for IVF treatment for unexplained infertility, DuoFertility has already shown to be equally effective as IVF in achieving pregnancy.
The six Qprize finalists representing China, Europe, India, Israel, Korea and North America now proceed to the final round of competition at the prestigious DEMO Spring 2011 event in California, to compete for the Grand Prize of an additional US$150,000 in venture financing.
CTC’s involvement in the Qualcomm competition came as a direct result of entering the Discovering Start-Ups competition run by Cambridge Wireless and supported by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). “We were delighted to win the Discovering Start-Ups competition and it was one of the judges, Frederic Rombaut, Head of Qualcomm Ventures for Europe, who encouraged us to enter the QPrize,” explained Dr. Shamus Husheer, CEO at Cambridge Temperature Concepts. “To be selected for the final from the whole of Europe is incredible for our CTC team and also reflects the strength of world leading research and innovation coming out of Cambridge.”
“The future of our industry relies on entrepreneurs to take risks and do what others have not done before to turn innovative ideas into reality,” said Nagraj Kashyap, vice president of Qualcomm Ventures. “This year, we expanded QPrize from four to six regions through the addition of Israel and Korea, and the level of creativity and vision from the finalists really exceeded our expectations. Congratulations to these companies on their impressive accomplishments in the competition.”
“We are delighted that CTC continues to go from strength to strength and is gaining International recognition,” said David Cleevely, chairman of Cambridge Wireless. “Discovering Start-Ups was designed to provide a platform for new technology businesses and many of the other finalists from last year’s initiative have also benefited from taking part in addition to the recognition and prize money. We all wish Shamus and his team every success in the final and we hope that CTC’s experience will encourage more entrepreneurs and new companies to enter Discovering Start-Ups 2011.”
CTC along with the other winners of Discovering Start-Ups 2010 - Augmentra, MagicSolver, OXEMS (Oxford Electromagnetic Solutions) and PneumaCare - will also be presenting at the Innovation Hothouse during the Cambridge Wireless, Future of Wireless International Conference in June.
Additional details on regional finalists and the Grand Prize event are available at www.qprize.com. Qualcomm is the world leader in 3G and next-generation mobile technologies that are powering the convergence of mobile communications and consumer electronics, making wireless devices and services more personal, affordable and accessible to people everywhere. www.qualcomm.com
About Cambridge Wireless
Cambridge Wireless is a leading industry forum and vibrant community with a rapidly expanding network of companies actively involved in the development and application of wireless technologies. In addition to high level networking dinners, educational events and business development activities, Cambridge Wireless runs an annual Future of Wireless International Conference along with the Discovering Start-Ups initiative to support emerging, innovative wireless companies.
Over 15 Special Interest Groups focused on specific technologies and market sectors, also provide opportunities for members to meet, form partnerships to exploit new commercial opportunities, and share knowledge and information about the latest industry trends and hot topics. Cambridge Wireless has partnerships with other leading industry clusters and organisations around the world to extend its international reach and to keep members up to date with the latest global developments and business opportunities. For more information, please visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk
The Discovering Start-Ups competition and initiative is run by Cambridge Wireless and supported by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to showcase the next generation of wireless technology companies. Budding entrepreneurs have the opportunity to win cash prizes and also get the chance to pitch their technologies and business plans to the likes of Google, Microsoft, Orange and Vodafone along with some of the world’s leading angel and VC investors. Discovering Start-Ups 2011 will be open to entrants later this year.
About the East of England Development Agency
EEDA has a clear mission - to improve the economy of the East of England. So whether it’s helping businesses through the recession, supporting people to be the best they can or breathing new life into places, everything comes back to EEDA’s mission statement. EEDA works across the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. EEDA investment decisions have a track record of delivering considerable returns.
A recent independent report found that for every £1 EEDA spent, it generated a mid-point return of £4.75 for the region's economy. Visit www.eeda.org.uk to find out more.
About Cambridge Temperature Concepts
Cambridge Temperature Concepts Limited (CTC) has developed a new kind of wireless physiological monitor, which measures body temperature, heat flow and movement with unprecedented resolution. The first application (DuoFertility) is in conception assistance for couples suffering infertility, however work is underway in areas as diverse as sleep quality monitoring, hypoglycemia detection, infection control and a range of veterinary applications. DuoFertility is a non-invasive, easy-to-use female fertility monitor. It is the most natural, convenient, and precise way of maximising the chances of getting pregnant. Further information is available at www.duofertility.com.
CTC was founded by graduate students at the University of Cambridge in, winning business competitions at collegiate, university, regional and national levels prior to Angel funding. Less than 18 months later, the DuoFertility product had progressed from sheet-of-paper through medical device approvals, production prototype, Europe-wide trial, and had gained first direct-to-consumer sales.
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