Explorative AI for decisions with no precedent
University of OxfordUniversities
We go to the research.
We work with tech transfer offices, innovation teams and research groups across the UK and Ireland: in residence on university accelerators, on review panels and at investor days, talking to researchers about what investors look for, and backing spin-outs from pre-seed.
01How we work with you
Early, and on your side of the table.
We would rather meet a research group years before it raises than the week it does.
Tech transfer & innovation officesInvestor days, venture review panels, and an investor's view of what makes a spin-out ready to back.
Research groupsWe come to you and talk to researchers about what investors look for, long before anyone is raising.
Accelerators & programmesInvestor in Residence, review panels and investor sessions on university AI programmes in the UK and Ireland.
Founders spinning outInvestment from pre-seed: a £/€500k–1m first cheque, lead, co-lead or join, with follow-on through Series A.
02Spin-outs we’ve backed
From the lab to the market.
University spin-outs in our portfolio, from Oxford to Newcastle and Dublin, alongside VividQ, a Cambridge startup.
AI that reads dental X-rays beside the dentist
King's College London & University of Surrey
Logic-based AI that runs without GPUs
Newcastle University
Mirror SecurityEncryption for AI inference
University College Dublin
Computational holography
A Cambridge startup
Volumetric capture of real people
Trinity College Dublin03Our people in universities
We’ve sat on both sides.
The SVV team members you will meet in universities, and the roles they hold there.
Barry DownesManaging PartnerFormer CEO of the Walton Institute (previously TSSG), an internationally recognised research and innovation institute.
Hunter MoorePrincipalInvestor in Residence on the University of Edinburgh AI Accelerator. Leads our university outreach.
DC CahalaneVenture PartnerA regular guest lecturer at universities.
Saurabh KumarPrincipalAt NovaUCD investor days and showcases.04Programmes
Where you’ll find us.
AI SuperConnectorLed by Imperial College London with York, Leeds and Liverpool. Barry has sat on its venture review panel, and we hosted an investor lunch for its AI researchers in Leeds.
University of Edinburgh AI AcceleratorHunter Moore is Investor in Residence for the current cohort at the Bayes Centre.
NovaUCDInvestor days and AI accelerator showcases at University College Dublin.
05Talks & events
In the room with researchers.
University talks and events, upcoming first. All our events →
Coming up
- Panel · Brighton · HunterFLIRT ConferenceA panel on university spin-outs→
- Attending · London · HunterBarclays Demo Day: Best of Universities, Barclays, 1 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf→
- Attending · London · HunterImperial Venture Catalyst Challenge: Alumni & Facilitators Reception, The Gore Hotel, South Kensington→
- Attending · London · HunterImperial Venture Catalyst Challenge 2026: Grand Final, City & Guilds Building, Imperial College London→
- Attending · Dublin · SaurabhNovaUCD AI Accelerator Showcase, NovaUCDAttending as an invited investor, 10:00 to 13:00↗
- Attending · London · HunterKing's AI Summit: Agents of Science, London Institute for Healthcare Engineering→
- Speaking · Waterford · BarryNational Partner Opportunity Platform, South East Technological UniversityGuest speaker on AI and what VCs want, at the fifth national event where university researchers meet industry partners→
- Attending · London · HunterSETsquared Investment Futures Showcase, CodeNode, 10 South Place→
- Attending · London · JayUCL Innovating Ideas Demo Day: pitching showcase and networking↗
Recently
- Guest · London · HunterUniversity of Edinburgh AI Accelerator: London tripTwo days in London for the accelerator's tenth cohort, including an investor breakfast, with SVV among the mentors, speakers and investors→
- Fireside chat · London · BarryUK Private Capital Accelerate, Ham Yard HotelTurning Research into Returns: Turbocharging Spinouts and the UK Research Base→
- Speaking · London · BarryWhat VCs Really Look For, Imperial College London, Translation & Innovation HubWhat VCs really look for, for founders on Imperial's CODE Tech Founders programme→
06Sessions we run
Ask us to come and talk.
For researchers, a tech transfer team or an accelerator cohort. Pick a topic, or tell us what your group needs.
What VCs really look forDemystifying venture capitalInvestment readinessValuationTerm sheets decodedDue diligenceThe pitchOther ways to fundSector trendsBoards after investmentExit planning
07Get in touch
Tell us what you’re working on.
@Other ways to reach usEmail
Spinning out and ready to raise?
Send us your plan. Our team reads every pitch, and we reply to every founder within three working days. Pitch SVV →
Our offices
London, Dublin, Manchester, Cork and Waterford.
Early is better.
We would like to meet your researchers long before there’s a round to raise. Tell us what you’re working on, or ask us to come and talk.