Oxford+

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager is joined by guest Peter Crane, the co-founder and CEO of Caeruleus Genomics, an Oxford University life sciences spin-out.

Peter shares his perspective as both a founder and an investor in Oxford and beyond, and also discusses why he chose to come back to Oxford to found his business, highlighting the city's abundance of great research and academic talent. From this, they consider the challenges and opportunities of building enduring, founder-driven companies in Oxford, including the need for a diverse investor base that supports founders rather than replacing them.

(0:12) Introduction
(0:54) Returning to Oxford
(6:05) Personality Bias and Business Success
(13:06) The Challenges Faced in Oxford
(28:24) Founding Caeruleus Genomics

About the guest:
Peter Crane is the co-founder and CEO of Caeruleus, a tech-enabled biotech company he spun out of Oxford’s Medical Sciences Division in late 2022. The company is founded around foundational work in the single-cell long-read sequencing space, and combines this with the latest machine learning tools to develop differentiated BIC therapies across a range of chronic and rare diseases.  He’s previously worked in both therapeutics and biology-software companies and has also invested as a VC investor in the UK, EU and US into start-ups and spinouts across life-sciences tools, diagnostics, therapeutics, and deep technology companies. He earned a DPhil in Chemical Biology from Oxford and has been involved in the entrepreneurial community here for over 10 years.

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Hosted by Susannah de Jager, our first episode explores the Oxford investing landscape and differences within the Golden Triangle. Guest David Ford shares insights drawn from his experience as a life science angel investor and Non-Executive Director (NED).

David discusses his initial challenges in accessing Oxford's investment scene and suggests how we might reduce barriers. They touch on varying attributes of Oxford, Cambridge, and London ecosystems while addressing the need for larger, global thinking in UK investing. They also consider the importance of network in early-stage biotech investments, the value of having a science background, and ways of efficiently facilitating diverse capital.

(0:12) Introduction
(3:02) Discussing the Golden Triangle
(15:19) Angel Investing with a Science Background
(29:14) The Potential of UK Pension Funds in Investment
(32:12) Oxford Focused Funds

About the guest:
David Ford is an Oxford-based active life sciences angel investor, currently managing and advising an active portfolio of more than 20 companies, variously focused on AI-based drug design, the application of machine learning to systems biology, nanoparticle delivery technology, to name but a few.

David is also a non-executive director on a listed venture capital trust and Alcentra, a specialist sub-investment grade debt fund management business. He has investments in Oxford, Cambridge and London, as well as belonging to angel networks across both Cambridge and Oxford.

Connect with David on LinkedIn

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Oxford+ takes you deep into the myths and truths of the Oxford investing landscape. Join your host, Susannah de Jager, as she interviews investors, influencers, and entrepreneurs who operate within and have an impact on the Oxford ecosystem.

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Raya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.