Imperial has its own investment funds to support innovative spinouts. 

One possible source of investment for your spinout are the Imperial College Enterprise Funds (ICEF). These were created to invest in startup companies that have a strong connection to Imperial – those founded by students, staff members or alumni, or which have engaged extensively with our enterprise ecosystem.  

The College works with an FCA-regulated fund manager, Parkwalk, to manage the funds. Parkwalk specialises in investing in science-based companies coming out of UK universities and research institutions that have the potential for high growth.  

Imperial College Enterprise Funds make individual investment decisions like many other investors – opportunities are developed and then presented to an Investment Committee, which takes the final decision on whether or not to invest. Your spinout will be eligible to be considered for ICEF investment due to its close connection with Imperial, but you are not obliged to work with the fund. 

Two funds have been raised to date – ICEF 1 and ICEF 2.  

ICEF 1 launched in 2021 (‘Imperial College Innovation Fund I’), and invested in startups including:  

• FreshCheck Limited, a startup co-founded by an Imperial alumnus, which uses colour-change technology to highlight contamination for markets such as food, hospitality and healthcare  
• GripAble Limited, a company formed by two Imperial researchers that is developing a digital platform that incorporates hand-held sensors, software and data services to support rehabilitation for patients with arm weakness 
• Charco Neurotech, founded by an Innovation Design Engineering master’s student, which is developing a medical device word on the chest to help alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

ICEF 2 completed investment in May 2023. It invested in Imperial-founded startups including: 

• NK:IO, a startup developing a cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumour cancers, which has raised a total of £5.1 million in seed funding to date
• OSSTEC, a startup that has developed a system of smart bone implants, due to begin clinical trials in 2023

Future funds are planned.