UCL Technology Fund
UCL's venture fund that invests directly in spinouts rather than licensing IP for royalties.
Last refreshed: 7 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for UCL Technology Fund
co-invested in Gigaton Series A as equity shareholder rather than royalty licensor
UK Startups and Innovation: Gigaton lands $26m for plant autonomyBackground
The UCL Technology Fund is University College London's dedicated venture vehicle for commercialising intellectual property generated by UCL researchers. It is jointly managed by UCL and AlbionVC, a London-based specialist in university and institutional spinout investing. The fund takes equity in UCL spinouts from seed or early Series A stage and provides capital and mentorship throughout the growth journey, with the goal of keeping UCL-originated IP embedded in the UK innovation economy rather than licensing it out or allowing early exits to overseas acquirers.
In June 2026, the UCL Technology Fund co-invested in the $26m (£19.3m) Series A for Gigaton alongside Cambridge Enterprise Ventures and lead investor Plural. Gigaton was formerly Carbon Re and has roots in UCL as well as Cambridge research on machine-learning applications for industrial decarbonisation. The fund's participation as a co-investor alongside Cambridge Enterprise Ventures illustrates the increasing pattern of multiple UK university funds joining the same cap table for cross-institutional spinouts.
The UCL Technology Fund's continued equity position through a £19m-equivalent growth round demonstrates the model of patient university capital that holds through institutional VC stages. This approach contrasts with simpler licensing arrangements that would generate earlier but smaller returns, and it signals UCL's commitment to long-term commercial engagement with its most commercially promising research.
