Meet the Cambridge startup that outgrew three offices in three years.
Founded by University of Cambridge graduate Jason Mashinchi in 2021, Cambridge Kinetics has grown from a one-person startup into an award-winning technology company helping organisations harness artificial intelligence to work smarter.
From its base at St John’s Innovation Centre (SJIC), the business has expanded into Europe and the US, secured Innovate UK funding, built a team of 10 and become one of Cambridge’s rising AI success stories.
Behind that growth is a combination of ambitious technology, practical business support and the collaborative environment that has helped hundreds of innovative companies scale from Cambridge over the past four decades.
Cambridge Kinetics combines consultancy with its own AI-powered platform, Kinabase, enabling organisations to streamline operations, automate workflows and adopt AI in ways that deliver measurable business value.
The right innovation ecosystem
Cambridge Kinetics moved into SJIC in March 2022 and has already expanded into three different offices as the business has grown.
Along the way, the company has launched its flagship AI-powered workflow platform, Kinabase, secured an Innovate UK BridgeAI grant to accelerate the platform’s AI capabilities, expanded internationally into Europe and the United States, and received a string of business accolades. Founder Jason Mashinchi was named Gold winner in the SME National Business Awards’ Young Business Person of the Year category, while Cambridge Kinetics was recognised as a ‘One to Watch’ at the Cambridge Independent Science & Technology Awards.
Jason has also joined the Board of Directors of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, reflecting both the company’s growth and its commitment to supporting the wider regional business community.
Building a business with room to grow
Rather than worrying about office moves or infrastructure, the Cambridge Kinetics team has been able to focus on developing technology, supporting clients and growing the business, with the flexibility to move into larger offices and stay within the SJIC ecosystem.
For Jason, the support available at SJIC extends far beyond workspace: “SJIC has been a great base for us from day one. The environment is genuinely supportive of growth, from the practical flexibility to expand into a larger office as our team grows, to the wider business advice, connections and support available whenever we need it.”
Working closely with Reuben Isbitsky, Senior Innovation & Growth Specialist at SJIC, Cambridge Kinetics has also accessed support around grant funding and business growth, including securing Innovate UK funding that has helped shape the continued development of Kinabase.
“Reuben has been a fantastic source of guidance throughout, helping us navigate opportunities and make confident decisions as the business grew,” adds Jason.
Why Cambridge still matters
Building the business in Cambridge was a deliberate decision. After studying Computer Science at the University of York, Jason returned to Cambridge to complete a Master’s at the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing before founding Cambridge Kinetics.
Today, the company continues to benefit from access to world-class engineering and AI talent, strong industry networks, and collaboration opportunities across the Cambridge Cluster.
“Cambridge is one of the best places in the UK to build a technology business,” said Jason. “The talent, networks and the culture of innovation; it’s all here. We’ve benefited enormously from being at the heart of that cluster, and it’s something we’re proud to be part of.”
He says businesses are increasingly looking beyond the AI headlines and searching for trusted partners who can help them implement technology that genuinely improves performance: “There’s a lot of energy and ideas out there, but there are also genuine concerns about rising costs. What we’re seeing is businesses coming to us asking for support adopting AI to help them achieve more with the resources they’ve already got.”
Culture is crucial
Cambridge Kinetics’ growth has been built around developing talent.
The company has expanded through graduate recruitment, internships, apprenticeships and placements, creating opportunities for young people while building a multidisciplinary team spanning software development, systems consulting, operations, marketing and content.
Despite its rapid growth, Jason says maintaining the company’s culture has remained a priority: “We’ve gone from just me at a desk to a team of 10 brilliant people. What I’m most proud of is the culture we’ve built along the way while all working collectively towards the same goal. Everyone here has a real energy and excitement about what they do. That’s rare, and it makes a genuine difference to the quality of work we produce.”
Putting AI to work
With clients already operating across the UK, Europe and North America, international growth remains firmly on the agenda.
The consultancy is seeing growing demand from organisations looking to modernise their operations, while Kinabase continues to add new AI-powered capabilities to meet changing customer needs.
“We’re at an exciting point,” said Jason. “AI is moving fast, and businesses need a trusted partner who can cut through the noise and actually deliver. That’s exactly what we do, and we’re energised for what comes next.”
Visit www.cambridgekinetics.com to discover how Kinabase and the Cambridge Kinetics team are helping organisations adopt AI with confidence and transform the way they work.