CAPITAL CELL

Laura Ferguson, the UK Director of Capital Cell, has been recognized as a Rising Star in the BioBeat’s annual “50 Movers and Shakers of BioBusiness” report demonstrating the achievements of women leaders and entrepreneurs.

Laura Ferguson, the UK Director of Capital Cell, has been recognized as a Rising Star in the BioBeat’s annual “50 Movers and Shakers of BioBusiness” report demonstrating the achievements of women leaders and entrepreneurs.

The report looks across the bioscience translational spectrum, from Great Science, through Financial Enablers, Collaboration, Patient Impact to Infrastructure Innovation. The report includes 16 women under 40 who, as Rising Stars, are bringing new agility in invention, translation and delivery.

Ferguson was named the ‘Rising Star’ in the report’s Financial Enablers category. Having launched Capital Cell UK in June 2017, Laura then raised £650k for the platform, including significant UK angel investment, and has built many partnerships, including with MedCity and NHS Innovation.

Capital Cell is one of the successful finalists of the first Pitchfest edition delivered by Enterprise Europe Network in partnership with the Knowledge Transfer Network and held at St Johns Innovation Centre. Laura has worked closely with the EEN Innovation Advisers based at St John’s Innovation Centre on the Innovate2Succeed programme.

“We have found the Innovate2Succeed programme absolutely invaluable in helping us to stand back and look at the business with fresh eyes,” said Ferguson. “As we are both simultaneously scaling-up from a successful company in Spain and starting-up from scratch in the UK, it’s been a fantastic opportunity to review all aspects of how the business currently operates and make sure that we are all set to launch with gusto in a new market. In addition to tackling practical aspects of our business model, the programme has also helped us come together as a team and make sure that we have a strong, shared vision for moving forward.”