HCR Law announces winners of Impact55 competition

HCR Law has announced the winners of Impact55 – a programme of support for start‑ups which are using technology to deliver positive social and environmental change.

12 businesses from Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk were shortlisted to pitch before a judging panel at HCR Law’s Cambridge office. After an inspiring day of presentations, we’re delighted to reveal this year’s winners.

CamGene Therapeutics Limited has been named the overall winner. The company uses biotechnology to develop medicines that aim to treat hearing loss rather than simply manage it.

Most people with hearing loss rely on devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants which, although helpful, don’t address the underlying cause. CamGene is working to develop the first mass-market treatment that could slow, stop or even reverse some hearing loss.

It uses lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) – tiny fat-based carriers – to deliver its RNA-based medicine directly into cells within the inner ear. The goal is to protect the cochlear cells responsible for hearing and prevent the cell damage that causes many forms of hearing loss.

Because of the exceptional calibre of pitches, three additional companies were named runners-up.

Nanoplume develops ultra-light, ultra-thin and highly insulating bio-aerogels that offer a sustainable alternative to traditional bulky insulation. Its materials can be used across industries including cold-chain logistics, construction and packaging, with future potential in electronics and automotive sectors.

Cellexcel impressed the judges for the second year in a row with its technology that strengthens natural materials by making them more water-resistant. Biomaterials such as natural plant fibres are more sustainable than plastics or fibreglass but often struggle in harsh environments. Cellexcel’s molecular modification process enables them to perform like high-carbon alternatives while retaining their sustainable benefits.

The legal support Cellexcel received last year helped the business to appoint a general manager, Robert Gunn, enabling it to adapt its model and create strong foundations for scalable growth.

The final runner-up, Serenatis Bio, is developing three new medications to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) by targeting the neurological pathways that drive the condition. With more than 240m people worldwide affected by OCD and no new drug classes introduced since the 1990s, the company aims to deliver treatments that work faster and more effectively than current options such as SSRIs and antipsychotics.

As the overall winner, CamGene receives £25,000 of legal support from HCR, while Nanoplume, Cellexcel and Serenatis Bio each receive £10,000.

Impact55 forms part of HCR’s commitment to supporting businesses in the communities where we work and live. We also have our own social and environmental targets, including becoming a net zero business by 2040. Impact55 allows us to support impact-driven start-ups founded with the intention of using technology to create positive social and environmental change, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Inger Anson, Partner and Head of Technology and Innovation, said: “We were blown away by the quality and ambition of this year’s Impact55 entrants. Each of the shortlisted businesses is solving problems with technology that could genuinely improve people’s lives.

“Impact55 has shown, once again, the strength of ideas coming from early-stage tech businesses in our region. Our four winners are tackling important social and environmental challenges and we look forward to helping them grow with the legal support they need.”

For more details about the programme, visit hcrlaw.com/impact55.