Initiatives

SynBioVen

Empowering synthetic biology ventures

Dedicated Investment Vehicle

Investing in UK companies for a net-zero economy

Founded in 2022, SynbioVen is an independent dedicated investment vehicle supporting the next generation of engineering biology scientists, founders, start-ups, and scale-ups.

Established by industry leaders whose collective experience spans biotech commercialisation, venture building and global industry networks, SynbioVen provides start-ups with critical funding connections, strategic mentorship, and access to cutting-edge facilities, ensuring that the next generation of engineering biology companies can thrive.

Our Team

The SynBioVen team

Board

David Harding

Co-Chair

David Harding

Co-Chair

Bio

Sir David Harding has been a leader in the development of scientific investment methods for over 40 years. He is the founder of two successful investment management firms: AHL, which was sold to Man Group in 1994, and Winton, which he established in 1997. He is also an investor in many start-up companies, particularly in the fields of finance, cybersecurity and synthetic biology. Sir David was knighted in 2022, in recognition of his contribution to philanthropy.
Board

David Willetts

Co-Chair
David Willetts

Co-Chair
Bio

The Rt Hon Lord Willetts FRS, HonFREng is Chair of the Foundation for Science and Technology and of the UK Space Agency. Lord Willetts served as Minister for Universities and Science (2010-2014). He has held a range of Board positions across the Space and Science sector. He was a Board member of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), and Chair of the British Science Association. Lord Willetts is a visiting Professor at King’s College London and an Honorary Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford.
Director

Richard Kitney

Co-Director
Richard Kitney

Co-Director
Bio

Key Appointments: – Co-Founder and Co-Director of the EPSRC National Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation (CSynBI). – Co-Founder and Co-Director of SynbiCITE – the Innovation and Knowledge Centre for the translation and commercialisation of synthetic biology. – Professor of BioMedical Systems Engineering at Imperial College London. Professor Kitney has been working at the forefront of synthetic biology and has been pivotal in shaping its development in the UK and internationally since 2003. He has championed synthetic biology to governments, industry, learned societies and the public. Kitney is globally recognised as pioneering in the field. Dick has been a leader of UK R&D and the translation of synthetic biology for more than a decade, promoting global synthetic biology developments. As Chair of The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Inquiry into Synthetic Biology and a member of the UK’s Ministerial Synthetic Biology Leadership Council, Dick has driven the UK’s approach to the field and the technology, its development and its translation into industrially useful products, tools, processes and services – alongside educating future synthetic biologists. In addition to The Royal Academy of Engineering Inquiry Report (Synthetic biology – Scope, Applications and Implications, 2009), he is one of the authors of the two, subsequent, UK roadmaps for synthetic biology (A Synthetic Biology Roadmap for the UK, 2012; and Bio Design for the Bio Economy, 2016). Dick Co-Directs – with Professor Paul Freemont – the UK’s first R&D centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation (CSynBI) and the UK’s National Industrial Translation Centre for Synthetic Biology (SynbiCITE). He gives many keynote presentations at public lectures and international conferences – recently the IET Kelvin Lecture and the City and Guilds Fellowship Lecture.
Director

Paul Freemont

Co-Director

Paul Freemont

Co-Director

Bio

Paul has been working at the forefront of international synthetic biology developments since 2002 and has played a key role with Dick Kitney in developing from the outset the UK strategy for synthetic biology research, innovation and training. A leading figure in synthetic biology, he has played a key part in the development of synthetic biology in the UK and was a co-author of the British Government’s UK Synthetic Biology Roadmap. Paul has been a passionate advocate for synthetic biology research and translation both in Europe and internationally and has participated as a technical expert in the United Nations Convention for Biological Diversity and Biological Weapons Convention. He is also a working group member of the US NIST synthetic biology standards consortium. Paul’s research interests span from understanding the molecular mechanisms of human diseases and infection to the development of synthetic biology platform technologies and biosensors and he is the author of over 170 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He gives many lectures both at international scientific meetings and also public lecture – the most recent being the Ellison-Cliffe medal lecture at the Royal Society of Medicine. With Dick Kitney, Paul co-founded and co-directs the UK’s first academic research centre for synthetic biology at Imperial College London (CSynBI) and the first R&D centre for synthetic biology SynbiCITE. Paul is also very active in public engagement including numerous public debates – the most recent at the Royal Institution and public displays including at the Science Museum and the first ‘pop-up’ lab at the Victoria and Albert museum. He is also an advocate for training young people and talks regularly at schools and and has successfully co-supervised Imperial undergraduate iGEM teams since 2006.

Benefits

Our offerings

Funding & Investment Support

Raising capital can be one of the biggest hurdles for emerging biotech companies. SynbioVen connects start-ups with investors, grant opportunities, and funding networks, ensuring they have the financial resources needed to grow and scale their innovations.

Expert Guidance & Industry Access

Through mentorship, strategic advice, and tailored support, SynbioVen equips entrepreneurs with the knowledge and connections needed to turn groundbreaking research into viable products. Our network includes leading industry professionals, regulatory experts, and successful biotech founders.

World-Class Facilities & Resources

Participants in SynbioVen gain access to specialised infrastructure, including the London Biofoundry, to support the design, prototyping, and testing of new biological technologies. These resources help start-ups bridge the gap between research and commercial application.

Want to learn more?

Head to the SynbioVEN website to find out more about their services

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