Cambridge Female Founders Network
By invitation only
Powering the next chapter of Cambridge’s founder ecosystem
Cambridge is entering a new phase: talent is compounding, capital is expanding, and the ecosystem needs a stronger operating layer to keep pace. This page is for partners who want to help build that layer — and actively shape the conditions in which the next generation of Cambridge founders will scale.
Become a Fellow
Our Fellows back the next wave of women-led innovation in Cambridge. Modelled on the collegiate Fellow system, they’re a small group of recognised supporters who fund the founder infrastructure, programmes, and ecosystem links ambitious teams rely on.
Fellow
£1,000
What you’re supporting
The foundation of our founder infrastructure: curated groups, targeted events, and core ecosystem connectivity.
What you receive:
Recognition as a CFFN Fellow (optional)
Invitations to select flagship events
Short, periodic updates on the impact your support enables
Senior Fellow
£2,500
What you’re supporting
Strategic expansion of our capability programmes, capital pathways, and cross-ecosystem work.
What you receive:
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Recognition as a CFFN Senior Fellow (optional)
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Priority invitations to intimate dinners and strategic roundtables
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Opportunities to offer guidance, host conversations, or help shape programme strands
Catalyst
£5,000
What you’re supporting
The most ambitious parts of our build: new programmes, capital pathways, and key ecosystem partnerships.
What you receive:
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Recognition as a CFFN Catalyst (optional) within a small honorary group at the core of CFFN strategy
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Priority access to high-level gatherings and private dinners with founders, partners, and investors
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Early opportunities to back founders and help activate major initiatives
Only 8 seats remaining
Please note 'Fellowship' is an annual role. No auto-renewal is set up at this time
Cambridge Female Founders Network operates as a UK Community Interest Company (Company Limited by Guarantee). All contributions are used solely to support our non-profit mission and activities, and no profits are distributed to members or directors. At present, donations are not tax-deductible.
About CFFN
The Cambridge Female Founders Network (CFFN) is a founder and partner-led organisation building a new agile layer of founder infrastructure for Cambridge. We connect talent, expertise and capital through a curated, technical support model — not a traditional networking group. Together with founders, operators, experts and investors, we create the rooms, relationships and routes to capital that women-led and mixed teams need to build and scale in Cambridge.
CFFN in Numbers
210 Female Founders
with another 103 in the pipeline
Official Partners
About Us
Meet our founding team of incredible leaders across varying sectors who believed in the CFFN mission from the beginning.
Xann Schwinn
Founding Member & CEO
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Maya Gavin
Founding Member & CSO
David Cleevely CBE
Founding Member & Chair
Pam Garside
Founding Member
James Thomas
Founding Member & Catalyst
2026 Ambitions
Stronger infrastructure for founders
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Launch our members’ portal for real-time intros to investors, advisors, service providers, plus key resources.
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Consistent calendar of salons, dinners and working sessions
Stronger infrastructure for founders
Cleaner routes to capital & commercialisation
Stronger infrastructure for founders
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3 annual fundraise-prep cohorts (50+ founders)
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Capital readiness & commercialisation track (IP, finance, legal, strategy)
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Warm investor pathways and matching
An expanded coalition
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Support 400+ founders (up from 200)
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Secure 10 ecosystem partners (colleges, funds, institutes)
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Co-host targeted events and roundtables
2025 Highlights
In 2025 we ran 52 high-intent events, building denser connections across Cambridge.
Fireside Chat: 'More than Money'
CFFN x Cambridge Angels
Tue 18 November 2025
Featuring: Ed Smith (Adora Health), Jo Pisani (Cambridge Angels), Shahida Imani (Singular Photonics) and Pete Hutton (Cambridge Angels)
Panel: 'Synthetic Bio'
CFFN x CWOW
Wed 11 June 2025
Featuring: James Thomas (Cambridge Angels), Dr. Irina Babina (Concr), Prof. Zoe Kourtzi (Prodromic), Blanca Baez (DBounce)
Private Dinner: 'Materials Science'
CFFN x Royce Institute
Tue 17 June 2025
Featuring: 13 Materials Female Founders from across the University
