Spin Up Science

Spin Up Science sources deals by operating venture training programmes for scientists. These programmes create a pipeline of researchers who are building companies, giving the firm early and proprietary access to deep tech spin-outs before they seek mainstream venture funding. Many of the companies it invests in emerge directly from its own training cohorts.

Spin Up Science is structured as an asset manager and operates as a venture firm. It combines a venture capital vehicle, Empirical Ventures, co-founded by Dr. Ben Miles and Dr. Johnathan Matlock, with the Science Angel Syndicate to invest in deep tech startups. There is no disclosed family office component or single-family wealth backing the entity.

The firm is a generalist deep tech investor, covering technologies that can emerge from university research environments. Its activities span advanced materials, life sciences tools, and other research-led verticals. The common thread is that portfolio companies originate from scientific breakthroughs, not a narrow sector focus.

Dr. Ben Miles, as CEO and Founder, leads the firm's investment activity. He co-founded both Empirical Ventures and the Science Angel Syndicate with Dr. Johnathan Matlock, who is a frequent collaborator on deep tech investments. Maddy Nichols serves as Chief Operating Officer and rounds out the operating leadership team.

The University of Bristol is a key academic partner for Spin Up Science. The firm works with the university to source spin-out technologies and to provide researcher training. This partnership is central to its strategy of building a pipeline from the university's research base, supported by the co-located Science Creates incubator ecosystem.