University of Cambridge Investment Management

University of Cambridge Investment Management

UCIM was founded in 2008 to unify and manage the investment assets of the University of Cambridge and its associated trusts. Tilly Franklin, a former Director of Investments at the University's central administration, became CEO and CIO, overseeing a team committed to long-term stewardship of the University's financial resources. The firm deploys capital across a deliberately diversified asset mix including venture capital, private equity, real estate, and public equities. Its direct investment posture is evident in holdings that span UK office buildings, a key-worker housing portfolio in Cambridge, and a London residential property at Wood Mews. UCIM also uses sophisticated instruments like the Nasdaq Custom Basket Futures to manage public-market exposure. Its venture and private equity activity targets early to late-stage companies, primarily in Europe and North America. UCIM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Cambridge and partners operationally with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership for executive education programs. The firm reports a strategic framework focused on mapping, measuring, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its portfolio. In 2023, the Cambridge University Endowment Fund maintained its position as the University's primary investment vehicle, managed exclusively by UCIM. Structurally, UCIM is distinct for its direct management of a university endowment through a dedicated, wholly-owned subsidiary, diverging from the outsourced model used by many peer institutions. The CEO's parallel role in founding the professional network GAIN (Girls Are Investors) and her Fellowship with the Aspen Institute signal a governance model that integrates talent development with a centralized, in-house investment operation.