A selection of notable quotes and comments we’ve come across this month
By Marc Ambasna-Jones 01 Oct 25 Reading time: 2 mins
“Having that university support, that university mindset of let’s explore, let’s learn, let’s try things, let’s fail, is critical to creating an environment where teams can be successful.”
“Fall in love with the problem, not the product. Markets shift. Products pivot. Problems endure. If you solve a real one, people will come, they will stay, and they will pay.”
Toyosi Ogedengbe, an experienced early-stage investor at Ascension, talking about his lessons for first-time founders in our Venture View article
“We can’t do everything. But in compound semis, CMOS design and photonics, we’ve got world-class expertise. If we back it properly, we can compete with anyone.”
“The talk on the street is all about foundational robotics models and how this will accelerate the development and deployment of humanoids, robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) etc. Lots of money is flowing into amazing teams at concept stage.”
Christian Noske, general partner at MGP Capital, speaking to Sifted about what he thinks are overrated and overlooked technologies.
“The intensive capital requirements of companies like Oxford Ionics means they can often struggle to remain in the UK. This strips the country of strategically and economically important assets, despite the fact that the UK taxpayer often helps to fund the riskiest stages of development.”
“Whilst there has been significant UK government investment into quantum over the past decade, more needs to be done to secure a thriving domestic deep tech sector.”
“We should be shaping policy and ecosystems to directly support even more examples like Oxford Ionics who have taken the technology from the research phase to commercialisation.”
“In many ways, quantum is today where AI was back in 2015, which is a lot of really big research and science projects and starting to have practical applications rather than just pure research.”
Alexa von Tobel, founder of Inspired Capital, talking to Wired about deep tech investing and why now is the optimal time for patient capital risk and reward.
Working as a technology journalist and writer since 1989, Marc has written for a wide range of titles on technology, business, education, politics and sustainability, with work appearing in The Guardian, The Register, New Statesman, Computer Weekly and many more.
