Open Coffee Cambridge, July 2026

3 July 2026 · Cambridge, UK · 5 speakers

Five founders and leaders introduced themselves this morning, with a strong AI theme running through the room: applied machine learning, AI design tools, AI for science, and AI investing, alongside programmes backing early-stage Cambridge founders.

Satya Nadella

Chairman and CEO at Microsoft

Connect

ai research
machine learning
healthcare
hiring

Satya runs Microsoft and is at the meetup because the company is expanding its Cambridge office, where a lot of its AI research happens. He is hiring across the research lab, particularly people focused on healthcare applications of machine learning, and points founders to Microsoft's startup programme with Azure credits.

“Some of the best systems people in the world are in this room, or at least in this city.”

Asking the room

Hiring across the Cambridge research lab, especially for healthcare machine learning
Offering intros to the team running the Azure-credits startup programme

Satya Nadella

Full intro, lightly edited for readability

Morning everyone, I'm Satya Nadella, I run a little software company called Microsoft, you might have heard of us. I'm actually here because we're expanding what we're doing out of the Cambridge office. A lot of our AI research work happens right here, and honestly some of the best systems people in the world are in this room, or at least in this city.

We are hiring across the research lab here, particularly people who care about healthcare applications of machine learning. And the other thing: we run a startup programme with Azure credits, and I never think enough of the companies in this room apply for it, so come and find me afterwards if you want an intro to the team that runs it. That's me, thank you.

Melanie Perkins

Co-founder & CEO at Canva

Connect

design tools
ai
product
education

Melanie is co-founder and CEO of Canva, the visual design platform she started in Perth, Australia, and is in the UK for a few weeks visiting the London office. The team is pushing hard on AI design tools and is hiring product designers and ML engineers who want to work on creative tools.

“We're pushing really hard on AI design tools at the moment, and we're always always looking for great product designers and ML engineers who want to work on creative tools.”

Asking the room

Hiring product designers and ML engineers for creative tools
Wants intros to founders selling into UK schools and universities

Melanie Perkins

Full intro, lightly edited for readability

Hi all, I'm Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva, the visual design platform. We started it back in Perth in Australia and now it's, yeah, it's got quite big. I'm over in the UK for a few weeks visiting our London office, and someone said if you're anywhere near Cambridge on a Thursday you have to come to this thing, so here I am.

What are we working on? We're pushing really hard on AI design tools at the moment, and we're always, always looking for great product designers and ML engineers who want to work on creative tools. My ask: I'd love to meet any founders here who are selling into schools and universities, because education is a huge part of what we do and I want to understand the UK market better. Thanks so much.

Demis Hassabis

Co-Founder & CEO, Google DeepMind

Connect

ai for science
protein folding
research funding
phd

Demis is co-founder of Google DeepMind, the AI research lab, and did his undergrad at Queens' in Cambridge. The lab's big focus now is applying its models to science, from protein folding with AlphaFold to materials, weather, maths, and drug discovery.

“The big thing for us right now is applying the models to science, so protein folding was the start of that with alpha fold and now we're going after materials, weather, maths, drug discovery.”

Asking the room

Promoting a new programme funding PhD students and post docs at the intersection of AI and natural sciences, with some grants open to early-stage companies

Demis Hassabis

Full intro, lightly edited for readability

Morning, Demis Hassabis, I'm the co-founder of DeepMind, the AI research lab, part of Google these days. This one's a bit of a home crowd for me because I did my undergrad here at Queens', and honestly Cambridge is where half our research team comes from.

So what are we up to? The big thing for us right now is applying the models to science. Protein folding was the start of that with AlphaFold, and now we're going after materials, weather, maths, drug discovery. The reason I came this morning: we've got a new programme funding PhD students and postdocs who want to work at the intersection of AI and the natural sciences, and I want the Cambridge startups here to know about it too, because some of the grants can go to early-stage companies. Come grab me, I'm around till about ten.

Reid Hoffman

Co-Founder, LinkedIn, Manas AI & Inflection AI. Founding Team, PayPal.

Connect

investing
ai
networks
marketplaces

Reid co-founded LinkedIn and is now a partner at Greylock, investing mostly in AI companies. He is in the UK doing work with the university and came along to listen, with a particular interest in AI startups that touch networks or marketplaces.

“This is exactly the kind of community that made Silicon Valley work, people just showing up and helping each other with no agenda.”

Asking the room

Open to hearing from founders building in AI that touches networks or marketplaces

Reid Hoffman

Full intro, lightly edited for readability

Hey everyone, Reid Hoffman. I co-founded LinkedIn, which feels appropriate given the screen behind me, and these days I'm a partner at Greylock, investing in AI companies mostly. I'm in the UK this week doing some stuff with the university, and Azeem talked me into coming along this morning, and I'm glad he did. This is exactly the kind of community that made Silicon Valley work, by the way: people just showing up and helping each other with no agenda.

What am I looking for? Honestly nothing specific, I'm here to listen. But if you're building something in AI that touches networks or marketplaces, that's my sweet spot, and I'm easy to find. I'm on LinkedIn, obviously. Thanks.

Richard Branson

Founder at Virgin Group

Connect

funding
mentoring
founders
virgin startup

Richard is the founder of Virgin Group and came to talk about Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit that has just launched a new programme backing founders outside London with loans and mentoring, with Cambridge among the first cities. He spoke about leaving school at sixteen and being dyslexic, encouraging early-stage founders to take the leap.

“Screw it, just do it, as we say.”

Asking the room

Pointing early-stage founders to Virgin StartUp for loans and mentoring outside London

Richard Branson

Full intro, lightly edited for readability

Right, hello everybody, Richard Branson. I'll keep this quick because I know I'm between you and your coffee refill. I'm here because Virgin StartUp, our not-for-profit, has just kicked off a new programme backing founders outside London, proper loans and mentoring, not just a pat on the back, and Cambridge is one of the first cities we're doing it in.

I never went to university, as some of you know. I'm dyslexic and I left school at sixteen, so it always makes me smile to be the least qualified person in a room this clever. If you're an early-stage founder and a bit of funding plus a mentor would make the difference, talk to the Virgin StartUp folks, or find me before I head off. Screw it, just do it, as we say. Cheers everyone.