Show Notes 145: AnthroTek - from Hollywood to MedTech and Robotics

This week’s episode features a fascinating interview with Nazmus Tareque and Raoul Peltier, co-founders of AnthroTek, a startup that is pushing the boundaries of material science in medical and robotics applications.

Highlights from the Episode:

Weekly Tech News:

• Cambridge Wide Open Week: Over 200 events attracted more than 4,000 attendees, showcasing the thriving innovation community in Cambridge.

• KPMG UK Tech Innovator Competition: The regional final featured a strong lineup of startups, with Matnex emerging as the winner.

• Kigen's Strategic Investment: The IoT startup, spun out of ARM, received an investment from Japan's SBI Group, highlighting the global interest in Cambridge’s tech innovations.

Interview with AnthroTek Founders:

Nazmus and Raoul shared their unique journey from diverse backgrounds to founding AnthroTek, a company focused on creating hyper-realistic silicone solutions for medical simulation and robotics.

Key Quotes:

“We started with this idea of what the market might need, and very early on, we realised that the demand is not for hyperrealism, but for functionality.” – Raoul Peltier

“We want to stay as a humane company that tries to find solutions that can help people and the planet.” – Nazmus Tareque

Key Takeaways from the Interview:

• Backgrounds Matter: Nazmus’s expertise in law and venture capital complements Raoul’s scientific background in material science and drug delivery. Their diverse skills create a strong foundation for innovation.

• Market Exploration: The duo emphasised the importance of market discovery, stating, “We literally started with a lot of ideas and we didn’t know which one was going to work.” This approach has allowed them to refine their focus on medical applications, which currently account for 80% of their revenue.

• Sustainability Focus: Both founders are passionate about sustainability, aiming to develop biodegradable alternatives to traditional silicone. “We are really interested in using our material science knowledge to explore can we find within five years an alternative to silicone that is actually biodegradable,” Nazmus shared.

• Collaborative Ecosystem: The Cambridge tech scene has played a pivotal role in their success. They highlighted the importance of networking and collaboration, stating, “Cambridge has really been super beneficial to us.”

To listen and subscribe, search for ‘Cambridge Tech Podcast’ on your favourite podcasting platform or visit cambridgetechpodcast.com.