Ignite

A fund to fast-track promising prostate cancer technologies to clinic—your support can deliver life-saving innovations to patients.

Backing Science. Changing Lives.

Join Ignite, our group of philanthropists who want to leave a lasting legacy and change how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated in the future.

Every year, promising prostate cancer innovations fail long before they reach patients. Not because the science isn't good enough, but because they lack the funding, expertise and support needed to cross the gap between discovery and clinical adoption. Ignite is a community of visionary philanthropists helping to change that. Powered by Ignite, Proven Connect, the translational research initiative of Prostate Cancer Research, invests in pioneering companies developing the next generation of prostate cancer diagnostics, treatments and technologies. Together, we are accelerating innovation, supporting founders and helping life-changing breakthroughs reach patients faster.

Get in touch with Nura Makki, our Head of Philanthropy, below to find out more about joining Ignite.

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The Ignite Vision

Our initial ambition is to build a £1m translational investment fund that will support the next generation of prostate cancer innovations.

Every new investment has the potential to unlock further funding from investors, grant programmes and strategic partners, multiplying the impact of each philanthropic contribution. Over time, returns generated from successful investments can be reinvested into future opportunities, helping to create a sustainable, evergreen source of funding for innovation. 

Through Ignite, we are not only funding technologies. We are helping to build a stronger translational ecosystem, bringing together patients, researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, charities and investors around a shared goal: delivering better outcomes for men affected by prostate cancer. 

A Proven Model For Impact

Since making its first investment in 2021, Proven Connect has built a portfolio spanning diagnostics, therapeutics and drug delivery technologies, supporting companies developing solutions for some of the biggest unmet needs in prostate cancer.

Our Impact So Far

  • Invested in seven innovative biotech companies developing technologies for prostate cancer
  • Leveraged more than £4.5 million in additional funding through co-investment and grant programmes.
  • Supported companies to secure commercial contracts, follow-on investment and clinical trial progression.
  • Established the Translating % Accelerating Research (TAR) Network, connecting more than 55 charities to share translational expertise and accelerate patient impact.

Current Investments

A Super-Resolution Ultrasound with Contrast of a Prostate. Less Grey analysis software produced a coloured map on the image, highlighting a tumour.

Less Grey Imaging

Lighting up ultrasound images with contrast and utilizing Ai to identify tumours.

Oxford Vacmedix

An exciting new way to deliver immunotherapy

Lucida Medical

Utilising Ai to improve MRI efficiency & accuracy

Nanovery

Improving early diagnosis with nanorobots that detect disease in blood 100x faster

Stratosvir

Targeting tumours with a new method of drug delivery

NanoSyrinx

A next-generation intracellular drug delivery platform, tackling the "undruggable cell" problem

Neobe Therapeutics

Breaking down barriers with engineered bacteria to enable immunotherapy success in immune-excluded tumours

If you would like to know more about the companies we’ve invested in please head to our portfolio page. 

Our Portfolio

More Than Finance

What makes Proven Connect different is our "investment-plus" model.
Alongside funding, Proven Connect provides critical resources and strategic guidance to help start-ups reach the clinic, navigating the "valley of death" where up to 95% of biotech companies fail within the first year. This combination of funding and specialist support helps companies move faster, make better decisions and maximise their patient impact.

A New Way to Give

Proven Connect is looking for philanthropists who are seeking new ways to impact the future of the postate cancer landscape.

"I am delighted to be one of the first ‘Ignite’ supporters to translate the most promising scientific research with the potential to protect generations in the future. Every breakthrough starts with a dollar invested. Investing in research for new diagnostics, treatments and a cure for prostate cancer is a powerful legacy we can leave."

Dr Catherine Turkel
Ignite Supporter

Why become a member of Ignite?

  • Connect with a group of philanthropists who are changing the future of prostate cancer
  • Be at the centre of the ecosystem and have first-hand information about developments in treatments and care for prostate cancer
  • Amplify the impact of your donation and leave a long-lasting legacy in the cure of prostate cancer
  • Receive invitations to exclusive events to connect with other founding members around common interests
  • Gain exclusive access to pro-bono private wealth managers, who can support you to make your gift go further whether you chose to donate as an individual, with your trust or foundation, or via a Donor-Advised Fund

If you are interested in donating or finding out more about the fund please get in touch.

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