Why It Matters

Education has changed. Tools like Google and ChatGPT reduce the need to memorise or manually analyse data. Today, the focus is learning how to create value using modern tools, and entrepreneurship societies are at the forefront of this shift.

Most university societies are administrative - secretaries schedule meetings, treasurers manage accounts, and presidents/VPs oversee activities - often serving as a CV boost for consulting or finance careers. In contrast, enterprise and innovation societies go beyond admin tasks, offering opportunities to build real-world skills, start ventures, and gain insights that extend far beyond university. Entrepreneurship isn’t just for business students, as anyone can be a problem-solver.

How to navigate the ecosystem

Cambridge has a decentralised entrepreneurial ecosystem, spanning societies, startup competitions, incubators, and external organisations, overseen by Cambridge Enterprise. Read through the IE Cambridge support guide (!!) made by Cambridge Enterprise to take a look at the 100+ organisations involved, and take note of those in the space you’re interested in. You can also look at the IE Cambridge innovation report as well.

As an executive member of Cambridge University Entreprenurs (CUE) and Cambridge University Technology and Enterprise Club (CUTEC), I still find myself learning new things, so don’t be afraid if it seems overwhelming at first sight!

Advice to get started:

  • Attend in-person and online events to network and discuss ideas. Make sure to join WhatsApp/Slack groups where much of the information is shared
  • Join startup incubators (e.g. Kings Elab, Accelerate) or competitions (e.g. Oxbridge AI Challenge, Trinity Bradford Prize, college-specific ones like Fitzelerate)
  • Consider joining society committees to lead events and meet like-minded people

Example organisations by focus:

Final remarks

Cambridge isn’t just about academic research - it’s the second-highest unicorns per capita globally, with investment growing rapidly. Over the coming decades, the university will increasingly position entrepreneurship as a core part of education.