‘Making Peter proud’ at ARU’s inaugural tribute evening to Cambridge angel and entrepreneur

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) hosted an evening on entrepreneurship in memory of Peter Cowley, the long-time Cambridge angel investor, mentor and author, who died in November aged 69.

Prof Roderick Watkins opened the event, celebrating how Peter had helped drive forward ARU’s ambition for entrepreneurship. The impact is measurable. “Peter would have liked that,” said the organisers, noting that ARU is now ranked seventh in student start-ups in the UK.

Prof Gary Packham, pro-vice-chancellor of enterprise and entrepreneurship at ARU, then set out how ARU contributes to the entrepreneurial regional ecosystem.

The keynote was given by leadership coach and head of innovation at Horizon37, Katy Tuncer.

“What a cracker it was,” said Faye Holland of cofinitive and Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce of Katy’s talk.

She added: “Katy talked about two types of people –the flitters, who leave a trail of unstoppable ideas, and the boulders, who know their stuff and generally have their way.

“Peter was neither... and both... and many will fondly remember his moniker, ‘strong opinions loosely held’.”

Subsequent contributions came from Emmi Nicholl, managing director of Cambridge Angels, Charlotte Horobin, CEO of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, Jemma Little, business development manager at Cambridge City Council, and representatives of student entrepreneurship programmes including Sophie Harbour, editor of the King’s College Entrepreneurship Lab.

Also in the mix was Dr Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and founder of bit.bio, the synthetic biology company which he led with huge success, who ‘moved upstairs’ to become vice-chairman at the start of the year.

“The event was great,” reported Emmi. “It was a great demonstration of how sincerely the community supports innovation. That support is not just words, but real conversations and actions. Peter would have been proud.”

The event was hosted by Richard Lucas of CAMentrepreneurs, who said: “It was a fitting tribute to the contribution Peter made to the wider pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on being participant and network-focused.”

Faye concluded: “It was lovely to see many friends and meet some wonderful new people – Peter would have loved it.”

Peter Cowley was awarded the Cambridge Independent’s Lifetime Achievement Award at our 2023 Science and Technology Awards.