About SeedLight
SeedLight was founded on a conviction: outstanding science deserves outstanding commercial support from the very beginning — not as an afterthought when funding runs out.
Our Mission
Too many promising life science ventures fail not because the science is weak, but because they lack the commercial foundation to survive contact with the market. SeedLight exists to close that gap — providing the kind of rigorous, experienced advisory that has historically been available only to well-funded or well-connected founders.
We operate as genuine partners to founding teams — accountable to outcomes, not deliverables. Our work spans biotech, MedTech, diagnostics, and digital health, at pre-seed and seed stage, across the UK and Europe.
Why SeedLight
Our founder holds a DPhil and has worked directly in research. We understand your science — which means our commercial advice is grounded in what's technically feasible, not just what looks good on a slide.
Years of board-level investment management at seed-stage life science companies means we know exactly what investors look for — and where most ventures fall short before they even enter the room.
We don't deliver slide decks and disappear. We work alongside founders, attend key meetings, and stay accountable until the milestone is reached — whether that's a term sheet, a partnership, or a market entry.
We tell founders what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. If a venture isn't ready to raise, we'll say so — and work to fix the underlying issues first, not paper over them.
About Fátima
Fátima is based in the UK and works with founders across the UK and Europe. She is open to connecting with scientists, investors, and technology transfer offices.
Founder & Principal Adviser · SeedLight Advisory Ltd
Fátima brings a rare combination of scientific depth and commercial acuity to early-stage life science ventures. With a doctorate in biomedical research, she has spent the past several years working at the intersection of science and investment — sitting on the boards of seed-stage companies, guiding spin-out founders through commercialisation, and building business development relationships across industry and academia.
Before founding SeedLight, Fátima served as Investment Director at both Semarion (Cambridge-based microcarrier technology for adherent cell assays in drug discovery) and Evoralis (enzyme technology for circular plastic economy), and as Board Observer at Colorifix (natural pigment production).
SeedLight was founded in 2026 on the conviction that great science deserves great commercial support from the very beginning.
Education
University of Oxford
DPhil, Clinical Medicine · Lincoln College
2001 – 2004
Doctoral research in clinical medicine, providing the scientific rigour to evaluate and communicate complex life science assets at the highest level.
Universidade do Porto
Biology · 1st Class Hons
1997 – 2001
First-class honours in Biology — a comprehensive grounding across molecular biology, genetics, and cellular science that underpins everything that followed.
Career History
May 2026 – Present
SeedLight Advisory Ltd · Self-employed
Founded SeedLight to provide life sciences advisory and support in commercialisation, venture creation, and fundraising at pre-seed and seed stage.
Nov 2021 – Aug 2025 · 3 yrs 10 mos
Cambridge Enterprise Ventures · Cambridge, UK
on behalf of Cambridge Enterprise
Working in the creation of life sciences spin-out and start-up companies to deliver impact from research at the University of Cambridge. Assisting with team formation, development of business plans, financial modelling, and value propositions for pre-seed, seed, and Series A/B investments.
Mar 2020 – Oct 2021 · 1 yr 8 mos
Cambridge Enterprise Ventures · Greater Cambridge Area
on behalf of Cambridge Enterprise
Investment Management, Venture Capital, and 8 additional skills across the Cambridge life sciences ecosystem.
Jan 2022 – Aug 2025 · 3 yrs 8 mos
Semarion · Cambridge, UK
on behalf of [Organisation — to be added]
Board-level investment director at Semarion, developers of SemaCyte microcarriers for adherent cell assays in drug discovery.
Sep 2024 – Aug 2025 · 1 yr
Evoralis · Cambridge, UK
on behalf of [Organisation — to be added]
Board-level investment director at Evoralis, developing enzymes for the recycling of plastic waste using a fast screening platform to enable true circularity.
Jan 2022 – Aug 2025 · 3 yrs 8 mos
Colorifix Limited · UK
on behalf of [Organisation — to be added]
Board observer at Colorifix, a company using natural biological processes to produce, deposit, and fix pigments onto textiles — a pioneer in sustainable colour.
Nov 2021 – Sep 2024 · 2 yrs 11 mos
Abselion · Cambridge, UK
Board-level investment director at Abselion, simplifying biologics quantification with seamless automation — quantifying antibodies, AAVs, and other proteins directly from crude samples in as little as one minute per sample.
Nov 2021 – Nov 2023 · 2 yrs 1 mo
CamRegen Limited · Cambridge, UK
Board observer at CamRegen, specialising in the manufacture of collagen-based medical devices.
Sep 2018 – Feb 2020 · 1 yr 6 mos
Babraham Institute Enterprise Ltd · Greater Cambridge Area
Identifying and commercialising early-stage technologies in epigenetics, immunology, and cell signalling. Translation Advisory Board member supporting the development of scientific discoveries through in-house seed funding. Reported to the Board on commercial operations and management accounts.
2013 – Sep 2018 · 5 yrs 9 mos
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) · Greater Edinburgh Area
Manager of one of 14 CRUK translational research centres delivering world-class cancer research with a focus on cancer prevention, cancer stem cells, phenomics, and drug discovery. Drove collaborations between scientists and clinicians, identified projects suitable for seed investment through CRUK's Development Fund, and managed a budget of over £1 million per year.
2010 – 2013 · 3 yrs
Cancer Research Technology · London, UK
Technology transfer manager for the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research — responsible for all business activities from early stage sourcing to deal execution. Deal identification, due-diligence, IP protection, patent filing, market analysis, and driving negotiations to deals and business partnerships with Pharma and Biotech.
2009 – 2010 · 1 yr
Oxford University Innovation · Greater Oxford Area
Oxford University Consulting group member — building strategic relationships across the Medical Sciences division and external organisations. Consultancy and service agreements, deal execution, marketing/business development, and large portfolio management.
2004 – 2009 · 5 yrs
Medical Research Council · Greater Oxford Area
Postdoctoral research in normal and malignant stem cell functions and long-range gene regulation. Technical skills in genome editing and analysis. Published peer-reviewed research in Blood and Cell.
Portfolio Experience
Board-level experience across a portfolio of seed-stage life science and deep tech ventures.
Drug Discovery · Cell Biology
Developer of SemaCyte microcarriers providing flexibility for adherent cell assays — enabling more physiologically relevant models in early drug discovery.
Investment Director (Board) · 2022–2025
on behalf of [Organisation — to be added]
Sustainable Biotech · Circular Economy
Developing fast-screening enzyme platforms to enable true circularity of plastic waste — deep tech at the intersection of biotech and sustainability.
Investment Director (Board) · 2024–2025
on behalf of [Organisation — to be added]
Biologics · Diagnostics · Automation
Simplifying biologics quantification with seamless automation — quantifying antibodies, AAVs, and proteins directly from crude samples in under one minute per sample.
Investment Director (Board) · 2021–2024
on behalf of Cambridge Enterprise
Industrial Biotech · Sustainable Textiles
Using natural biological processes to produce, deposit, and fix pigments onto textiles without harsh chemicals or water waste — pioneering sustainable colour.
Board Observer · 2022–2025
on behalf of [Organisation — to be added]
MedTech · Regenerative Medicine
Specialising in the manufacture of collagen-based medical devices for regenerative medicine applications.
Board Observer · 2021–2023
on behalf of Cambridge Enterprise
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