Tremendous to see Harry Destecroix MBE receive his Award in the New Year’s Honours for the impact of his company Science Creates on science and technology in and around Bristol (and now beyond too). As we have been revving up for the launch of the Bessemer Society (Sheffield Branch) I think often of the impact that one person can have on a city. I've become familiar with most of the startup centres where we have run our Bessemer events, but Harry stands out in terms of the impact he has made. Even in the vaunted centres of Oxford and Cambridge, it is hard to find someone who achieved so much so quickly based on simple entrepreneurial elan. So, Harry, in my view you are the pastmaster and I'm very glad we awarded you our Lifetime Fellowship Award at the outset of your journey. I hope you will continue to extend your impact within and beyond Bristol and inspire others to follow you.
Scientist | Exited Founder - Deep Tech | Venture Capital | Award Winning Entrepreneur & VC Fund | Building Ecosystems for Deep Tech Startups
What a Start to 2025 I am deeply humbled—and quite frankly shocked—to have received an MBE in recognition of Science Creates. To me, this award is not just mine. It belongs to my family and the entire Science Creates team whose talent and commitment have transformed us from humble beginnings into the thriving Deep Tech ecosystem we are today. It also stands as recognition for all the Deep Tech founders and companies who dare to challenge the status quo and drive the UK’s innovation engine forward. This year holds special significance as it marks a decade since the founding of Science Creates. We launched in 2015 born from our own struggles as deep tech founders to find the support we needed to spin out and commercialize our research. Our mission has always been to provide the unique tools, spaces, and community that Deep Tech innovators need to thrive and make impact. People often overestimate what can be achieved in a few years but underestimate what can be accomplished in a decade. This feels especially true as I reflect on all we’ve built at Science Creates over the past ten years. Highlights Across Our Four Pillars of Support Incubators • Built and operated two central Bristol incubators in partnership with Research England and the University of Bristol, housing over 400 founders, scientists, and team members. • Secured planning permission for our third incubator, set to open in late 2025, increasing our footprint to over 75,000 sq. ft. Venture Capital (SCVC) • Launched our award-winning VC arm, SCVC, investing in early-stage Deep Tech startups from pre-seed to seed. • Welcomed Catherine Fletcher and John Williams as Partners and began investing from our second fund in 2024. Platform • Expanded our support network with strategic partnerships, including Thermo Fisher Scientific. • Delivered two UK-wide Engineering Biology Accelerator programmes with UK Research and Innovation, sparking the creation of 17 new startups. Outreach • Inspired over 3,000 young learners through STEM workshops delivered by our independent charity, Science Creates Outreach. And we’re just getting started. 2024 was a challenging year for startups, yet the technical founders within the Science Creates community have shown exceptional resilience and quality. There has never been a better time to launch a Deep Tech startup, and I believe 2025 will see some of the most impactful startups of our generation being founded. Looking Ahead In 2025, we are doubling down on Deep Tech by: • Expanding our ecosystem with the opening of OMX, our third Bristol incubator. • Continuing to invest directly in Deep Tech through SCVC Fund 2. • Growing our Platform with new accelerator programmes and strategic partnerships. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this incredible journey. Here’s to the next decade of building, innovating, and supporting the brightest minds in Deep Tech. Harry