Shortlist announced for prestigious Coller AI Competition
22 Sep 2026
Five finalists have been selected for The University of Manchester and The Jeremy Coller Foundation Competition supporting responsible AI ventures with the potential to benefit people and society
The University and the Jeremy Coller Foundation have announced the finalists for the Coller AI Competition with one early-stage venture set to receive a £100,000 equity investment to help turn it’s responsible AI innovation into a growing venture.
The competition attracted applicants from student, colleagues and alumni and brings together the University’s research strength, entrepreneurial talent and commitment to responsible innovation. It aims to identify and support founders developing AI solutions that are not only commercially promising but designed to benefit people and society.
The shortlisted Teams are:
Health Equity Chain
Health Equity Chain is building the Treatment Analyser System, an AI tool that helps doctors and patients make better prostate cancer treatment decisions. It shows a patient where they stand among people like them, making complex clinical information clear, understandable and equitable.
LanthaGen Bio Ltd
LanthaGen Bio has built an AI platform that simulates how biomolecules (proteins and peptides) bind metals, so new metal capturing proteins can be designed on a computer instead of found by trial and error. By drastically shortening the process it removes the energy, chemicals, plastic and solvent waste that repeated screening consumes.
SporeSense
SporeSense has built an AI-powered early-warning system that detects crop disease before any symptoms are visible. This lets farmers act early, cutting crop losses, reducing unnecessary pesticide use, and supporting more resilient, sustainable food production as climate change increases pressure on global agriculture.
SenseVale
SenseVale makes smart glasses that help blind and partially sighted people independently navigate their surroundings with minimal assistance. Sensors in the frame pick up what is around you, and the glasses tell you what they find through sound and vibration.
Forkprint Ltd
Forkprint is developing AI-enabled models that analyse any given food business’ data, such as recipes, menus and supplier information, to provide accurate greenhouse gas emissions GHGE information. This will enable food service businesses to assess and track the GHGE coming from their ingredients and food preparation processes, as well as rapidly develop lower-carbon recipes.
The initiative forms part of our Challenge Accepted campaign, which supports ideas with the potential to tackle major global challenges.
Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice President (Enterprise), said: 'The calibre of the shortlisted ventures demonstrates the strength of entrepreneurial talent across our university community and the huge potential for responsible AI to address real-world challenges. Through the Coller AI Competition, we are supporting founders who are not only developing commercially promising ideas but doing so with a clear commitment to delivering positive impact for people, society and the environment. I look forward to joining the event and hearing their pitches.'
The Coller AI Competition is supported by the Jeremy Coller Foundation, the philanthropic vehicle of private equity entrepreneur Jeremy Coller. The Foundation supports initiatives focused on education, entrepreneurship, pensions innovation and the transition to a more sustainable food system. By supporting ambitious ideas, the Foundation helps drive lasting change and empowers the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
The winner will be announced at our Innovation Festival on the 9 October 2026.