Simon Hombersley, Xampla

How To: Embed early stage spin-out success & Connect with your customers Simon Hombersley is CEO of Xampla, a startup making natural plastic alternative made entirely of peas. Simon is an experienced technology entrepreneur with a track record in using technology to solve environmental problems. He is the former CEO of Oxford Flow, an energy reducing wealth technology, spun out of Oxford University’s Department of Engineering Science. Simon has more than a decade of experience building cleantech startups with global impact. He shares about what it takes to commercialize a scientific project out of academia, and the change in mindset that researchers need to adopt in order to make such a pursuit successful. Simon especially emphasizes the importance of understanding what the customer needs since early days of the company. Having connections with investors with extensive experience in the field is also a crucial factor in achieving success.