SCALE is an open-source standard for UK Deeptech university spinout licensing.
TTOs, Cambridge Angels, Cambridge Future Tech and other parts of the ecosystem have long helped individual spinouts negotiate one deal at a time, and one university at a time, but that simply doesn’t scale.
SCALE fixes that by providing:
- A best-practice, ready-to-sign Deeptech licence (the SDL) plus a companion Explainer covering the reasoning behind each term so all parties can understand the trade-offs
- Confidential SLM-powered negotiation advice that spinouts can freely question
- All freely available under a Creative Commons license
The aim is to cut the average 11-month UK spinout process down to days, and align founders, universities and investors around getting good companies funded and scaled, faster.
Why SCALE works for everyone:
TTOs & Universities – less time negotiating, more time creating spinouts — with stronger long-term returns and a reputation as the best place to spin out from.
Spinouts – fast, simple terms that preserve cash, support sub-licensing, and keep founders focused on building — not negotiating.
Investors – terms that remove cap-table pressure and make deals faster, cleaner, and more fundable.