Hello!
Dr Ben is a scientist, entrepreneur, investor, and communicator (2.5m+ followers)
His work sits at the intersection of deep-tech innovation and scientific storytelling.
Born in London, UK and raised in the Maryland, USA, Dr Ben developed an early fascination with science - particularly physics - as a way to understand the mechanics of the universe.
He completed his Master’s in Physics and PhD in Experimental Nano Physics at the University of Bristol, UK. His doctoral research focused on developing new type of microscopy to study the intersection of physics, biology, and chemistry converge. This interdisciplinary environment shaped his belief that breakthrough ideas often emerge where scientific domains collide.
In 2016, Dr Ben joined an early-stage biotech startup developing a novel treatment for diabetes. The company was later acquired by Novo Nordisk and remains one of the largest acquisitions in UK spinouts. This experience cemented his conviction that scientists are not only capable of making discoveries - but also of deliver those breakthroughs to the world.
Motivated by this insight, Dr Ben founded Spin Up Science to help scientists and academics start their entrepreneurial journeys. Spin Up Science has supported more than 4,000 scientists through its programs and contributed to the creation of over 200 new deep-tech companies tackling challenges across quantum computing, oncology, sustainability, and more.
During this time, Dr Ben also recognised a critical systemic challenge: early-stage scientific breakthroughs are notoriously difficult for generalist investors to understand and even harder to fund. While software ventures attract much of the traditional VC attention, the innovations that cure diseases, advance climate solutions, or expand scientific capability require patient and expert capital.
This led him to co-found first Science Angel Syndicate then Empirical Ventures, an investment fund dedicated to backing the most ambitious scientific teams at the earliest stages.
Alongside his work as a GP at Empirical, Dr Ben has become widely known for his self-named YouTube channel, Dr Ben Miles, with over 2.5m followers across platforms, he showcases breakthrough science, highlights extraordinary researchers (past and present), and explains complex scientific ideas to a global audience. His mission is to inspire the next generation of scientists and scientific entrepreneurs, while helping society understand and thoughtfully navigate the rapidly accelerating pace of technological progress.
Dr Ben believes deeply that humanity’s ability to innovate often outpaces its collective wisdom - making scientific communication more important than ever. By sharing stories of groundbreaking research, he hopes to broaden public understanding of the technologies shaping our future and champion the scientists behind them.
