Developing an Idea or Venture
If you have a business idea or are starting a startup, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your skills, networks and business.
There is something for everyone here, regardless of your startup idea, background, type of business, or startup stage.
Check out our top picks, then use the filters below to further customise your search.
I Have a Great Idea. . . Now What?
You finally found a great startup idea – what are the next steps?
Fundamentals of Starting a UK Business
Government Advice and information for starting a business in the UK
Business Plans and More
Guidance on writing Business Plans and other important documents from UK sources.
Basics of Pitching
Some basic advice on how to be persuasive when pitching your startup idea.
Finding Funding: An Overview
A short list of the different business idea funding options that a startup could choose.
Entrepreneurship @ Oxford
Our handy map shows you how to navigate the Oxford entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Looking for something specific?
Click on the categories below to narrow down your search.
- All
- Articles & Information
- Blog & Case Studies
- Business Basics
- Consumer & Retail
- Creative & Cultural
- Developing an Idea or Early Stage
- Education & Knowledge
- Entrepreneurs Uncovered
- Exploring Opportunities
- External Resources
- Finance
- Funding & Competitions
- General
- Growing my Company
- Health & Wellbeing
- IT & Digital
- Oxford
- People & Organisations
- Personalised
- Places & Spaces
- Programmes & Events
- Science & Technology
- Social Enterprise
- Students
- Uncategorised
I Have a Great Idea. . . Now What?
Okay, you have a great business idea, which you have spent time and effort validating. And now, presto, you are ready to start a ...
Startup Visa Endorsement (was GEV)
A UK endorsement scheme for those wish to stay in the UK to develop their business ideas.
Entrepreneur First
A 3-month long programme run in 6 cities across the globe. We bring together the few individuals with the potential to found globally important technology companies, to meet their co-founder and build startups from scratch.
Oxford Innospace
Leave your spare room behind and join us in our thriving co-working space for entrepreneurs, startups and freelancers.
Arts at the Old Fire Station
An arts centre in the heart of Oxford, showcasing the best of local and international performance and artwork, which takes a risk and entertains.
Online FinTech Courses
Learn and understand fintech with free online classes from top universities and institutions.
Social Enterprise UK
National body for social enterprise – business with a social or environmental mission.
eScalate Social Enterprise Support
Supporting social entrepreneurs, enterprising charities and other purposeful businesses in Oxfordshire.
Skoll Venture Awards
Looking for ventures that get to the root of some of the significant issues affecting our world.
Oxfordshire Business First
A not-for-profit organisation set up to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in Oxfordshire.
Social Entrepreneurship: exploring the buzzword
Let's explore the buzzword that is increasingly featuring in the business and start-up sector.
The First Questions to ask yourself when you have that big idea Part 2
Dr Stuart Wilkinson gives advice on business ideas and how to manage them.
Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
The centre aims to maximise the impact of social entrepreneurship to transform unjust systems around the world.
Bethnal Green Ventures
Invests in new ideas to fix social and environmental problems through an intensive three-month programme.
Head-to-head with Jessica Dillon at the Social Tech Trust
The Oxford Trust went head-to-head with Jessica Dillon at the Social Tech Trust, one of OCFI’s latest residents, to find out how they transform lives with tech.
Panacea Stars
Panacea Stars collaborate with the most exciting sci-entrepreneurs to help transform bold visions into thriving companies.
Innovation Forum Oxford
The Innovation Forum seeks to promote innovation by building bridges between academia, industry and government.
Ellis Parry, CEO and Co-founder of neumind
Ellis is CEO and co-founder of neumind - a company dedicated to improving the lives of people with cognitive impairments.
Skillshare: Online Courses
Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more.
Startup Tips: Is my idea good enough?
Oxford student and alumni entrepreneurs give insightful advice about their startups
Female Entrepreneur Resources
A list of support groups and resources for female entrepreneurs in the UK, compiled by Startups.co.uk
Brookes Enterprise Support
Enterprise Support offers exceptional opportunities for students, staff and recent graduates.
The First questions to ask yourself when you have that big idea Part 3
Dr Stuart Wilkinson gives advice on business ideas and how to manage them.
Conted: The Management and Business Skills Programme
Intensive, one-day courses in a variety of subjects.
Jeremy Parsons, co-founder of Magic Subscriptions
Jeremy Parsons is a co-founder and CEO of Magic Subscriptions.
Oxford Technology
For more than 30 years, Oxford Technology has specialised in investing in start-up and early stage technology companies based near Oxford.
NHS Clinical Entrepreneur
The clinical entrepreneur training programme is designed to offer opportunities for clinical, NHS staff and wider health professionals to develop their entrepreneurial aspirations during their clinical training period.
MBA Entrepreneurship Project (EP)
Challenging participants to develop a full business plan and present it to a panel of invited investors and other practitioners.
Student Entrepreneur Programme (StEP)
Your chance to explore what it takes to be an entrepreneur, if you're a student.
How a Degree Can Help You Run Your Startup
Three members of Bloom&Wild discuss how their degrees have helped in their entrepreneurial life
Oxfordshire Business Support
A practical guide to supporting Oxfordshire businesses at all stages, by people with honest first-hand experience.
Fireside Chat: Making Responsible Technology the New Normal
Alex Koelbl was in the audience when Yossi Vardi sat down with Martha Lane Fox to discuss her journey as an early tech innovator.
Head-to-head with Low Carbon Hub
The Oxford Trust went head-to-head with Barbara Hammond, CEO of The Low Carbon Hub – a small social enterprise with big aims, now based at WCFI in Headington. They are working on the ground-breaking Project LEO, an ambitious and innovative smart grid trial.
Oxford Case Studies: SociAbility
Matt Pierri is the CEO and Co-founder of SociAbility, whose main aim is to map the accessibility of social spaces within Oxford’s 44 colleges and halls, as well as a broad sweep of social venues, including cafes, restaurants and bars in a dedicated app.
EIT Innovation
EIT is an independent EU body striving to nurture entrepreneurial talent and supporting new ideas.
Climate KIC
Helping climate related start-ups to connect with the right experts for their business to thrive.
Oxford Case Studies: RisingWISE
Anne Miller is joint founder of RisingWISE, an initiative aimed at women in STEM at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge that aims to combat some of the disparities between men and women in achieving leadership roles and pursuing entrepreneurship opportunities in this sector.
#StartedinOxford Demo Night 2023
Enterprising Oxford brings you the latest #StartedInOxford Demo Day!
Skoll World Forum
A three day event gathering 1000 delegates from the social, finance, private and public sectors, in Oxford.
Oxford Centre for Teaching and Learning
The Centre for Teaching and Learning provides voluntary courses for university and college staff at the University of Oxford.
Bioescalator
Bio-escalator provides flexible lab space for your small and growing biomedical science company.
Social Shifters: Find your social or environmental passion and take action
Find your social or environmental passion - and take action
So you think you want to be a director of a company…
Top questions you need to know the answers to before you become a company director. Whether you have never been a director before, or not there are some questions you should ask about yourself before you take on the responsibility
ImagineIF Accelerator
A programme of innovators across our branches worldwide, tailored mentoring and access to the Innovation Forum professional network.
Support Innovation
Providing Oxford University with unprecedented opportunities to innovate by sharing resources and ideas
RisingWISE: ‘My career has taken exciting turns since the programme’
The RisingWISE programme helps women researchers thrive, as its alumnae have experienced firsthand.
Oxford Venture Capital Network – Student Society
A network to help both Oxford students and startups grow.
The First Questions to Ask Yourself when You have that Big Idea Part 1
Dr Stuart Wilkinson gives advice on business ideas and how to manage them.
Innovation for Entrepreneurs: From Idea to Marketplace
Developing insights on navigating the innovation process from idea generation to commercialisation.
Why Students Need to Learn Entrepreneurial Skills
Thinking about becoming a student entrepreneur? Or just looking to expand your skill set? Here’s why as a student you need to learn ...
Amazon Small Business Accelerator
Join the #AmazonAccelerator to access a catalogue of more than 15-hours of online training anytime, led by leading business experts. The e-learning is tailored to individuals just starting their entrepreneurial adventure, as well as those looking to go for growth!
Humanities Business Engagement and Partnerships
Supporting the breadth of academic research interests in the Social Science and Humanities Divisions.
“We are all going to change the world: it’s just where and how?”
Food for thoughts: measuring the impact of our lives.
Oxford Science Park
Offices, lab space, virtual offices and meeting space to start-up and growing companies.
Jordan Farrar, founder of Akoca SEO
Jordan Farrar is the founder of Akoca-seo, a digital marketing agency in Oxfordshire.
Oxford Case Studies: VeriVin
Smart technology for identification and classification of complex liquids in sealed containers.
Business Plans and Other Important Documents
10 sections that could be included in your business plan.
Oxford Fintech Programme
This programme on financial technology and innovation is designed to offer you the tools to face the future of finance.
Ideas 2 Impact
This innovation and enterprise skills initiative is convened at Saïd Business School, in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Centre and the University of Oxford sciences division.
The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH)
TORCH provides a range of training and development opportunities for early career researchers in Humanities.
Researchers: make a social impact
Incubators/Accelerator The Skoll Centre offers plenty of resources for researchers looking to make a social impact with their ...
OX1
Oxford's first start-up incubator programme designed by student entrepreneurs, for student entrepreneurs, which does not take equity or IP.
Oxford Case Studies: Mycelium
It is better to be extraordinary and fail, then try to be ordinary and succeed.
OUI – Commercialising your research
Helping staff and students in the University of Oxford who want to protect and commercialise the results of their research.
University of Oxford Innovation Fund
Investing across all areas of technology and intellectual property from Oxford including new Oxford-based software companies.
Head-to-head with Rupert Wilkinson at Oxford Product Design
The Oxford Trust went head-to-head with Rupert Wilkinson, MD of Oxford Product Design – based at OCFI, they are only product design consultancy working out of central Oxford. Their mantra is “making things better by making better things”.
Entrepreneurship Events Grant – Trinity 2023
If you're an Oxford student or staff member, you can apply for an entrepreneurship events grant.
Free Entrepreneurship Online Courses and Activities
Looking for something to do from the comfort of your own home? Check out these free online entrepreneurship courses, videos and resources!
OUI Social Enterprise Support
Through social enterprise, OUI now offers a business model that is adaptable, dynamic and supports all University Divisions equally.
Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards
One of the UK’s largest student and graduate business pitching competitions.
Social Impact Education
A variety of co-curricular courses aimed at providing high potential, socially-minded graduate students across the University of Oxford.
How to Finance and Grow Your Startup – Without VC
If you’re an entrepreneur at any stage of your journey, and you need money, this course is for you.
University of Oxford Entrepreneurship Support
Organisations and student groups providing opportunities to explore entrepreneurship in the University.
Oxford Case Studies: Project SOUP
Enjoying a simple bowl of soup for an evening can be the first step to making a number of positive changes in your community.
Oxford Women In Business (OxWIB)
A thriving student society providing a platform for opportunities for enterprising young women at the University of Oxford.
Theophina Gabriel, founder of onyx magazine
Theophina Gabriel is the Editor-in-Chief at onyx magazine; an independent publication dedicated to publishing talented Black creatives: writers, artists and poets.
IDEA Panel: How Talking About Diversity is Making Entrepreneurship More Inclusive (22nd June 2021)
On 22nd June 2021, IDEA hosted a panel dedicated to ‘How Talking About Diversity is Making Entrepreneurship More Inclusive’ with speakers from the Oxfordshire entrepreneurial community: Dr Mira Kassouf, Nathania (Tanya) Aritao, and Nicole Beach. This panel drew upon their own professional experiences to highlight different career paths for women leaders and discuss key principles for thinking about how women entrepreneurs can champion diversity and inclusion while using their talents for successful entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries
Exploring the relationship between entrepreneurship and creativity.
The First Questions to ask yourself when you have that big idea Part 4
Dr Stuart Wilkinson gives advice on business ideas and how to manage them.
Keeping your Startup Idea in Good Shape
Some advice from the Founder of ChattyFeet to aspiring entrepreneurs.
OUI – Engaging with Humanities
Supporting the Humanities Division research, through enterprise, entrepreneurship and consultancy.
Tata Varsity Pitch Competition
A national early stage business pitching competition for businesses coming out of colleges and universities.
Enterprising Women programme
Encouraging, inspiring and supporting the participation of female STEM researchers in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Enterprising Oxford’s Inaugural Pitch @ the Pub
Changing the world, one pair of pants and a radiator at a time.
The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Oxford Explore and Build
A bit more in depth, a bit more work, but the effort will be worth it!
Startup Tips: Lessons from our students
Oxford student and alumni entrepreneurs give insightful advice about their startups
Venture Capital Investment Competition
Global VCIC is the world’s largest venture capital competition among top MBA students from 70+ prestigious business schools.
ActInSpace
An international innovation contest based on space technologies, data, patents and infrastructures.
EIT Health Summer School
The EIT Health Summer Schools support innovation by empowering the healthcare leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
Urbanoid
Providing high quality serviced office working space for small businesses and organisations.
Eagle Labs at The Wood Centre For Innovation
A flagship for early stage science and technology companies aimed at supporting spinout scientists, university graduates and entrepreneurs.
Startups.co.uk
UK’s leading independent, online resource for anyone starting and growing a business, established in 2000.
Community Enterprise Awards
Since 2013, over 40 different ventures have been supported, from a community cafe to a soap recycling enterprise.
Green Leaves Group
Green Leaves Group is a social enterprise dedicated to helping individuals be more sustainable through tailored workshops and online campaigns.
Oxford Hub
A centre for social action that’s open to everyone, and that takes a collaborative approach to solving some of today’s most pressing issues.
The ‘secret’ network that transformed my startup
An unusual type of network where you could build really good business relationships.
Oxford Science Enterprises
A preferred partner of the University of Oxford to provide capital to, and develop science spin-out companies.
Unleash Your Potential: Innovation and Enterprise
Get an introduction to innovation and enterprise, and learn to generate and evaluate your own ideas.
UJJI
UJJI is a gamified, personal growth mobile tool combining the latest research and advances in neuroscience & AI.
I Have an Idea Related to Research… Now What?
As a student or researcher you need to know the rules around IP in the university.
Oxford Case Studies: Language Amigo
Language Amigo is a new way for students to improve their spoken Spanish by providing an income to LATAM youngsters, too.
Tech Nation
Empowering ambitious tech entrepreneurs to grow faster through knowledge and connections; to build a UK economy fit for the next generation.
Fundamentals of Starting a Business in the UK
Six different steps listed to starting a business in the UK.
Developing your Creative Practice
A development fund designed to support independent creative practitioners.
The John Fell Fund
All subject areas are encouraged to apply, and interdisciplinary and/or interdivisional projects are especially welcome.
The Oxford Social Entrepreneur’s Journey
Useful information about social entrepreneurship in Oxfordshire.
Female Founders Fund
The leading source of institutional capital for female founders raising seed capital with over $3B in enterprise value.
Meet Prime Advocates: Business for Good
Prime Advocates is a London-based not-for-profit corporate law firm and social finance consultancy. Its Social Finance Hot Desk connects pioneering social enterprise initiatives with free specialist legal advice.
Engaging with Entrepreneurship Programme
Sign up for IDEA's Engaging with Entrepreneurship Programme to gain practical experience, learn transferable skills for the workplace, ...
OUI Startup Incubator
The Startup Incubator helps entrepreneur-driven ventures that are not University spinouts.
Sanoma Jean, Founder of Aya Therapy
Sanoma Jean is the founder Aya Therapy an intelligent patient management platform reducing burnout for mental health care practitioners.
Oxford Healthtech Labs
Oxford Healthtech Labs builds on years of experience running needs-driven innovation training programmes at the University of Oxford.
Business Model Canvas Explained
The Business Model Canvas is a business tool used to visualise all the building blocks of starting a business
Oxfordshire Social Entrepreneurship Partnership (OSEP)
OSEP has been set up to help existing and prospective social entrepreneurs plan, develop and grow their businesses across Oxfordshire.
Kezia Susanto, Zheqing Zhang & Wanlin Xiao, co-founders of i-Opto
Kezia, Zheqing and Wanlin are the team behind i-Opto, a tele-optometry app.
Understanding Intellectual Property (IP)
As a student, you need to understand what IP is, who owns it, and what can be done with it before proceeding with an idea.
Oxford Case Studies: Boresha Technologies
Providing reliable and low-cost sources of working capital for small farmers.
WeAreTheCity
WeAreTheCity includes gender-related news, a networks directory, calendar of events and conferences, returnships, business schools, inspirational women profiles, HeForShe interviews, giving back and jobs.
Startup Tips: Finding funding
Oxford student and alumni entrepreneurs give insightful advice about their startups
What is an MVP (hint: it’s not the most valuable player)?
The most basic form of your idea that will generate the most interest/validation.
Head-to-head with Katie Bedborough of Oxford VR
A company to watch, OCFI-based Oxford VR has just raised £10m Series A funding. The Oxford Trust went head-to-head with Katie Bedborough, their COO, to find out more about how their VR technology is being used in mental health treatments.
Startup Tips: What to do with your idea
Oxford student and alumni entrepreneurs give insightful advice about their startups
Why Students Need to Learn Entrepreneurial Skills
Thinking about becoming a student entrepreneur? Or just looking to expand your skill set? Here’s why as a student you need to learn ...
IDEA Programmes & Courses
As part of the IDEA programme, we will be running a number of pilot programmes to help increase diversity in enterprising activities - ...
Skoll Scholarship
A competitive scholarship for incoming MBA students who pursue entrepreneurial solutions for urgent social and environmental challenges.
Are You Ready to Start a Business?
So you've been thinking about starting a venture recently, but how do you know if you actually are ready?
Kat Mayhew and Guada Oliver, founders of Candour
Kat Mayhew and Guada Oliver founders of Candour, a canned wine business offering more sustainable and convenient alternative to traditional glass bottles.
TED Talks for Social Entrepreneurs
TED Talks are a great source of information, advice and experience to help you with any idea you have, no matter what stage you are at.
Maria Pousa, Partner, Aletta Angels
Maria Pousa is a partner in Aletta Angels, an angel investment collective investing in early stage start-ups that empower women.
Oxford Case Studies – Uncomfortable Oxford
Are you sitting comfortably? Then it’s time to get up and take a bumpy walk through Oxford’s past.
Bucks Health Tech Hub
Join other early-stage health and tech businesses at High Wycombe’s impressive new home of innovation. A community of innovators creating change and we’re here to support you.
TED Talks for Entrepreneurs
TED Talks are a great source of information, advice and experience to help you with any idea you have, no matter what stage you are at.
#StartedinOxford Demo Night – November 2018
Read our blog post from Megan Morys-Carter and see some photos from the night!
Tech City Digital Business Academy
Free online courses to help you start, grow or join a digital business.
Aspect launch new Accelerator!
Aspect’s new flagship four-month social sciences student and alumni accelerator hosted by LSE to support and scale socially-responsible student and alumni ventures is now open for applications.
Oxford Case Studies – OxyClot
Training the next generation of global leaders in digital health innovation.
Tech hubs where your start-up can flourish
Workspace is about more than a desk: it’s about access to the right equipment, services, and facilities.
Oxford Case Studies: Pick Me Up Parcels
Emily Tench bagged a social enterprise award for Pick-Me-Up Parcels, a venture that does what it says on the parcel.
Entrepreneurship.org
An online resource from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to help entrepreneurs grow great ideas.
Ideas for Your Business Model
Every business needs a business model. But what exactly is a business model?
Get Your Startup Started
In this course, you’ll learn how to pitch your business and secure the funding you’ll need to launch your new company.
Get in touch
Copyright © 2022 EnSpire Oxford | Site by Herd
EnSpire Oxford is a University of Oxford initiative to help connect people to the entrepreneurship resources they need, and to promote entrepreneurship across Oxfordshire.
Sign up for our newsletter