Exploring Opportunities
So you’re interested in being entrepreneurial?
There are a wealth of activities and resources to enhance your skills, develop an idea, meet entrepreneurs and gain experience. The opportunities are only limited by the time you have.
Check out our top picks, then use the filters below to further customise your search.
Entrepreneurship @ Oxford
Looking for a way to navigate the Oxford entrepreneurship ecosystem? Our handy map shows you everything at a glance.
Understanding Intellectual Property (IP)
An Oxford guide to IP and where to find information, guidance and support.
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?
Useful TED Talks
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.
How a degree can help you run a startup
Three members of Bloom & Wild discuss how their degrees have helped in their entrepreneurial life.
Sign up to our Newsletter
A weekly digest of upcoming entrepreneurship events and opportunities in Oxfordshire.
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Click on the categories below to narrow down your search.
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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.
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.
An Accidental Entrepreneur
Dan Holloway, founder of Mycellium, talks about embracing enterprise by chance.
Oxford Case Studies: VeriVin
Smart technology for identification and classification of complex liquids in sealed containers.
Zinc
Zinc brings together the brightest minds to build and scale a brand new way to solve the most important societal problems faced by the developed world.
Oxford Capital
Oxford Capital have invested in more than 40 companies, operating in industries ranging from digital media to sustainable agriculture and medical technology.
Engaging with Entrepreneurship Programme
Sign up for IDEA's Engaging with Entrepreneurship Programme to gain practical experience, learn transferable skills for the workplace, ...
When can I call myself a science entrepreneur?
Holly Reeve's journey from research scientist to startup co-founder
IDEA Corporate Membership with Women on Boards
If you're a University of Oxford member, you can sign-up for free access to Women on Boards NexGen Membership. Register using your ...
Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries
Exploring the relationship between entrepreneurship and creativity.
Zoology meets the Saïd Business School: insights from the Ideas to Impact programme
Zoology meets business in Oxford.
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.
Keats, pitching and being enterprising
How negative capabilities can help to identify opportunities for becoming enterprising.
Startup Tips: Finding funding
Oxford student and alumni entrepreneurs give insightful advice about their startups
Student Entrepreneur Programme (StEP)
Your chance to explore what it takes to be an entrepreneur, if you're a student.
OX1
Oxford's first start-up incubator programme designed by student entrepreneurs, for student entrepreneurs, which does not take equity or IP.
10 Rules for a Great Startup Idea
If you are looking to start a startup , check out this great infographic from Founder Institute (designed by Andrea Chen).
Engaging with Entrepreneurship: Register Your Interest
In collaboration with Enterprising Oxford and Inkpath (a University of Oxford spinout), IDEA will curate "Engaging with ...
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.
TED Talks for Exploring Entrepreneurship
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.
The Careers Service Student Consultancy
The programmes equips University of Oxford students with consulting skills to help local businesses, charities and community organisations.
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 - ...
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.
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.
Why do an entrepreneurship course if you are not interested in entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship skills are essential whether you start a business or not. So what skills are these?
Enactus Oxford
An international non-profit organisation that brings together student, academic and business leaders.
The Researcher Strategy Consultancy
Giving researchers a chance to develop skills for a transition to analytical, business or policy roles in the public and private sector.
ImagineIF Accelerator
A programme of innovators across our branches worldwide, tailored mentoring and access to the Innovation Forum professional network.
Tech City Digital Business Academy
Free online courses to help you start, grow or join a digital business.
How Entrepreneurs and Academics Are the Same
What's the difference between an academic and an entrepreneur?
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.
Online FinTech Courses
Learn and understand fintech with free online classes from top universities and institutions.
Startup Tips: Is my idea good enough?
Oxford student and alumni entrepreneurs give insightful advice about their startups
Oxford Fintech Programme
This programme on financial technology and innovation is designed to offer you the tools to face the future of finance.
Tata Varsity Pitch Competition
A national early stage business pitching competition for businesses coming out of colleges and universities.
Developing your Creative Practice
A development fund designed to support independent creative practitioners.
The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Oxford Explore and Build
A bit more in depth, a bit more work, but the effort will be worth it!
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.
Digital Skills: Digital Marketing
Empowered by Accenture, this course will teach you some of the different digital marketing strategies and techniques.
SSE Funding List
A page where to find all the details about grants and support to social enterprises.
How a Degree Can Help You Run Your Startup
Three members of Bloom&Wild discuss how their degrees have helped in their entrepreneurial life
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.
The Oxford Academic Health Science Network
The Oxford AHSN brings together the NHS, universities, business, patients and the public to promote best health for the population and prosperity in Oxfordshire.
Don’t Want to Be All By Yourself? Find a cofounder
Finding a co-founder can be very tricky. It's often hard enough to find someone who you can work with, let alone finding someone you ...
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.
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.
Science and Technology Facilities Council
A publicly funded Research Council responsible for supporting, co-ordinating and promoting research, innovation and skills development.
OUI Startup Incubator
The Startup Incubator helps entrepreneur-driven ventures that are not University spinouts.
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?
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.
EIT Health Summer School
The EIT Health Summer Schools support innovation by empowering the healthcare leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
Digital Oxford
Independent organisation that sets out to make Oxford and Oxfordshire a global destination for digital business.
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.
What is an Entrepreneur?
Academia, entrepreneurship and . . . motorcycles? Dr Katie Jennings talks about what she thinks an entrepreneur is.
University of Oxford Innovation Fund
Investing across all areas of technology and intellectual property from Oxford including new Oxford-based software companies.
OUI Social Enterprise Support
Through social enterprise, OUI now offers a business model that is adaptable, dynamic and supports all University Divisions equally.
So What is Innovation Anyway?
A definition co-written by Oxford students, the Careers Service and the Humanities Division.
Oxfordshire Business Support
A practical guide to supporting Oxfordshire businesses at all stages, by people with honest first-hand experience.
What Really Fosters Innovation (Infographic)
The importance of innovation and the conditions that foster it.
Hult Prize
The Hult Prize Foundation is a start-up accelerator for budding young social entrepreneurs emerging from the world’s universities.
Support Innovation
Providing Oxford University with unprecedented opportunities to innovate by sharing resources and ideas
What does it mean to be Entrepreneurial?
It is not just about starting a business, or spinning out a company from research. It's a mindset, or a way of thinking.
The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH)
TORCH provides a range of training and development opportunities for early career researchers in Humanities.
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.
ActInSpace
An international innovation contest based on space technologies, data, patents and infrastructures.
Tech Nation
Empowering ambitious tech entrepreneurs to grow faster through knowledge and connections; to build a UK economy fit for the next generation.
OBN
OBN is the Membership organisation supporting and bringing together the UK’s emerging life sciences companies, corporate partners and investors.
MBA Entrepreneurship Project (EP)
Challenging participants to develop a full business plan and present it to a panel of invited investors and other practitioners.
Enterprising Oxford Newsletter
A weekly digest of upcoming entrepreneurship events in Oxfordshire, via Enterprising Oxford.
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.
Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success
Learn how to apply tools to better solve problems, generate ideas, and excel in your chosen career.
Researchers: make a social impact
Incubators/Accelerator The Skoll Centre offers plenty of resources for researchers looking to make a social impact with their ...
Ideas for Your Business Model
Every business needs a business model. But what exactly is a business model?
Get Interactive: Practical Teaching with Technology
This is a very practical course that will teach you how to create interactive online courses.
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.
Startups.co.uk
UK’s leading independent, online resource for anyone starting and growing a business, established in 2000.
Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
The centre aims to maximise the impact of social entrepreneurship to transform unjust systems around the world.
Connect TVT
Connect TVT strives to bring the Oxfordshire’s tech communities closer together in a more personal and meaningful way.
Working in Startups: Understanding the Growth Cycle
Growing pains - What are the phases a start-up goes through as it grows?
Female Founders Fund
The leading source of institutional capital for female founders raising seed capital with over $3B in enterprise value.
The Careers Service
The centre helps its clients, who include current Oxford students (undergraduates and postgraduates), research staff, alumni, colleagues, employers and other opportunity providers, with a range of high value career-focused services, programmes and activities.
Engaging with Entrepreneurship Programme
Sign up for IDEA's Engaging with Entrepreneurship Programme to gain practical experience, learn transferable skills for the workplace, ...
Oxford Internet Professionals
This is a great opportunity to meet other locals who earn their living from the Internet.
Social Shifters: Find your social or environmental passion and take action
Find your social or environmental passion - and take action
Managing Innovative Technology
Learn how organisations most effectively find, evaluate and process innovative technologies to realise their commercial value.
Why Humanities Graduates Make Great Entrepreneurs
Th benefits for business that come from humanities.
Startup Tips: Lessons from our students
Oxford student and alumni entrepreneurs give insightful advice about their startups
Student Entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship education is becoming more prominent, with many students seeking to learn more about business.
Vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Awards 2019
Presented every year to Oxford University students who show exceptional achievement and commitment to positive social change.
Science Innovation Union
A training platform, bridging the gap between academia, industry, and government.
Online Entrepreneurship Courses (MOOC)
Free, online entrepreneurship courses from ALISON provide a top-notch online entrepreneurship education to create a startup business.
How is Entrepreneurship Relevant to my Research?
A brief reflection about how being an entrepreneur fit in with an academic career.
Social Impact Education
A variety of co-curricular courses aimed at providing high potential, socially-minded graduate students across the University of Oxford.
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!
MPLS Enterprise Programme
Opportunities for Oxford University members to get information about Oxford Entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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
Oxford Case Studies: Boresha Technologies
Providing reliable and low-cost sources of working capital for small farmers.
Oxford Case Studies: Mycelium
It is better to be extraordinary and fail, then try to be ordinary and succeed.
Innovation & Partnership
The University of Oxford strives to create impactful knowledge through partnerships and innovation.
Social Enterprise?Entrepreneurship? Innovation?
Let's shed some light on the definitions and relations between the three.
Oxford Venture Capital Network – Student Society
A network to help both Oxford students and startups grow.
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.
Coursera: Entrepreneurship Online Courses (MOOC)
Online, free courses taught by top instructors from world-class universities and companies. So you can learn anywhere, anytime.
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.
Oxford Entrepreneurs Student Society
Oxford Entrepreneurs is the largest student society promoting entrepreneurship in the world.
University of Oxford Entrepreneurship Support
Organisations and student groups providing opportunities to explore entrepreneurship in the University.
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.
Oxford Science Enterprises
A preferred partner of the University of Oxford to provide capital to, and develop science spin-out companies.
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.
Community Enterprise Awards
Since 2013, over 40 different ventures have been supported, from a community cafe to a soap recycling enterprise.
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 ...
Oxford Entrepreneur’s Network
Oxford educated entrepreneurs, investors and mentors. The Oxford Alumni network for those interested in entrepreneurship.
Brookes Enterprise Support
Enterprise Support offers exceptional opportunities for students, staff and recent graduates.
The John Fell Fund
All subject areas are encouraged to apply, and interdisciplinary and/or interdivisional projects are especially welcome.
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!
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.
The Liber Project
Liber is a new endeavour addressing the numerous business challenges brought on by the Covid-19 crisis.
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 ...
RisingWISE: empowering enterprising women
Oxbridge network that aims to foster long-term relationships between enterprising early-career researchers and women working in industry.
The Oxford Social Entrepreneur’s Journey
Useful information about social entrepreneurship in Oxfordshire.
Oxford Women In Business (OxWIB)
A thriving student society providing a platform for opportunities for enterprising young women at the University of Oxford.
Insight into Strategy and Management
Our Insight into Strategy and Management programme is designed to demystify business and increase understanding of professional life to help students become ready for employment.
Oxford Case Studies – Hutano Diagnostics
A start-up developing a diagnostic, tracking and surveillance platform for dangerous infectious diseases in Africa.
Social Entrepreneurship: exploring the buzzword
Let's explore the buzzword that is increasingly featuring in the business and start-up sector.
The Careers Service Micro-Internship Programme
The micro-internship programme offers short-term work placements with organisations based in Oxfordshire and Greater London.
IDEA Board Experience Programme
The IDEA Board Experience Programme aims to support University of Oxford researchers and staff, who identify as women and non-binary, ...
Female Entrepreneur Resources
A list of support groups and resources for female entrepreneurs in the UK, compiled by Startups.co.uk
YES Young Entrepreneurs Scheme
A global competition developed to raise awareness of how ideas can be commercialised.
The Careers Service Training
Facilitating a number of learning and development programmes that provide opportunities to develop your skills and experience for your career.
The Careers Service Internship Programme
The University of Oxford Internship Programme provides access to hundreds of summer internships opportunities for students.
Translational funding
Translational funding is used to bridge a ‘gap’ in development between early stage university research and its commercialisation.
Innovation Districts: Creating Caffeine Fuelled Spaces to Think
So how can the concept of innovation districts be applied to Oxford?
Global Challenges Research Fund
The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) supports cutting-edge research to address challenges faced by developing countries.
Startup Tips: What to do with your idea
Oxford student and alumni entrepreneurs give insightful advice about their startups
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.
EIT Innovation
EIT is an independent EU body striving to nurture entrepreneurial talent and supporting new ideas.
Oxford Seed Fund
A student-led fund that provides capital to Oxford University’s most promising start-ups
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.
Code Academy: Online Coding Courses (MOOC)
Teaching the world how to code. Learn to code interactively, for free.
Key Characteristics of an Entrepreneur
What does it take to become an entrepreneur? Do you think you could do it? There are a set of key charcteristics which many ...
Unleash Your Potential: Innovation and Enterprise
Get an introduction to innovation and enterprise, and learn to generate and evaluate your own ideas.
Business Fundamentals: Customer Engagement
Learn how to design business and marketing activities to engage customers through relationships instead of one-off sales.
RisingWISE: ‘My career has taken exciting turns since the programme’
The RisingWISE programme helps women researchers thrive, as its alumnae have experienced firsthand.
Working Flexibly: Ask Me Anything with Sarah Haywood
Sarah Haywood talks about her experiences with flexible working
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.
Head-to-head with Helen Williams of Vitaccess
Recently The Oxford Trust went head-to-head with Helen Williams, Director of Operations, at Vitaccess – a pioneering digital healthcare consultancy.
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Enterprising Oxford is a University of Oxford initiative to help connect people to the entrepreneurship resources they need, and to promote entrepreneurship across Oxfordshire.
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