The stellar student directors of the Oxford Seed Fund.

Oxford Seed Fund ramps up to deploy over £500K this year in Oxford-affiliated ventures

Published

The Oxford Seed Fund (OSF) is delighted to reveal a significant surge in its investment activities.

Following a £2.5m fundraise from Oxford Science Enterprises last summer, the OSF has invested more in the last five months than in the previous five years.

Housed in Saïd Business School’s Entrepreneurship Centre, OSF is Europe's largest student-led fund, supporting early-stage startups founded by Oxford University’s students, faculty, and alumni, offering investments up to £100,000. This year, the fund has redesigned its operational structure allowing for larger investment tickets and an increase in the number of ventures OSF is able to assist each year. 

 

Students at OSF have completed investments in ten ground-breaking companies, amassing a total of £530k so far, with the expectation to double this number by the end of Trinity Term.

Among the highlights of this year’s investments is OSF’s co-investment with notable industry giants such as Y Combinator, a16z crypto csx, Notion Capital, Techstars and more. This underscores the dynamic and global reach of Oxford’s startup scene, whilst heralding a promising era of innovation and entrepreneurship at the university.

I am particularly proud of the outstanding work that our team of students has undertaken to make these investments happen. Their tireless efforts in sourcing, evaluating, and recommending opportunities have been instrumental for us to make these investments.

Maria Zubeldia Diaz

Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre

The student team leading on investments is supported by an advisory board of venture capitalists, including the likes of LocalGlobe, Seedcamp & Tiny VC, and a wider advisory network of University of Oxford academics.

Maria Zubeldia Diaz, Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre at Saïd Business School, commented: ‘I am particularly proud of the outstanding work that our team of students has undertaken to make these investments happen. Their tireless efforts in sourcing, evaluating, and recommending opportunities have been instrumental for us to make these investments’.

Key Statistics

£530,000

Completed student investments

10

Startups supported

Up to £100,000

Investments available from OSF

OSF's recent investments:

Oxford Seed Fund’s recent investments:

  1. Louisa: revolutionising knowledge sharing within corporates through AI.
  2. Allia Health: enhancing mental health treatments with AI-driven insights from wearable data.
  3. Little Place Labs: edge compute for real-time, satellite-driven insights for sectors like defence and climate response.
  4. NodeShift: transforming cloud computing with a decentralized, blockchain-based platform.
  5. Compass Labs: facilitating the transition towards decentralized finance.
  6. Bilanc: innovating fintech with advanced analytics for customer-level unit economics.
  7. Armada Technologies: reducing maritime fuel consumption with a novel passive air lubrication system.
  8. Serene: AI-driven early detection of financial vulnerability.
  9. Limula: automating cell and gene therapy development within one device.
  10. Albus Health: advancing patient care with a non-invasive sleep-monitoring technology.

The success of these ventures not only highlights significant technological advancements in their respective fields but also aligns perfectly with OSF’s mission to foster innovative solutions that address substantial market needs. Lilly Bussmann, Head of Strategic Capital at Oxford Science Enterprises, commented: 'Oxford Seed Fund has had a very exciting year, and it shows how dynamic and global the reach of Oxford's startup scene is – it’s a brilliant time to be involved.' 

Oxford Seed Fund has had a very exciting year, and it shows how dynamic and global the reach of Oxford's startup scene is – it’s a brilliant time to be involved.'

Lilly Bussmann

Head of Strategic Capital at Oxford Science Enterprises

As OSF continues to expand its portfolio, the involvement of the alumni staff members, dedicated student team, alongside the invaluable input from the advisory board and the wider Oxford research community, remains crucial. These collective efforts have been instrumental in not only scouting and vetting potential investments but also in shaping the future landscape of technology and entrepreneurship.

Learn more about the Oxford Seed Fund and apply here.