Oxford Seed Fund

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A student-led fund that provides capital to Oxford University’s most promising startups

Oxford Seed Fund provides startups and entrepreneurs with access to capital and a supportive ecosystem in which to develop and scale.

We invest between £20,000 to £100,000 in the top Oxford-affiliated startups and provide them with the network and support they need to scale. The team is made up of Saïd Business School students with experience in venture capital, investment strategy, management consultancy, financial services and entrepreneurship. 

Supported by the Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Centre, we source and evaluate up to 200 potential opportunities, conduct due diligence and invest in ten startups every year. 

Take a look at our investment portfolio and learn about the investments made since 2012.

We are currently looking to recruit 8-10 students (a core number of whom will be MBAs) across the university, to join as Student Directors and manage the fund with the alumni pair. This is a year-long initiative running from September 2024 to July 2025.

 

 

 

Apply for funding
Apply to be a Director
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Overview

53

Investments to date

£1.5m

Funds invested

£470M+

Additional funds raised by global investors

1,200+

Jobs created

Investment Portfolio

View investments

The Oxford Seed Fund has invested in 53 ventures since its creation - of which 34 are currently active - varying in industry to make up a diverse portfolio. 

Apply for funding

FAQs

Our latest funding round is currently closed. Eligible founders may still submit an application, but these will be reviewed by the new team from Michaelmas Term 2024.

To apply you will need:

  • An Oxford connection: at least one alumni, staff member or current student in your founding team
  • Requirement for capital: an explanation for why our investment will make a meaningful difference for your venture
  • Potential for growth: demonstrate you could receive a 10x follow-on investment or generate substantial revenues in the next 18 months
  • Corporate registration in the UK or US: even if you operate elsewhere

Venture Capital Advisory Board

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    Miruna-Ioana Girtu

    Venture Partner, Syndicate Room

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    Jim Hall

    Founder & CEO, Salty

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    Michael (Mish) Mashkautsan

    General Partner, LocalGlobe & Latitude

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    Nick Jenkins

    Founder of Moonpig.com and Angel investor

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    Michael Tefula

    Investor-in-Residence, Ada Ventures

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    Tom Wilson

    Partner, Seedcamp

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    Ophelia Cai

    Partner - Tiny Supercomputer Investment Company

Emeritus Advisory Board members

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    Will Sheldon

    Partner, Expedition Growth Capital

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    Steve Moyle

    Founder & CTO, Amplify Intelligence

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    Catherine Dupere

    Principal, Isomer Capital

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

The Oxford Seed Fund publicly commits to diversity, equity and inclusion on behalf of past, current and future Oxford Seed Fund teams. We seek to ensure that each term, from Directors to the startups in our portfolio, we share the same values and commitments to be self-aware and critical of our own diversity and biases, as well as the impact of our work.

We aim for this to be a continuing tradition and one that is reflected upon as the Oxford Seed Fund alumni base grows. We will continue to revisit our values and priorities as a fund and update them to match the available knowledge of the time. The following list is not exhaustive, but examples of ways in which we hope to be more responsible members of the VC community:

  1. We commit to prioritising Diversity, Equity and Inclusion when selecting team members, sourcing new leads and when making our investments
  2. We will actively reflect on biases and preconceptions during the sourcing, due diligence and selection processes
  3. We will ensure continued education and awareness on the progress, or lack-there-of, with industry standards regarding hiring and investing in underrepresented groups
  4. We will hold ourselves accountable for meeting specific metrics and goals that provide equal opportunities to members of the cohort
  5. We commit to prohibiting and to be intolerant of any form of bullying, sexual harassment, or discrimination

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