Student Entrepreneurs’ Programme (StEP)

StEP Ignite is a student entrepreneurship programme that brings teams of entrepreneurial students together to develop innovative business ideas.

This four-week programme, brought to you by the incubator team at Oxford University Innovation (OUI) and in partnership with Enspire Oxford, is built for budding entrepreneurs who want to develop their entrepreneurial skills, benefiting from the support of professionals in the innovation sector. Only current Oxford University student members (fully matriculated students) are eligible to join the programme.

New to this year, we’re inviting you to bring your own idea and find a team or - if you don’t have an idea of your own - to come along and join an existing team and help work on their idea. Groups will receive a place to work, mentoring from OUI staff and free access to an intensive training programme. A limited number of stipends are available to those who need to cover the cost of living for the month.

At the end of the programme, all teams will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. The winning team will receive a cash prize to spend on taking the first steps in setting up the business they pitched. In addition, you’ll receive a package of support from OUI and will be partnered with business and technology mentors to help make the dream a reality.

We’ll help you get investor ready and support your bids to raise funds through our extensive network of investors, who already invest millions into ideas that come from Oxford. This panel of investors is ready and waiting to meet you.

All the teams that complete the programme will have the opportunity to continue with their business idea through the OUI incubator programme, which comes with both financial and mentor support.

Start date: Monday 3 July 2023

Duration: four weeks

Venue: OUI Startup Incubator, Buxton Court, 3 West Way, Oxford OX2 0JB