University of Oxford: Conception X Cohort 7 Discovery Session

Conception X helps PhD students become Venture Scientists – PhD founders who bridge the gap between academia and industry. Whether you’re already working on a startup or you’re interested in learning how to translate and commercialise your research, our programme supports you to accelerate your understanding of entrepreneurship.

Join this session to learn about becoming part of Conception X Cohort 7, which will run from March to November 2024. The programme offers training sessions created specifically for STEM PhD students, access to a nationwide network of experts and funding opportunities, and the opportunity to meet fellow researchers who are exploring career pathways post-PhD.

In this session, you’ll learn everything you need to know about joining our programme. By the end, you’ll feel ready to decide if you want to apply to become part of Cohort 7.

Here’s what to expect:

Programme overview presentation, including eligibility criteria, timeline, and programme benefits
Stories from our successful student teams
Walk-through of the application process
Q&A with Olivia Ash, Conception X HQ & Programme Support Manager
You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about our nationwide Venture Science community, including students like you who want to bring their research out of the lab.

Who should join the session?

PhD students from University of Oxford working on research with commercialisation potential and who are interested in exploring entrepreneurship as a potential career choice.

What is Conception X?

Conception X is a fully funded programme and platform that helps PhD students become Venture Scientists and commercialise their research in impactful ways.

Via a 9-month programme that includes training, coaching and mentoring, we help PhDs launch deeptech startups based on their research, connect with leading members of the deeptech community, and become eligible for innovation grants, awards and venture capital funding.

Our three-year partnership with XTX Ventures supports 6-12 new companies per cohort with a typical cheque size of £100,000.

Over the past 5.5 years, 400+ PhD students across 360+ teams have gone through the programme, with £57M+ capital raised.