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Every EnSpire and partner programme, organised by stage — from one-day bootcamps to term-long accelerators. Filter to where you are today. You can move between stages, and several programmes span more than one.

The EnSpire Journey

Three stages, plus everything that's available whatever stage you're at.

Inspire — entrepreneurial mindsets and skills. Expand what you think entrepreneurship is: creativity, problem-solving and teamwork, applied in any career, including if you don't see yourself as an entrepreneur.

Launch — idea validation and venture creation. Turn an idea into a venture: test and refine the concept, validate the market, build a prototype.

Accelerate — support and venture acceleration. Strengthen and scale a venture already underway: business models, funding, mentors and partners

Resources and Community — available at any stage. Skills workshops, networking, online resources and guides, spaces to work, and funding opportunities. No sequence, no prerequisites.

Overview of our Programmes & Events

Expand what you think entrepreneurship is. Creativity, problem-solving and teamwork, applied in any career — including if you don't see yourself as an entrepreneur.

CXO School

A practitioner-led programme introducing researchers to the executive roles involved in turning research into impact.

Edge Challenges

A multi-week programme that empowers students to tackle real-world challenges set by industry partners, collaborate across disciplines, and develop innovative solutions with meaningful impact.

Edge Hackathons

A low-barrier, collaborative space for Oxford students to explore ideas, tackle real challenges and test solutions fast.

EnSpire Idea Lab

A one-day Oxford bootcamp turning early-stage ideas into structured, testable business plans using the Lean Canvas. No experience needed.

STUDENTS WATCH A PRESENTATION IN THE STEPHEN A. SCHWARZMAN CENTRE FOR THE HUMANITIES

GROW

A series of events for the Oxford STEMM community — share ideas, learn together and build a community around curiosity and impact.

Inspiring Female Founders

A global movement and knowledge hub from Oxford Saïd, bringing together stories, education, research and tools for women entrepreneurs.

Nestworking

An open networking event bringing Oxford's entrepreneurial ecosystem together to make meaningful connections.

Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Forum

An annual gathering of entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders and investors, exploring the world of entrepreneurship at Oxford Saïd.

RisingWISE

Confidence and skills for early-career women researchers in STEMM, building careers across academia, industry and entrepreneurship. Delivered by MPLS.

SeedWISE

For women DPhil students in STEMM at Oxford: meet your tribe, build entrepreneurial confidence, and explore where your research could lead.

Startup Idea Competition

Share your business idea in a 250-word summary and a one-minute pitch video. Open to all Oxford, no experience needed. Cash prizes and follow-on support.

STUDENTS SITTING IN THE STEPHEN A. SCHWARZMAN CENTRE FOR THE HUMANITIES'S GREAT HALL

Venture Capital Lab (VC Lab)

Venture capital knowledge and skills for University of Oxford students preparing for careers in venture investing.

Turn an idea into a venture. Test and refine the concept, validate the market, build a prototype.

Oxford Catalyst Grant

Equity-free grants from £10,000 for early-stage Oxford founders creating social impact, with pitch training and ongoing mentorship.

OYSTERCATCHERS TAKING FLIGHT OVER PORT MEADOW

Oxford Climate Ventures

A 12-week venture validation programme helping Oxford innovators turn climate, energy transition and net-zero ideas into ventures.

Oxford Stage

An investor-facing showcase ahead of the Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Forum, bringing Oxford startups and active investors together.

Oxford Venture Explorer

Oxford's early-stage venture validation programme, helping students, researchers and staff test and build ventures.

Pitch & Mix

Connect early-stage founders with the people, skills and experience to form teams and move Oxford ventures forward.

StEP

A two-month summer programme equipping Oxford students to turn innovative ideas into realistic and sustainable ventures.

The Oxford Moonshot

The University's pre-seed accelerator for DPhils and early-career researchers building high-growth deeptech companies.

Strengthen and scale a venture already underway. Business models, funding, mentors and partners.

Oxford Stage

An investor-facing showcase ahead of the Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Forum, bringing Oxford startups and active investors together.

The Oxford Moonshot

The University's pre-seed accelerator for DPhils and early-career researchers building high-growth deeptech companies.

University Digital Asset Xcelerator (UDAX) Oxford

Helping ambitious fintech, digital asset and financial infrastructure startups strengthen their products and scale.

Skills workshops, networking, online resources and guides, spaces to work, and funding opportunities. Use them whenever you need them — no sequence, no prerequisites.

A person smiling posting a fake #StartedinOxford Showcase 2025 cash note into a voting box

EnSpire Founder Grants

EnSpire Founder Grants: up to £1,000 to help early-stage Oxford startup teams take their next step.

Professional Services Clinics

Tailored 1:1 advice for Oxford founders from specialists across legal, finance and intellectual property.

The EnSpire Roadmap

Every core programme and event across the academic year, on one timeline. Click to enlarge.

Coming soon

The EnSpire Events & Programme Guide

A detailed breakdown of every programme, plus our University partners — the Entrepreneurship Centre at Saïd, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford Edge and more.

Download Guide

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Programmes & Events

The EnSpire Journey