Oxford Seed Fund - Team Applications

Oxford Seed Fund invests into startups where either a current Oxford student, alumni or researcher is part of the founding team. We invest up to £100,000 into top Oxford-affiliated startups across the globe and provide them with the network and support to scale. Our team is primarily made up of students from Saïd Business School, as well as other departments of the University of Oxford, and an alumni team. Supported by Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Centre, we have sourced and evaluated hundreds of startups and made early investments into unicorns such as Onfido and Go1.

What is the structure of the program? 

• Approximately 8-10 Student Investors are selected for Michaelmas Term.
• All students are selected on a term-by-term basis (i.e., this application form is for the Michaelmas Term entry to the team).
• Term-to-term retention is decided through review - combining quantitative and qualitative assessment - of each student’s deal velocity/quality (founder responsiveness, email correspondence, funnel speed, DD quality and rigor), sourcing, team contribution and collaborativeness, meeting attendance and participation, and coachability. Student performance is discussed in deal-flow and individual coaching sessions.
• Student participants may opt out at any time if their availability changes.
• Who are we looking for?

Applicants must be an Oxford BA/MPhil/MSc/MBA/DPhil student graduating in July 2026 or beyond. Must have a demonstrable interest in startups and venture capital, and the motivation to source and diligence early-stage startup opportunities. Must be available to commit 10+ hours a week for the duration of Michaelmas Term and attend weekly in-person meetings.

• Applicants would be expected to commit several hours a week for the duration of Michaelmas Term and attend weekly in-person meetings (10+ hours/week over the term). 
• Ideal candidates will be driven, thoughtful and diligent students who are passionate about startups and hope to make the transition to founding their own startup or breaking into venture capital. 
• Applicants need to be conscious of the responsibility that comes with sourcing deals on a weekly basis, leading deal diligence, and representing the Oxford Seed Fund, which requires extra work beyond the typical academic schedule. 
• Applicants should be team-players, keen to learn, and must be active week-to-week in-person. This involves being receptive to the direction and feedback given by the alumni, who will drive the performance of the fund and support the team's development.

Click the link below for more information and to apply.