GROW: Discover the Conception X Venture Pathway (online)

Event DETAILS

Join us for a 90-minute online session with Conception X, the venture programme helping researchers turn research into real-world startups. Gain insight into the structure of the programme, hear real success stories from past Conception X participants, and learn how you can apply to join Cohort 9.

You’ll also have the opportunity to take part in a live Q&A with our Programme & Portfolio Manager, and get your questions answered.

Open to all D.Phil. students and early career researchers curious about entrepreneurship.

Booking information

Register for your place at the event here.

DATE / TIME

5th Nov 2025 | 12.30 - 14.00

INTENDED FOR

Designed for early-career researchers who are curious about innovation, entrepreneurship, or interested in exploring the potential of translating their research into an IP-rich startup. Participants will explore the commercial potential of their research and how it can be applied to industry. No prior business experience is required.

Applicants must:

1. Be a registered D.Phil. candidate or early career researchers at a university.
2. Be working on innovative technology based on their research.
3. Be able to commit to the full duration of the programme (flexible around your research).

About Conception X

Since 2018, Conception X has built a thriving deeptech ecosystem, pioneering a new model for venture creation.

Our unique approach repurposes the PhD itself, enabling researchers to develop their breakthrough ideas into deeptech ventures that are built to scale. 

With a portfolio valued at over £500M, the programme attracts top talent from leading universities across the UK and Europe. It connects researchers with investors, industry experts, and a dynamic network of peers. Our goal is simple: to support early career researchers and transform cutting-edge science into real-world impact.

From Oxford to Impact:

Oxford University alumni continue to see real success from participating in the programme.

For example, Infinitopes is a biotech startup developing affordable cancer vaccines to prevent metastasis. Its founders joined the programme in 2020 and went on to raise $18.8 million in their first two years of incorporation.

Watch Infinitopes’ story here.

Whether you're just exploring an idea or ready to launch a startup, Conception X can support you.

Our nine-month, equity-free programme is designed help you build deeptech ventures based on your research. Running from March to November, the programme is designed to fit around your research schedule  – with in-person networking events throughout the year.

Whether you have a clear business idea and are ready to move quickly toward your first investment, or you’re still exploring the commercial potential of your research, the programme offers tailored support to meet you where you are on your entrepreneurial journey.

Conception X offers a unique, researcher-centred pathway to venture creation. Designed to work with your academic journey, not against it.

Here’s what sets Conception X apart:

• Specialised Deeptech Venture Training - Designed specifically for PhD students and early career researchers to turn innovative research into real-world impact.
• Your Academic Work Comes First - You don't need to quit your research. The programme is fully flexible and designed to support you alongside your studies.
• ​​1:1 coaching and mentorship - Work directly with experienced founders and industry experts to refine your venture.
• The UK’s largest researcher founder community - Join a vibrant, supportive network of like-minded academic researchers and entrepreneurs.

Additional benefits:

■      Opportunities to network at in-person events

■      One-to-one business and technology coaching.

■      Access to a network of investors and academics.

■      Support to develop your idea, build a team and incorporate (if you so choose)

■      A Demo Day for selected finalists (for top-performing teams).

1.  Supported by XTX Ventures, which looks to invest in companies coming out of the Conception X programme of up to £250,000.
2. Access to a large investor network for future investment opportunities

Startups launched through the Conception X programme have gone on to raise significant funding and achieve impressive exits.

Highlights include:

• 600+ D.Phil students supported.
• 185 companies launched since 2018
• More than £145 million raised in early-stage investments and grants.

Notable startups include:

• Rahko - One of the UK’s earliest quantum machine learning startups, raised £1.3M in seed funding and exited just three years later
• TurinTech - Raised $20M to advance AI optimisation technologies
• Holistic AI - Secured £15M to advance AI governance and risk management
• Doubleword - Raised £12M to scale its self-hosted inference platform, designed for enterprise deployment

TERMS & CONDITIONS

When registering for this course, please check our Terms and Conditions.