Oxford Venture Explorer
Oxford's early-stage venture validation programme, helping students, researchers, staff and recent alumni test and build ventures.
Delivered by Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Centre, with EnSpire Oxford.
Programme Overview
Oxford Venture Explorer (formerly Oxford Venture Builder) is the University of Oxford's early-stage venture validation programme, designed to provide students, researchers, faculty, staff and recent alumni with the tools, knowledge, experience, and networks to research the market, test the viability of their ideas, and develop their ventures.
Applicants complete an application and interview process. If successful, they attend a three-day bootcamp, followed by weekly workshops and one-to-one mentoring, and, if selected, pitch their venture at the programme's final showcase event.
Newsletter
Sign Up to the EnSpire Newsletter and get the latest entrepreneurship news and opportunities delivered straight to your inbox!
Follow us
Popular links
Oxford Venture Explorer is not sector specific. It is open to both individual founders and teams, and is designed for those at the idea and early venture stages who are committed to testing their ideas, building a business, and developing the skills needed to create a successful startup.
Oxford Venture Explorer is open to the University of Oxford community, including undergraduate students, postgraduates and DPhils, researchers and staff, and recent alumni.
No prior experience or business background is required.
Oxford Venture Explorer (OVE) is application-based. The main applicant must be an Oxford University student, staff member, or alumnus who graduated within the last two years; individuals or teams may apply. Applicants should have an idea-stage venture or business concept that they want to develop.
Selection is a two-stage process: written application review, followed by interviews for shortlisted teams. Final cohort selection is based on the strength of the problem and solution, market and customer understanding, business model viability, team capability and commitment, programme fit, and likely ability to engage fully with the programme.
Dates: Hilary to Trinity Term.
Application dates for OVE 2026-27 are not yet open.
For updates on upcoming programme openings and events, please subscribe to EnSpire Newsletter or head to the What's On page for more information.
Stay on top of upcoming events, news and stories.
Find out about the University of Oxford's entrepreneurial offering and much more.