Oxford Student Venture Showcase

Event Overview

The Oxford Student Venture Showcase celebrates the most exciting student ventures emerging from across the University of Oxford. Hosted jointly by Oxford Edge and EnSpire Oxford, the event will give founders the chance to pitch live to a panel of senior university leaders and industry experts, in front of an audience of fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and supporters.

Following the pitches, a panel discussion will bring together inspiring voices from Oxford's entrepreneurial community. The top ventures will compete for prizes of £5,000 (1st place) and £2,500 (2nd and 3rd place). The event will take place on Wednesday, 27 May, 3.00–5.00 PM at the Oxford Mathematics Institute.

Who is it for?

We’re looking for Oxford-based student founders who are currently enrolled students (undergraduate or postgraduate), building a startup, venture, or commercially viable idea, and are ready to clearly articulate their problem, solution, and impact. Alumni within two years of graduation who started their venture during their time at Oxford are also eligible to enter.

10 teams will be selected to pitch at the 2026 Oxford Student Venture Showcase. Each selected team will receive:

Two mandatory training sessions to help you refine and strengthen your pitch
- Wednesday 22 April, 5:30–7:30pm
- Wednesday 13 May, 5:30–8:00pm
The opportunity to pitch live in front of an audience (5 minutes + Q&A)
Live feedback from a panel of expert judges
Exposure to the broader Oxford innovation ecosystem

The winning team will receive £5000 to take their venture further, with two runner up prizes of £2500.

Key Dates for Applicants

Startup Applications Open: Monday 9 March
Applications Close: Monday 13 April (12 noon)
Successful Applicants Notified: Friday 17 April
Online Pitch Training Session: Wednesday 22 April, 5:30–7:30pm
In-person Pitch Training Session: Wednesday 13 May, 5:30–8:00pm
Showcase Event: Thursday 27 May 2026, 3:00-5:00pm

How to Apply

Apply by filling in the below form by Monday 13 April at 12 noon.

Apply Here

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I want to attend the event as an audience member

Judging Criteria

How Your Pitch Will Be Judged

Our judges are excited to hear your ideas. During the 5-minute pitch, they will be looking at:

Clear Problem

Have you clearly explained the problem you’re tackling?
Is it meaningful and worth solving?

Strong Solution

Is your solution easy to understand?
Does it effectively address the problem?
What makes it unique or innovative?

Market & Feasibility

Who is it for?
Is there real demand or potential?
Is it realistic and achievable?

Progress So Far

Have you taken steps to test or develop your idea?
This could include research, prototypes, user feedback, pilots, or early sales.

Impact & Potential

What difference could your idea make?
Does it have potential to grow or scale?

Presentation

Was your pitch clear, confident, and well-structured?
Did you make good use of your 5 minutes?
Were your slides simple, visual, and supportive?

Eligibility for Entry

Teams applying to the pitching event should be primarily student-led. This means that the majority of team members must be current University of Oxford students (undergraduate or postgraduate).

Recent alumni who graduated within the past two years are also eligible to apply, provided that their idea or venture was initiated during their time as a student at Oxford.

Teams may include non-student members, such as external collaborators, where they bring relevant expertise. However, the core idea, leadership, and participation in the event should remain with Oxford students or eligible recent alumni.