Building a Business

Monday 14 October, 5.30-8pm

Embark on a journey through Oxford’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with our opening session designed to inspire and equip you with the knowledge and connections to thrive as an entrepreneur within this vibrant, innovative community. Here you will discover the wealth of resources available to support your entrepreneurial ambitions and hear from those who have successfully navigated this dynamic ecosystem before you. Join us to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and carve out your unique entrepreneurial path in Oxford. 

Monday 21 October, 5.30pm-8pm

This session is designed to equip you with the mindset crucial for entrepreneurial success. Dive into the complexities and challenges inherent in the entrepreneurial path, discover the key qualities and abilities needed for various entrepreneurial roles and understand how to cultivate them within yourself. You'll also explore how ongoing learning, and personal development can open future opportunities and guide your entrepreneurial choices. Join us to foster a resilient mindset and set the stage for your entrepreneurial journey. 

Monday 28 October,  5.30-8pm

This session will help you answer the question: Where do successful entrepreneurial ideas come from? It will empower you to tackle open-ended problems and explore how transformative innovations are made. Delve into current trends in entrepreneurship and beyond and discover new ways to utilize existing resources creatively. You will be introduced to various design thinking activities and ideation tools that will enhance your creative process. Join us to unlock your creative potential, refine your ideas and contribute to meaningful change in your entrepreneurial journey. 

Monday 4 November, 5.30-8pm

This session will guide you through the initial steps of market testing to understand customer needs and develop strong value propositions. You will explore various market research methods to uncover customer pains and gains. Successfully identifying your target customer or users allows a venture to develop products or services that directly address the needs of your desired target market. This increases the likelihood of achieving product-market fit, where the product or service satisfies a significant demand. Additionally, you’ll develop a strategic plan to gather valuable user and customer feedback for your identified ideas. Join us to enhance your market understanding and refine your value propositions. 

Monday 11 November,  5.30-8pm

This session emphasises the critical role of a strong team, including co-founders, mentors, and advisors, in your entrepreneurial success. You’ll explore how to effectively share responsibilities and motivate yourself and others in value-creating activities. Learn to develop a strategic plan for leveraging various sources of support such as peers, mentors, student societies and university resources. Join us to strengthen your entrepreneurial network, harness collective expertise and drive your idea forward.

Monday 18 November, 5.30-8pm

In this last session, you’ll delve into the various routes of funding available to you and discover which options are best suited to your business needs. Gain insights into the wealth of resources available at Oxford to support your funding efforts. The session will explore advantages and disadvantages of different options and consider the typical funding journey of different entrepreneurial paths. You’ll also develop a solid understanding of key financial terminology essential for navigating the world of start-up funding. Join us to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools necessary to drive your entrepreneurial endeavour forward.