Oxford+ – Details, episodes & analysis

Can a university-powered ecosystem become the UK’s next startup superpower? 

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Jack Edmondson, Chief Investment Officer at Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), to explore the art and challenge of turning world-class research into global impact. With over 20 years in investment and deep ties to the Oxford ecosystem, Jack shares his vision for scaling science-driven startups, the role of co-investors, and how to nurture talent while maintaining commercial rigour. 

He offers an inside look at OSE’s approach to risk, return, and capital allocation across Life Sciences, Health Tech, and Deep Tech. From robotics and semiconductors to pet health and Alzheimer's care, the conversation spans emerging trends and bold bets. Jack also unpacks why reputation matters in a tightly-knit ecosystem, and why the UK needs high-profile success stories more than policy tweaks. 

• (00:00) - Building Billion-Pound Outcomes with Jack Edmondson, CIO of Oxford Science Enterprises
• (00:08) - Meet Jack Edmondson: Background and Experience
• (01:09) - Jack's Role at Oxford Science Enterprises
• (04:25) - The Structure and Focus of OSE Teams
• (06:35) - OSE's Achievements and Challenges
• (08:29) - Navigating the Oxford Ecosystem
• (12:29) - Investment Strategies and Themes
• (20:40) - Co-Investment and Capital Strategies
• (26:52) - The Broader UK Investment Landscape
• (34:32) - Jack's Personal Journey and Commitment to Oxford
• (36:37) - Future Vision for OSE
• (38:35) - Conclusion and Farewell

Jack Edmondson: Chief Investment Officer at Oxford Science Enterprises. Former Deputy CIO at Oxford University Endowment Management. Specialist in science-driven venture capital with expertise across institutional investment, private equity, and strategic ecosystem building.

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Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

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Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Oxford+ is back for Season Three. This season will continue the conversation with investors, entrepreneurs and innovators, but will also focus on those new entrants to the ecosystem who are going to be changing the landscape in the coming months and years.

Oxford+ takes you deep into the myths and truths of the Oxford investing landscape. Join your host, Susannah de Jager, as she interviews investors, influencers, and entrepreneurs who operate within and have an impact on the Oxford ecosystem.

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager is joined by the Managing Director of Advanced Oxford, Sarah Haywood, to explore talent retention and the challenges faced by businesses in attracting global talent due. Sarah also conveys the need for investment, the role of local and international investors, and potential policy changes to support economic growth through science and innovation.

(1:34) Understanding Advanced Oxford
(7:18) Challenges and Opportunities in Oxfordshire
(16:54) Talent Retention and Education
(23:57) Resources to Aid Engagement
(37:31) Looking to the Future

About the guest:
Sarah Haywood is the Managing Director of Advanced Oxford, a membership organisation that aims to promote Oxfordshire and its innovation businesses, and create one coherent voice for the region at a policy level supported by grassroots research.  Previously Sarah was CEO, then a NED of MedCity, a life sciences cluster organisation for London and the southeast of England. She started her career in the NHS, has worked in the pharma industry and as a senior civil servant on a number of policy teams within the Department for Business. She's also a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford's newest college, Rueben College.

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager is joined by John Derrick, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, to discuss the intricacies of European and U.S. capital markets, the importance of regulation, and the challenges faced by small and illiquid companies.

The conversation also delves into the cultural differences in entrepreneurial aspirations between Europe and the U.S., highlighting the importance of failure in the U.S. as a part of the entrepreneurial journey as well as the UK's need for policy-led development to support infrastructure and energy security, emphasising the importance of coordinated efforts between private and government sectors.

(2:03) The Lifecycle of Companies
(9:18) Growth within the Oxford Ecosystem
(13:57) Trends in Capital and Market Listings
(23:18) The Role of Regulation and Recent Acquisitions

About the guest:
John Derrick is a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank focused on covering Entrepreneurs, Families and Foundations in the UK. His team has focused in recent years on growing the firm’s footprint and connectivity in the university spin-out ecosystem, alongside his colleagues in the Innovation Economy and Global Shares team at J.P. Morgan. 

Before joining J.P. Morgan Private Bank, John had a fascinating career spanning from heading the Fine Wine department at the UK’s leading wine merchant to executing some of the earliest tech transactions in the early 2000s at large investment houses.   

In his personal life, John is a trustee of Pimlico Opera which takes music into prisons and schools and was the Chair of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for the last six years. John graduated in History and French from Wadham College, Oxford and joined the board of Oxford University Alumni in 2023. He lives in Oxfordshire with his husband and two children.

Connect with John on LinkedIn

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Oxford+ is back for Season Two. This season will continue the conversation with investors, entrepreneurs and innovators, but will also focus on those new entrants to the ecosystem who are going to be changing the landscape in the coming months and years.

Oxford+ takes you deep into the myths and truths of the Oxford investing landscape. Join your host, Susannah de Jager, as she interviews investors, influencers, and entrepreneurs who operate within and have an impact on the Oxford ecosystem.

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager is joined by Anna Strongman, CEO of Oxford University Development (OUD), to delve into the importance of creating a diverse business base in the city and fostering an environment that attracts a broad range of talents.

(4:18) Navigating Oxford's Planning and Development Landscape
(6:54) Comparing Oxford and Cambridge
(17:38) Oxford University's Development Sites
(31:21) Anna's Wishlist for Oxford's Development

About the guest:
Anna Strongman is the CEO of Oxford University Development (OUD), a joint venture between Oxford University and Legal & General, set up to build innovation districts and subsidised accommodation for graduate students and the university workforce.

Anna was previously the managing partner of Argent, where she spent 12 years working on a range of asset development and business planning projects. Highlights from her career include leading the asset management of King's Cross, in particular, Coal Drop Yards and setting up a buy-to-rent portfolio with JV Partners Related. Before working at Argent, Anna worked in the planning and economic development team of Arup and for DTZ in Scotland.

Connect with Anna on LinkedIn

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager is joined by Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and co-author of the University Spin Out Review, to delve into the myths and truths uncovered through the review.

Through the conversation, they discuss the role of universities in fostering innovation, the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in the sector, and the importance of private investment in university projects.

(0:12) Introduction
(1:11) The University Spin Out Review
(8:52) Can every university town can have its own cluster?
(22:27) The future for Oxford
(33:28) Addressing the entrepreneurship gender gap
(39:20) Exploring university funding

About the guest:
Irene Tracey is a distinguished academic and current Vice Chancellor of Oxford University. Her association with Oxford dates back to her undergraduate studies in biochemistry.

After graduating from Oxford, she specialised in Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Harvard Medical School before returning to Oxford in 1997 as a founding member of the Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, where she served as director from 2005 to 2015.

Irene has occupied numerous senior leadership roles within the University and has contributed to numerous national and international committees in her field of research. Notably, she co-authored the University Spin Out Review with Andrew Williamson from Cambridge Innovation Capital, contributing significantly to discussions around the investment ecosystem in and around Oxford.

Find out more about Irene's work with the University of Oxford here.

Read the University Spin Out Review here.

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Ed Bussey, CEO of Oxford Sciences Enterprise (OSE), to discuss the future of the scientific ecosystem of Oxford, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and how to navigate it effectively.

Ed shares his insights and experiences as a venture capitalist, addressing myths and misconceptions about the Oxford ecosystem, the importance of transparency, and the role of government and investment capital in science and technology initiatives.

(0:12) Introduction
(3:10) Venture Building and Entrepreneurial Empathy
(9:06) OSE's Role
(28:20) The Impact of the Ellison Institute for Technology
(35:28) The Path Forward

About the guest:
Ed Bussey is the CEO of OSE, Oxford Science Enterprises, which was originally Oxford Science Innovation, the largest university venture fund globally.

He studied natural sciences at Cambridge University before starting his career serving in counter-terrorism operations with the UK military and national security agencies.

Ed is a serial entrepreneur and leading UK technology expert having launched, scaled and successfully exited three venture-backed disruptive technology businesses.

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager is joined by Dave Norwood, founder of IP Group PLC and Oxford Science Innovation as they discuss his experiences and insights into the potential of Oxford as a hub for innovation, particularly in AI and quantum computing.

The conversation also delves into the unique ecosystem of Oxford and the challenges and successes faced by entrepreneurs and innovators in the city, as well as the need for ambition, dreaming big, and collaboration within the Oxford community.

(0:12) Introduction
(1:15) How snake bites led to investment insights
(11:15) Foreign investment
(14:57) Government support and domestic capital
(27:30) Cross-pollination and the Ellison Institute for Technology
(36:18) Breaking away from myths

About the guest:
Dave Norwood is the founder of IP Group PLC and Oxford Science Innovation, now Oxford Science Enterprises, the largest university venture fund globally, which has brought in over 1.5 billion of investment into Oxford since its inception in 2015. 

He has also founded and been a director of numerous UK technology companies including Oxford Nanopore, Proxy Imogen, Synergen, 4D Pharma, Index IT, Evolution Group and Aura Capital. 

Dave is also a grandmaster in chess and has represented both England and Andorra internationally. Without Dave, much of the investment landscape of Oxford would not look how it does today

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager is joined by Rowan Gardner, co-founder of Precision Life. The topic of discussion delves into the importance of diversifying the investment ecosystem and encouraging more participation from female investors. They also discuss the future of healthcare and the pivotal role AI plays in it, including how AI is reshaping our approach to healthcare, particularly concerning chronic diseases and how we diagnose and treat them.

(0:12) Introduction
(1:10) From Oxford Molecular to Precision Life
(4:03) The Oxford and Cambridge investing landscapes
(15:56) The importance of heterogenous funding sources
(19:49) Fostering diversity and inclusion in investment
(28:18) The Mansion House Accord

About the guest:
Rowan Gardner is a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO with over 30 years of experience in health tech, digital health, deep tech, and biotech. She played a part in one of Oxford University's first spin-outs, Oxford Molecular Group, in 1989 and later listed it on the main London Stock Exchange in 1994. Rowan is a fervent advocate for Oxford and currently serves as the Chief Business and Investment Officer at Precision Life. This platform connects chronic disease patients with the drugs they'll respond to, using mechanistic patient stratification biomarkers.

Connect with Rowan on LinkedIn

About the host:
Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Visit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.uk
If you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contact

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.