7 places AI hangs out in Oxford

I’m always looking for Oxford founders that Oxford Seed Fund could invest in. This week I was sourcing founders building AI/ML ventures, so (with some GPT help) I analyzed x217 LinkedIn & Google Scholar pages for researchers and Oxford-affiliated founders working on AI. Here’s what I learned about where AI hangs out in Oxford →

Most AI researchers at Oxford cluster around 4 research hubs and 3 student networks.

1. the Department of Computer Sciences —yep, that’s a pretty obvious one — has several key research areas with potential for venture investment across AI/ML approaches in reinforcement learning, deep learning, multi-agent systems, knowledge representation as well as strong activity in healthcare AI (biomedical imaging, disease modelling, AI-driven cybersecurity, and application of AI to financial markets. Pretty easy to think we’ll see backable founders coming through here...

2. Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems (EPSRC CDT) was a common thread in the academic backgrounds of many AI founders coming through Oxford. The AIMS program trains cohorts in autonomous systems, integrating machine learning, robotics, sensors, and verification, with a cross-disciplinary approach. Industrial partnerships shape its training, applying Oxford’s research to sectors like health, transport, energy, and more. Students engage in internships, outreach, personal development, and collaboration across related fields…

3. …Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI) was similarly quite prevalent in the backgrounds of several AI founders. ORI explores diverse robotics applications, from flying to grasping, integrating AI, machine learning, computer vision, and more. Its researchers, engineers, and students aim to advance robotic capabilities across multiple fields.

4. Biomedical Sciences — a surprising one (from my perspective at least) was just how many AI founders (across industry applications, not just medical) had their start in biomedical research (I was surprised how many in fact that I’m writing up another post about why biomedical research seems a good training ground for AI founders). In short, AI research in and around (or adjacent) to the Biomedical Sciences would be a good bet for finding future founders. As a first thesis on this, AI engineers are possibly drawn to biomedical research because it offers complex, data-heavy problems (like medical imaging, genomics & personalized medicine) that suits the application of AI tools well (and thereby builds out the skill set for future founders whether or not they stay within the medical industry).

5. University of Oxford AI Network is an official Oxford-alumni network for artificial intelligence, “providing a community for students, researchers, academics and alumni from all backgrounds to engage with AI”. They’ve hosted networking events backed by AWS, and their last event had ~100 attendees across the ecosystem focused on AI.

6. Oxford Artificial Intelligence Society is a student-run society embedded in the University of Oxford with a mission “to provide a [catalytic] platform for the interaction of researchers, students, and professionals interested in AI”. Currently headed up by postgraduate students from the University of Oxford, Puyu, Liam, and Ivan they host frequent events at the Lamb & Flag pub (hence the GPT’d cover art for this post!), bringing the AI-curious together with founders and researchers.

7. the Oxbridge AI Challenge is run in partnership with Oxford University AI Society and Cambridge University Entrepreneurship Society and received over 80 applications in its’ inaugural competition last year. The society has solid backing by by Digital Realty, Microsoft, Taylor Wessing LLP, The Alan Turing Foundation, Marcho Partners, Keltie LLP, and JP Morgan. Currently headed up by Oxford alumni Udai and into its second year, expressly looking to fund the next AI startup founders.

Breakthroughs happen in the noise of questions being asked and answered, pivoted and redirected, with commercial interests and pain points coming together to focus talent on a problem that pays. Oxford has the ingredients for this — starting with the AI research hubs anchoring the ecosystem and these emergent networks to encourage sharing, ideating, and capital raising.