What would it take for Oxford to rival Silicon Valley or Boston as a global destination for deep tech?

In this episode of Oxford Plus, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Dr Christiaan de Koning and Michael Collyer, co-founders of the Founders and Funders community, to explore how Oxford is organising itself for a new chapter in innovation. What started as a small gathering during COVID has grown into a 4,000-strong network and a registered foundation connecting researchers, founders, investors, and institutions across the city.

Now, with UK startup funding reaching $7.8 billion in Q1 2026 alone – a 60% increase year on year, Oxford is well placed to capture a growing share of that momentum. Christiaan and Michael discuss why the city's problem is not a lack of capital or talent but a lack of connection, and how their upcoming Oxford Tech Week (26–29 May 2026) aims to change that by creating a visible, city-wide platform for the ecosystem.

From the Oxford Innovation Map to the vision of making Oxford the global home of deep tech, this is a conversation about what happens when a city that has always excelled at discovery starts to organise itself around building, scaling, and global relevance.

Founders and Funders – Oxford's community foundation for researchers, founders, and investors
Oxford Tech Week – Oxford's inaugural city-wide tech festival, 26–29 May 2026
Oxford Innovation Map (oxmap.tech) – Interactive map of Oxford-affiliated startups, investors, and innovation hubs

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford Plus
• (01:09) - Introducing Oxford Tech Week and Founders and Funders
• (02:17) - How Founders and Funders Began
• (04:40) - From Online Events to Packed Pubs
• (06:24) - Why 97% of STEM PhDs Leave Academia
• (08:09) - Oxford at an Inflection Point
• (10:08) - The Missing Front Door to Oxford
• (11:06) - Mapping Oxford's Innovation Ecosystem
• (13:14) - More than Just a University Town
• (15:53) - The Capital Is Already Here
• (19:57) - Inside the Inaugural Oxford Tech Week
• (25:14) - A North Star for Deep Tech

Dr Christiaan de Koning: Christiaan de Koning is an Associate Fellow at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, and Chair of the Founders and Funders Foundation. He teaches at Said Business School and is a strategic adviser to CIMMYT, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre. His career spans roles with J.P. Morgan, the World Economic Forum, Wageningen University, the EU Commission for Innovation, and the UK House of Lords. He holds a DPhil from Oxford in management research, where his work focused on the commercialisation of CRISPR biotechnology through new ventures. Through Founders and Funders, he has helped build a community of over 4,000 members connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors across the Oxford ecosystem.

Connect with Christiaan on LinkedIn

Michael Collyer: Michael Collyer is a researcher at the University of Oxford's Internet Institute and co-founder of the Founders and Funders Foundation. He co-established the university's AI network, running events in Oxford and London to connect researchers and entrepreneurs in the AI and machine learning space. His academic work spans information controls, natural language processing, machine learning, and the intersection of artificial intelligence with intellectual property law. Alongside Christiaan, he co-leads the organisation of Oxford Tech Week and the development of the Oxford Innovation Map.

Connect with Michael Collyer on LinkedIn

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 and Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for Exclusive Content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya, HSBC Innovation Banking, and James Cowper Kreston.

Produced and Edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.