What would it take for Oxford to become the place where the companies that define global healthcare are actually built?

In this Oxford+ in Brief, host Susannah de Jager puts four quick-fire questions to Benny Axt, Entrepreneur in Residence at Oxford Science Enterprises. Benny shares his vision of success for the ecosystem, his advice for newcomers, and a candid assessment of where Oxford excels and where it falls short. He argues that world-class science alone is not enough, speed of translation, commercial talent, growth capital and a cultural shift towards risk-taking are all essential if Oxford is to fulfil its potential.

With Deloitte's 2026 Global Health Care Outlook reporting that over 70 per cent of non-US health system executives expect margins to improve this year, and IQVIA highlighting structural shifts across the NHS that are reshaping the landscape for health tech companies, Benny's call for Oxford to optimise for execution over perfection feels especially timely. From express licensing of bundled IP to unlocking pension fund capital, this is a concise and direct take on what needs to change, and why the UK's first trillion-dollar company could emerge from deep science in Oxford.

Benny Axt: Benny Axt is Entrepreneur in Residence in the Health Tech team at Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), the largest university-affiliated investment company in the world and OSE's first EIR to join from the US. A seasoned healthcare strategist, operator and corporate development leader, Benny has spent over 15 years building healthcare businesses across six continents. Previously Vice President of Strategy at Dialogue Health Technologies Inc., he supported the company's US market entrance and helped grow it from a venture-backed startup through to IPO and acquisition. Before that, Benny held leadership roles at DaVita, a Fortune 500 healthcare provider, where his work included leading the privatisation of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia and building cultural infrastructure across more than a dozen countries. Benny holds an MBA and a Master of Health Care Delivery Science from Dartmouth College. In addition to his role in venture capital, he serves as a board advisor and healthcare consultant to leaders seeking guidance on strategy, operations and international expansion.

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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.

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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.