What does it take to scale a successful venture capital firm while staying aligned with founders?

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with David Mott, Founder Partner at Oxford Capital, about his 25-year journey backing over 100 UK tech startups.

David shares insights on what makes early-stage companies succeed, why founder-led teams outperform, and how Oxford Capital bridges the gap between private wealth and innovation. From pioneering EIS funds to influencing UK venture policy, David outlines the key elements that drive value creation in startups—including team structure, sector focus, and investment timing. He also explains how the UK can move towards a more integrated "supercluster" approach and why simplicity and alignment are essential in venture capital deals.

Whether you're a founder, investor, or ecosystem builder, this conversation offers a masterclass in startup funding and strategy.

• (00:00) - Aligning Founders and Investors with David Mott, Founder Partner of Oxford Capital
• (00:40) - Founding of Oxford Capital
• (02:33) - Understanding Venture Capital
• (03:38) - Challenges in Growth and Scale-Up Capital
• (05:18) - Family Offices and Investment Opportunities
• (08:21) - Sector Focus and Investment Strategy
• (10:15) - Success Stories and Learnings
• (16:51) - Supporting Founders and Building Teams
• (23:05) - Investment Philosophy and Alignment
• (28:30) - Oxford Capital's Broader Investment Universe
• (33:03) - The Future of Venture Capital and Liquidity Solutions

Action Points:

Back Founders, Not Just Technology: David emphasises the importance of founder-led teams, showing that startups with original founders in leadership roles significantly outperform. Look for founders with deep conviction and ownership over the business idea to increase the chances of success.

Keep Capital Structures Simple: Complex term sheets may impress on paper but often break down during tough times. Prioritise plain-vanilla deal terms that maintain alignment between founders and investors, which leads to better long-term outcomes.

Invest in Sectors with Shorter Timelines: Oxford Capital favours sectors like SaaS, AI, and FinTech where companies can scale quickly. Focus on businesses that don’t require years of development before reaching the market.

Facilitate Strategic Co-Investments: Effective syndicates with complementary investors bring more than just money. Build a network of co-investors who can contribute sector expertise, global reach, or future funding capacity.

Use Early Data and Engagement Signals: In the absence of financial metrics, look at user engagement and team dynamics. Early product testing and strong team rapport can indicate future traction and success.

David Mott: Founder Partner at Oxford Capital, David has spent 25 years investing in UK startups across sectors including AI, SaaS, FinTech, and digital health. A seasoned voice in venture capital policy, he has advised both UK and EU bodies and champions the role of private wealth in fuelling innovation.

Connect with David 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

Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content.

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.

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
• (20:46) - Co-Investment and Capital Strategies
• (26:58) - The Broader UK Investment Landscape
• (34:38) - Jack's Personal Journey and Commitment to Oxford
• (36:43) - Future Vision for OSE
• (38:41) - 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.

Connect with Jack 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

Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content.

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.