We help aspiring PhD founders realise their potential and create long-term impact
Our team
Dr Riam Kanso
Chief Executive Officer
Agata Zborowska
Chief Operations Officer
Olivia Ash
Programme & Portfolio Manager
Dr Richard Anson
Deeptech Academic Lead
Polly Groves
HQ & Programme Support Manager
Aurora Percannella
Head of Content & Editorial
Rodolfo Rosini
Entrepreneur in Residence
Tallulah Robson
Administrative & Events Coordinator
Beth Massam
Marketing & Community Coordinator
Our Academic Advisory Board
Professor Michael Capaldi
Dean of Innovation and Business, Newcastle University
Professor David Chapman
Professor of Entrepreneurship Education, UCL School of Management
Pam Garside
Fellow of Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, and Angel Investor
Professor Thomas Hellmann
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Professor Ramana Nanda
Professor of Entrepreneurial Finance, Imperial College London
Professor Tyrone S. Pitsis
Professor of Strategy & Technology, Durham University Business School
Martin Stow
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Business Engagement and Enterprise, University of Leeds
Professor Chris Taylor
Associate Vice President, Digital Strategy and Innovation, University of Manchester
Professor Wai Lok Woo
Head of Research for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, University of Northumbria
Professor Tyrone S. Pitsis
Professor of Strategy & Technology, Durham University Business School
Meet our Board of Directors
Conception X is leading the way...
on how the UK creates value from science, enabling and supporting the next generation of scientists to create companies from their research.
Dr Alastair Moore
Associate Professor at UCL School of Management & Partner at The Building Blocks
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Conception X is one of the best...
ways we can support the creation of teams that will build high-tech businesses out of the incredible research carried out by PHD students in our universities.
Dr Steven Roberts
Barclays UK Head of Culture and Chief Scientific Adviser
Our Partners
Our three-year partnership with XTX Ventures supports outstanding founders from leading UK institutions focusing on transformative areas of deeptech – including AI, quantum computing, robotics and biotech – with a typical cheque size of £100,000. Full press release here
Our Northern Deeptech Hub supports the next generation of PhD founders in the North East in partnership with:
The AI Vertical supports emerging AI-powered PhD startups in partnership with:
Our Early Supporters
