Build a company from your research.

We build it alongside you

You've spent years developing research that could solve critical problems. That makes you more than an expert – you’re the right person to take it further.

We've created the infrastructure – the community, expertise and network of investors ready to back you – to help you do exactly that, building on your strengths as a researcher.

Choose the pathway that fits your stage and goals.

Conception X

Our flagship programme for technical PhDs exploring the founder path

Learn more

Who it’s for:

PhDs curious about entrepreneurship or ready to take their idea further

9-month duration, flexible, part-time
Designed for PhDs at any stage, even without a clear startup idea
Gain commercial awareness and entrepreneurial skills
Join Europe’s largest community for entrepreneurial PhDs

CX Raise

The fast track to funding readiness for science founders
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Start here

Who it’s for:

Technical founders and teams ready to move fast towards their first raise

10 weeks, focused
For incorporated startups led by PhDs, postdocs and early-career researchers
Tailored coaching, pitch refinement, strategic support
Exclusive access to select network of early-stage deeptech investors

From our alumni

Research focus

Millimetre wave radar for accurate small drone detection.

As a PhD founder, you can feel too junior or too young for something like this – like it’s not a realistic goal.

Conception X changes that and makes it feel possible. Being surrounded by a cohort of a hundred people facing the same challenges makes all the difference when you’re trying to commercialise your research.

Matthew Moore

PhD at the University of St Andrews. Founder of DroneTector (CX6). Selected for the UK Government’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA)

Research focus

Precision antigen discovery for cancer vaccines.

When we joined Conception X, we knew what we wanted to do but we weren't sure how to operationalise it.

The programme gave us the framework, contacts, access to funding and resources to move forward. Today we’re a team of 38, have raised $18.8M and are running first-in-human Phase I/IIa clinical trials.

Dr Jonathan Kwok

PhD at the University of Oxford. CEO and co-founder of biotech startup Infinitopes (CX3)

Research focus

Additive manufacturing for the development of new materials.

Conception X’s market analysis session was fundamental in helping us pivot – from targeting the water industry to food and beverage, whose effluent was richer in the sugars we needed.

With their support and early investment from XTX Ventures, we raised £1.5 million and advanced our research into a pilot with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

Arielle Torres

PhD at the University of Nottingham. CEO and co-founder of climate startup Pipeline Organics (CX6)

Research focus

NLP applied to speech analysis to predict psychosis.

Meeting top scientists who believe they can take their ideas out into the world and start their own companies without compromising on quality was key for me.

What’s also unique about Conception X is the freedom it gives you. You’re never pushed to commit more than you can, and that flexibility makes the programme incredibly valuable.

Julianna Oláh

PhD at King’s College London. CEO and co-founder of health startup Psyrin (CX5)

Research focus

Novel AI to detect cyber threats hidden in software binaries.

There wasn’t a company when I joined Conception X. It was just myself. The programme played an absolutely pivotal role.

It helped shape the growth of the company — getting funding, putting the pitch deck together, getting the business off the ground. After being selected for the Conception X Demo Day, we raised an angel round off the back of it. Today, RevEng.AI is a team of 18 and has raised £4.7 million from global investors – including Sands Capital, In-Q-Tel, IQ Capital and Episode 1.

James Patrick-Evans

PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London. CEO and founder of cybersecurity startup RevEng.ai (CX5)

Build a company from your research.

You've spent years developing research that could solve critical problems. That makes you more than an expert – you’re the right person to take it further.

Choose the pathway that fits your stage and goals.

Conception X

CX Raise

From our alumni

As a PhD founder, you can feel too junior or too young for something like this – like it’s not a realistic goal.

When we joined Conception X, we knew what we wanted to do but we weren't sure how to operationalise it.

Conception X’s market analysis session was fundamental in helping us pivot – from targeting the water industry to food and beverage, whose effluent was richer in the sugars we needed.

Meeting top scientists who believe they can take their ideas out into the world and start their own companies without compromising on quality was key for me.

There wasn’t a company when I joined Conception X. It was just myself. The programme played an absolutely pivotal role.

Questions? Join a Discovery Session