Venture Scientist 100 | Deep Tech Programme for PhD Founders

What to expect

Venture Scientist 100 is a fellowship for exceptional researchers. How far you go depends on where you're ready to take it.

Active co-building sessions

Hands-on, applied work on the foundations of your venture.

18 expert-led collaborative sessions covering: Customer discovery, Business model design, IP strategy for deeptech, Hardware prototyping, Team building, Fundraising, and more

Tap into our advisory network

Direct access to a curated community of 1,500+ science founders, investors, mentors and industry decision-makers.

Work closely with people who understand your science and what technical founders need.

A path to investment

Through pitch training and dedicated coaching, high-performing founders become investment-ready in 9 months.

Access up to £300k in equity investment through our partner XTX Ventures and the Conception X angel syndicate.

No financial barrier

VS100 is merit-based, and will always be free for researchers.

We back the most promising research talent, and don’t take equity in the companies we help create.

Built around your research

VS100 runs part-time over 9 months, from March to November every year.

It’s designed to integrate with your PhD timeline, so you don’t have to choose between your research and starting a company.

Flexible on your setup

We look for original research and a desire or curiosity to discover its commercial potential.

We are flexible about: Team setup – solo founder or team, Stage – pre-idea through early-stage, Research focus – all technical PhDs welcome

Legal support available

Access to top-tier legal expertise through our partner Orrick – from term sheets to fundraise structure and IP guidance.

Our extended alumni and university network can also help you navigate commercialisation decisions faster.

Active co-building sessions

Hands-on, applied work on the foundations of your venture.

18 expert-led collaborative sessions covering: Customer discovery, Business model design, IP strategy for deeptech, Hardware prototyping, Team building, Fundraising, and more

Tap into our advisory network

Direct access to a curated community of 1,500+ science founders, investors, mentors and industry decision-makers.

Work closely with people who understand your science and what technical founders need.

A path to investment

Through pitch training and dedicated coaching, high-performing founders become investment-ready in 9 months.

Access up to £300k in equity investment through our partner XTX Ventures and the Conception X angel syndicate.

No financial barrier

VS100 is merit-based, and will always be free for researchers.

We back the most promising research talent, and don’t take equity in the companies we help create.

Built around your research

VS100 runs part-time over 9 months, from March to November every year.

It’s designed to integrate with your PhD timeline, so you don’t have to choose between your research and starting a company.

Flexible on your setup

We look for original research and a desire or curiosity to discover its commercial potential.

We are flexible about: Team setup – solo founder or team, Stage – pre-idea through early-stage, Research focus – all technical PhDs welcome

Legal support available

Access to top-tier legal expertise through our partner Orrick – from term sheets to fundraise structure and IP guidance.

Our extended alumni and university network can also help you navigate commercialisation decisions faster.

Is Venture Scientist 100 right for you?

You’ll need to meet the following criteria to apply.

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You're a PhD student*

Currently registered at a university

*We’ll consider exceptional recent PhD graduates, postdocs and early-career researchers.

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You have a breakthrough

Working on innovative technology based on your research

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You can commit at least ~65 hours over 9 months

Including our core co-building sessions and coaching (if you qualify)

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You can join both online and in-person

Mostly online but there will be 3 mandatory in-person events

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Your university is in the UK or Europe

All UK- and Europe-based PhDs welcome

How it works

Three core phases

Stage 1

Explore

Test research applications, speak to potential customers and decide where to focus.

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Learn the fundamentals of venture creation by applying them to your own research – conduct customer discovery, assess markets and test hypotheses. Define the problem you’re solving and understand the commercial landscape it sits within, with access to peer feedback from 99 Venture Scientists building alongside you.

Stage 2

Test

Define your customer, business model and team, and leverage our network for your next steps.

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Support becomes more tailored depending on your progress and needs, with access to coaching for those moving fast. Continue to test your idea and build your founding team through direct engagement with potential users, partners, advisers and industry experts in our community. This is where you start building the network that will propel you forward.

Stage 3

Launch

Prepare your narrative, meet investors and partners. The top 15 teams pitch at Demo Day.

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Develop a compelling narrative for your science venture. If selected, prepare to pitch to 200+ investors and industry leaders at the 2027 Conception X Demo Day. Incorporate your company – where appropriate – and pursuccce the next step that makes sense for you, whether that’s fundraising, pilots or further research.

Already have a startup and need funding help?

Raise might be better for you.

Explore Raise →

How we work with venture scientists

01—

Scientists lead.

We do not pair scientists with business co-founders. We believe the most consequential companies of the future will be built by venture scientists, and the right researchers can and should lead on how their discoveries are used. Our platform – spanning customer discovery, coaching and a curated expert network – is designed to help you grow as a founder, without losing what makes you a scientist.

02—

Learn by building.

Building a company from a scientific breakthrough is not the same as building a tech startup. From your first day with us, we help you actively test and develop your technology in the real world – from speaking to customers to working with industry partners and building prototypes – so that by the end, you'll know whether there’s a market for it and this is something you want to pursue.

03—

Your path is your own.

Not every researcher who comes through Conception X starts a company on the same timeline. We support big thinkers and don’t prescribe outcomes. If you decide to build a company, we will help you get there. If your science reaches the world another way – through a Focused Research Organisation (FRO), an open-source project, a fellowship – that too is a good outcome.

Meet our PhD founders

Some founders incorporate during the fellowship. Some pursue other paths first. Some return later for Raise. We back top talent for the long term.

Millimetre wave radar to detect single drones and autonomous swarms in the most demanding conditions.

As a PhD founder, you can feel too junior or too young for something like this. Conception X changes that, it makes it feel very possible. Being surrounded by a cohort of 100 people facing the same challenges makes all the difference when you're trying to commercialise your research.

Matthew Moore

Milliray

CX23

University of St Andrews

At-home saliva diagnostics for rapid early cancer detection.

Conception X transformed our academic idea into a funded biotech startup, giving us the confidence to grow a company as first-time founders. We’ve since raised $2.5M, built a strong advisory network across Harvard, Oxford, Hong Kong and Poland, and are advancing towards clinical validation.

Tiffany Ma

GambitBio

CX23

PhD at

University of Oxford

Ultrasound-activated nanoparticles making antibiotics effective against chronic infections again.

Conception X played a critical role in building AURApeutics, leading to a £330k pre-seed round just one week after incorporation – all thanks to the amazing teaching and network from the CX community and Demo Day. The Conception X name holds significant value when speaking to global investors today.

Victor Choi

AURApeutics

CX25

Phd at

University of Oxford

High-resolution wave forecasting for offshore infrastructure and vessel operations.

I never thought I could do anything like this - the confidence I've gained through Conception X has been unprecedented. Going from feeling unsatisfied about the impact of my research to pitching at Demo Day really opened my eyes to what I'm capable of.

Jana Stella

NeuWave

CX23

PhD at

The University of Manchester

Wearable plant sensors detecting crop stress through electrical signals.

Conception X was a turning point in my journey as a founder and in PlantZCare’s growth as a startup. It pushed me to think bigger, while giving our team international visibility, valuable investment opportunities and the strategic perspective needed to take the next step.

Luca Rolle

PlantZCare

CX25

PhD at

Polytechnic University of Turin

Computer vision for automated semiconductor nanofabrication.

It's been my favourite programme. I joined during my PhD, and it helped me transition into running a startup without dropping everything. Coaching and Demo Day were invaluable – it's how I made my first VC contacts.

Teja Potocnik

Nanomation

CX22

PhD at

University of Cambridge

Quick Answers

Is there a cost?

Nope! We’re a not-for-profit, and our fellowship is free for researchers – no fees and no equity taken.

How much time will I need?

About 20 days total over 9 months, broken down like this:

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~40 hours for co-building sessions
~12 hours of coaching (for top performers only)
~10 hours of workshops and additional support

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Plus 3 in-person events, including a 2-day bootcamp in London to kick off the fellowship and meet the full cohort.

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Keep in mind: what you put in is what you get out – our most successful teams choose to spend more time engaging with the programme and building their startup. All sessions are recorded if you need to catch up.

Am I expected to attend sessions in person?

Some – we have a hybrid model and we would like you to join all the in-person sessions and events that have been designed to support your journey. We're happy to help with travel – reach out to our team for more information.

I'm not in the UK – can I still apply?

Absolutely! We welcome PhD researchers and exceptional postdocs from anywhere in the UK and Europe. You'll need to travel to London for in-person events.

What year of my PhD should I be in?

Any year – VS100 is suitable for PhD students at any stage and we've seen great founders emerge at each one.

Do I need a team?

Not at all. Solo founders are welcome – some of our best companies started with one researcher and grew from there.

Do I need to already have a company?

No, but you may want to incorporate during the programme – we'll help you figure that out.

How developed does my idea need to be?

Anywhere from "I think this could work" to initial proof of concept and early prototypes (typically TRL 3-TRL 5). We love working with researchers who are just starting to explore the commercial potential of their ideas.

I have two ideas I'm excited about – help!

Tell us about both in your application! We can help you figure out which one has the most potential.

Can I apply as a not-for-profit or social enterprise?

Yes, but some of our investment opportunities may not be the right fit. We can help you explore other funding options, including grants.

What’s included in the fellowship?

You get:

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18 sessions where you work through the core elements of building a company – from IP and business models to customers, finance and pitching
Build alongside Europe’s largest community of science founders – so you’re never having to figure it out on your own
Access to a curated network of 100+ experts across industry – there to help you test ideas, open doors and move faster
Dedicated legal advice when you need it – through our partner law firm Orrick, with a proven track record advising some of the world’s most innovative companiesacross Silicon Valley and Europe's tech ecosystem.
For top-performing teams: up to 6 months of tailored 1:1 and group coaching
Community events to build your network
Introductions to key industry decision-makers via our Industry Advisory Board (e.g. NVIDIA, Unilever, XTX Markets)
Credits for valuable business and technology resources to support your growth
Access to co-working spaces (subject to availability)
Continued support and guidance from the Conception X team beyond VS100

Who are your industry partners?

Our Industry Advisory Board includes NVIDIA, AstraZeneca, GSK, Unilever, EDF Energy, XTX Markets, Barclays, Coca-Cola Europacific Ventures, Schott, IBM, Azerion. You can find the full list here [link to About page].

Am I expected to raise investment as part of the programme?

No, this isn’t required. But if you’re ready, we can support you every step of the way.

What investment support do you offer?

For top performers:

‍

6 months of intensive 1:1 coaching and pitch training
Pitch to the Conception X Angel Syndicate and our partner XTX Ventures (up to £300k available)
Introductions to our network of 700+ investors backing science founders
A shot at pitching at our Demo Day – to an audience of 200+ early-stage deeptech investors

Can I potentially join both VS100 and Raise?

Yes – some of our venture scientists take part in both, moving between programmes depending on needs and as their company develops. Reach out if you'd like to discuss your specific situation.

What’s Raise?

If you're further along, have a team, you're planning to incorporate soon and want to get investment-ready in 10 weeks, read more about our fast track Raise here.

How do you define deeptech?

Deeptech is technology built on scientific or engineering breakthroughs that have the potential to fundamentally change how we live. Think cancer vaccines, new chip architectures, physical AI, advanced materials. Companies developing deeptech products have different needs – they often require substantial R&D, longer development cycles and significant capital. If your research tackles problems at the edge of what's technically possible, you're probably working on deeptech.

Why Conception X?

Our pathways are specifically designed for PhDs, postdocs and early-career researchers who want to influence the future through their research. You can test if building a company is for you while completing your academic journey, and you don't have to commit before you're ready. We're the only community for entrepreneurial scientists that includes fellows from across 90+ universities and 11 countries – so you can learn from each other and it never feels lonely.