Octopus Buzz - 2008
Octopus partners Europe's Largest Student Entrepreneurial Society
28 October
Octopus Ventures Ltd, specialist investors in early-stage and expanding businesses, is pleased to announce its partnership with Oxford Entrepreneurs (‘the society’), an Oxford University society with over 4,500 members set up to champion student entrepreneurs in the UK and abroad.
Oxford Entrepreneurs is not only the biggest student society at Oxford University but Europe’s leading free business and entrepreneurship network. Its members include undergraduates, graduates, MBA students, active alumni, and external members.
Founded in February 2003, the society seeks to inspire greater entrepreneurialism amongst students by providing the opportunity to learn the skills required and establish the necessary contacts to make early-stage business ventures a commercial reality.
Octopus Ventures, which will be working directly with the society’s President, has joined the society’s Advisory Board with immediate effect. As part of its ongoing support, the Ventures team will lead workshops for members and join the judgement panel for the OE Ideas2Market annual competition.
Alliott Cole, Octopus Ventures, said: “Oxford Entrepreneurs is exactly the sort of support network required to encourage business innovation in Britain and we are delighted to be working closely with them.
“As investors and mentors to a number of young businesses, Octopus Ventures has a strong commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in the UK. We are really looking forward to working in partnership with Oxford Entrepreneurs and helping young entrepreneurs gain access to the support and guidance required to turn their ideas into the commercial success stories of the future.”
Victoria Lennox, President of Oxford Entrepreneurs, said: “Octopus Ventures is widely recognised as a leading venture capital provider with an enviable track record in helping entrepreneurs develop prosperous businesses.
“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with them and believe that their extensive expertise within the early-stage arena combined with the broad array of skills and contacts available through the Octopus Investor Group, will prove an invaluable asset to our members.”
Octopus also supports the Bright Ideas Trust, an organisation designed to assist young people between the ages of 16 and 30, who are not necessarily in education, employment or training, set up in business.