UCL Venturer Programme
The UCL Computer Science Venturer Programme is a pioneering initiative designed to foster entrepreneurship with cutting-edge tech research.
The Venturer programme offers a unique research sponsorship opportunity that empowers talented individuals pursuing 4-year PhDs or 2-year Postdocs in fields such as AI/Machine Learning, DevX, green software engineering, cybersecurity, data science, and other digital tech.
Who is it for?
The UCL Venturer Programme is designed for forward-thinking companies and investment professionals with expertise in investment, who are eager to support and gain value from the next generation of innovation..
It appeals to organisations and investment professionals keen on investing in promising researchers and their startups.
How does the programme work?
Identify top talent: Through our rigorous two-stage recruitment process, we identify academically gifted and entrepreneurial students, ensuring your investment is in the most promising researchers.
Secure Your Investment: UCL employs a distinctive research funding model. Companies or investment professionals provide a convertible loan note, which can be converted into an equity stake upon successful commercialisation.
Collaborate and Contribute: Partners have the opportunity to shape their industry by providing expertise, data, and resources in exchange for a founding equity stake. Additionally, co-investment opportunities with the UCL Tech Fund can help mitigate initial investment risks.
Explore Multidisciplinary Opportunities: Benefit from our programme's interdisciplinary nature, as co-supervisors from various UCL departments contribute diverse knowledge and expertise.
Flexible Student Pathways: We accommodate students' needs, allowing transitions from full-time to part-time, sabbaticals, or study interruptions for startup development. There's a gated decision point at the MPhil/PhD transfer stage.
Dedicated Support: UCL offers the opportunity for those on the programme to access dedicated entrepreneurial mentoring, premium office space, and networking opportunities.
Why you should partner with us
Partnering with the UCL Venturer Programme offers several compelling benefits:
- Invest in the future of deeptech innovation at one of the world’s leading universities.
- Secure an equity stake in a potentially successful start-up company likely to include a founding team of the academic supervisor with Venture Postdoc or Venture PhD.
- Drive growth within your industry.
- Access cutting-edge research and talent.
- Mitigate risks through co-investment options.
- Harness the power of multidisciplinary collaboration.
How you can get involved
Getting involved with the UCL Venturer Programme is a straightforward process:
Express Interest: Complete our form to register your interest in partnering with the programme.
Initial Consultation: We'll arrange an initial consultation to discuss your goals and how we can collaborate.
Recruitment and Selection: Participate in the recruitment and selection process to identify the researchers you wish to support.
Invest and Collaborate: Fund talented researchers, collaborate, and contribute resources to drive innovation.
Enjoy the Benefits: Enjoy the benefits of your partnership, including equity stakes in potential startups and access to top talent.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking initiative that bridges the gap between academia and industry, empowering researchers to create game-changing solutions to real-world challenges.
Get in touch with our team to help shape the future of innovation and drive growth in your industry.
Register your interest
Please complete our short application form to register your details and proposal.
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