Oxford+

What if the key to the future of global mobility was found not in isolation, but in a carefully curated community?

Host Susannah de Jager sits down with Dan Geoghegan, CEO of Bicester Motion, the visionary behind the world's largest automotive and future mobility cluster. Dan details his systematic, values-driven approach to turning a derelict RAF bomber station into a thriving, 444-acre ecosystem of 54 businesses—ranging from historic vehicle restorers to pioneers in net-zero fuels.

They discuss the critical benefits of clustering, where like minds and complementary businesses achieve greater efficiency and critical mass. Dan shares the vital lesson that focusing on community, inclusivity, and long-term partnership with tenants actually leads to better business results and high occupancy. 

Tune in to hear how his bold vision and "fly the plane as you build it" entrepreneurship has created an economic powerhouse in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, actively shaping the path to net-zero.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+

Dan Geoghegan: The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Bicester Motion, the world-leading automotive and future mobility cluster located on a former RAF Bomber Station. Dan’s vision combines a passion for historic motoring with expertise in private investment and corporate finance to create a dynamic centre for innovation, experience, and heritage. He was honoured with the Outstanding UK Leader Award at the 2022 Autocar Awards for his leadership in "redefining the automotive experience for the modern era through real estate." Recently, he has driven the site's expansion, including the completion of the new £26.8 million headquarters for Mercedes-Benz-owned YASA.

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn / Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

How do you maintain a strong company culture and team commitment as your organisation scales? 

In the third and final part of this series, Professor Robin Dunbar sits down with host Susannah de Jager to explore how social science can provide the answer. Robin explains that maintaining deep relationships with your core team is a huge "time burden" for leaders, but it is essential for fostering trust and ensuring everyone is on the same page.

The conversation delves into the historical context of community-building in business, referencing the practices of 19th-century founders who built social clubs and community centres for their workers. Professor Dunbar highlights the importance of social engagement, from feasting and singing to the simple act of having a pub on-site, as a way to create a powerful sense of belonging. He argues that HR departments should focus less on legal issues and more on creating opportunities for social engagement to cultivate a committed workforce. 

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+

Professor Robin Dunbar: A renowned professor who invented Dunbar's number, the concept that humans can only meaningfully connect with approximately 150 people. As a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Oxford, his research explores the behavioural, cognitive, and neuroendocrinological factors that influence social bonding. His work in evolutionary psychology and anthropology provides unique insights into how human dynamics influence group sizes and social structures in both historic and modern contexts, including business.

Connect with Robin on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn / Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Have you ever wondered what makes a great leader for a large, scaling company? 

In part two of our special series, Professor Robin Dunbar returns to explore the essential social skills needed to manage a growing organisation. Robin and host Susannah de Jager explore the psychological boundaries of group size, from the point where a CEO no longer recognises every employee to the limit of knowing 5,000 faces you've seen before. They discuss the challenges for founders who are emotionally attached to their "baby" and how this can impede necessary growth transitions.

The conversation highlights the often-overlooked importance of soft skills in the hiring process, particularly for senior roles. Professor Dunbar challenges the traditional reliance on CVs and short interviews, advocating for a trial period to truly assess if a candidate will fit into the social fabric of the company. 

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+

Professor Robin Dunbar: A renowned professor who invented Dunbar's number, the concept that humans can only meaningfully connect with approximately 150 people. As a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Oxford, his research explores the behavioural, cognitive, and neuroendocrinological factors that influence social bonding. His work in evolutionary psychology and anthropology provides unique insights into how human dynamics influence group sizes and social structures in both historic and modern contexts, including business.

Connect with Robin on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn / Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Have you ever wondered why your company's culture shifts dramatically as it grows?

In part one of a special three-part series, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Professor Robin Dunbar, creator of the renowned "Dunbar's Number," to explore the evolutionary and anthropological realities that impact organisations as they scale. They delve into how social constraints on our brains affect group sizes and dynamics, offering a new perspective on why committees and teams function differently at various scales.

Drawing on insights from fields as diverse as human evolution and business, Professor Dunbar provides a toolkit for founders and investors to identify critical tipping points in a company’s development. They discuss optimal group sizes for different tasks, from small, fast-acting committees to larger, more diverse brainstorming sessions.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+

Professor Robin Dunbar: A renowned professor who invented Dunbar's number, the concept that humans can only meaningfully connect with approximately 150 people. As a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Oxford, his research explores the behavioural, cognitive, and neuroendocrinological factors that influence social bonding. His work in evolutionary psychology and anthropology provides unique insights into how human dynamics influence group sizes and social structures in both historic and modern contexts, including business.

Connect with Robin on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn / Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

What compels a scientist to leave academia for the high-stakes world of finance and then become the CEO of a publicly-traded biotech company?

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Zandy Forbes, the CEO and co-founder of MeiraGTx. Zandy shares her fascinating career journey, explaining how her experience as a hedge fund analyst shaped her unique approach to building a resilient, multi-asset genetic medicine company.

They discuss MeiraGTx's pioneering work, from developing a mind-blowing technology that turns the body into a drug manufacturing facility to their successful clinical trials that are changing the lives of patients with inherited blindness, Parkinson’s, and other diseases. 

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+

Zandy Forbes: The CEO and co-founder of MeiraGTx, a NASDAQ-listed clinical-stage genetic medicine company. She holds a double first in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Oxford. Before co-founding MeiraGTx in 2015, she spent over a decade as an analyst and portfolio manager at a healthcare-focused hedge fund.

Connect with Zandy on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn / Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Ever wondered how to integrate meaningful philanthropy into your entrepreneurial journey? 

In this insightful episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Rob Chapman and Isobel Morton, Trustees of Founders Pledge, to explore innovative strategies for startup founders to effectively give back. Founders Pledge provides a structured, community-driven approach for entrepreneurs committed to donating a portion of their proceeds from liquidity events to charitable causes. 

Rob and Isobel share personal experiences and practical advice on utilising donor-advised funds, leveraging detailed impact research, and maximising the social impact of giving. With over $11 billion pledged globally, they discuss how entrepreneurs can make strategic, informed decisions to ensure their donations drive significant change. 

Whether you're at the early stages of your startup or approaching an exit, this conversation offers invaluable guidance on aligning business success with purposeful philanthropy.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+

Rob Chapman: Co-founder of Neya and experienced entrepreneur, Rob previously founded and exited Founders Intelligence. He is deeply engaged with Founders Pledge as a Trustee, committed to strategic philanthropy and social impact.

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn

Isobel Morton: A former private client lawyer, Isobel specialises in supporting entrepreneurs, family offices, and charitable foundations. As a Trustee at Founders Pledge, she focuses on simplifying charitable giving for founders and investors.

Connect with Isobel on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn / Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

How does a 40-year-old charity continue to shape the future of science and innovation in Oxford?

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Steve Burgess, CEO, and Nicki Campling, Director of Innovation and Operations at the Oxford Trust, to explore the organisation's unique role in nurturing startups and inspiring future scientists. From pioneering the UK's first innovation centre to investing over £20 million in state-of-the-art facilities, the Trust has quietly built an ecosystem where early-stage companies can thrive.

Listeners will discover how the Trust's dual mission—supporting deep tech startups and delivering hands-on STEM education—creates a virtuous circle that benefits the entire region. The conversation touches on everything from lab space pivots and impact metrics to angel investing, patient capital, and how philanthropic roots enable long-term decision-making. It's a rare look at a sustainable, mission-led model that continues to adapt in a rapidly evolving innovation landscape.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn

Nicki Campling: Director of Innovation and Operations at the Oxford Trust, Nicki oversees the Trust's innovation centres and STEM outreach, blending operational excellence with a passion for inclusive entrepreneurship.

Connect with Nicki on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn / Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Is there a better way to manage obesity than GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic? 

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Camilla Easter, CEO of Oxford Medical Products, about Sirona—a pioneering, non-pharmaceutical pill that mimics the effects of bariatric surgery without the side effects. Designed to expand in the stomach and promote satiety, Sirona could become the go-to solution for long-term weight loss and maintenance. 

Camilla shares the company’s unconventional startup journey, why they avoided the university spinout route, and how the product is positioned to address global obesity, especially among people who can’t access or tolerate drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy. From the challenges of raising capital in a volatile market to clinical trials and FDA approvals, this episode delivers a rich, inspiring look into medtech innovation with wide-reaching health implications.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+

Camilla Easter: CEO of Oxford Medical Products, Camilla leads the development of Sirona, a pioneering hydrogel-based pill for weight loss and maintenance. With a background in veterinary medicine and startup leadership, she brings scientific insight and entrepreneurial drive to solving complex health problems.

Connect with Camilla on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn / Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

What does it take to scale a successful venture capital firm while staying aligned with founders?

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with David Mott, Founder Partner at Oxford Capital, about his 25-year journey backing over 100 UK tech startups.

David shares insights on what makes early-stage companies succeed, why founder-led teams outperform, and how Oxford Capital bridges the gap between private wealth and innovation. From pioneering EIS funds to influencing UK venture policy, David outlines the key elements that drive value creation in startups—including team structure, sector focus, and investment timing. He also explains how the UK can move towards a more integrated "supercluster" approach and why simplicity and alignment are essential in venture capital deals.

Whether you're a founder, investor, or ecosystem builder, this conversation offers a masterclass in startup funding and strategy.

• (00:00) - Aligning Founders and Investors with David Mott, Founder Partner of Oxford Capital

Action Points:

Back Founders, Not Just Technology: David emphasises the importance of founder-led teams, showing that startups with original founders in leadership roles significantly outperform. Look for founders with deep conviction and ownership over the business idea to increase the chances of success.

Keep Capital Structures Simple: Complex term sheets may impress on paper but often break down during tough times. Prioritise plain-vanilla deal terms that maintain alignment between founders and investors, which leads to better long-term outcomes.

Invest in Sectors with Shorter Timelines: Oxford Capital favours sectors like SaaS, AI, and FinTech where companies can scale quickly. Focus on businesses that don’t require years of development before reaching the market.

Facilitate Strategic Co-Investments: Effective syndicates with complementary investors bring more than just money. Build a network of co-investors who can contribute sector expertise, global reach, or future funding capacity.

Use Early Data and Engagement Signals: In the absence of financial metrics, look at user engagement and team dynamics. Early product testing and strong team rapport can indicate future traction and success.

David Mott: Founder Partner at Oxford Capital, David has spent 25 years investing in UK startups across sectors including AI, SaaS, FinTech, and digital health. A seasoned voice in venture capital policy, he has advised both UK and EU bodies and champions the role of private wealth in fuelling innovation.

Connect with David on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content.

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Can a university-powered ecosystem become the UK’s next startup superpower? 

In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Jack Edmondson, Chief Investment Officer at Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), to explore the art and challenge of turning world-class research into global impact. With over 20 years in investment and deep ties to the Oxford ecosystem, Jack shares his vision for scaling science-driven startups, the role of co-investors, and how to nurture talent while maintaining commercial rigour. 

He offers an inside look at OSE’s approach to risk, return, and capital allocation across Life Sciences, Health Tech, and Deep Tech. From robotics and semiconductors to pet health and Alzheimer's care, the conversation spans emerging trends and bold bets. Jack also unpacks why reputation matters in a tightly-knit ecosystem, and why the UK needs high-profile success stories more than policy tweaks. 

• (00:00) - Building Billion-Pound Outcomes with Jack Edmondson, CIO of Oxford Science Enterprises

Jack Edmondson: Chief Investment Officer at Oxford Science Enterprises. Former Deputy CIO at Oxford University Endowment Management. Specialist in science-driven venture capital with expertise across institutional investment, private equity, and strategic ecosystem building.

Connect with Jack on LinkedIn

Susannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.

Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for exclusive content.

Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya and Oxford North.

Produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.