Risk and Reward in Early-Stage Tech Investments with George Robinson, Founding Partner of Oxford Investment Consultants

Oxford+

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In this episode, Susannah de Jager is joined by George Robinson, founding partner of Oxford Investment Consultants (OIC). Established in 2015, OIC has directed substantial investments into early-stage technology and biotech companies originating from Oxford and other UK universities, particularly focusing on high-potential, innovative spinouts.
The conversation explores Robinson's journey from investing in listed equities in Asia to championing early-stage technology ventures in the UK. Throughout the episode, George shares insights into the challenges of university spinouts, discussing the complexities of evaluating new technologies, the strategic importance of assembling a well-rounded team, and the essential qualities he seeks in leadership.

(00:00) - Meet George Robinson: Founding Partner of Oxford Investment Consultants
(01:44) - George's Journey: From Listed Equities to University Spinouts
(03:38) - Challenges and Opportunities in University Spinouts
(04:25) - Building a Strong Investment Team
(06:07) - Navigating Market Fit and Commercial Success
(07:27) - Overcoming Technical and Commercial Hurdles
(19:44) - The Importance of Team Evolution
(24:51) - Funding Challenges and Strategies
(34:25) - Evaluating Market Potential and Competitors
(39:20) - Spotlight on Oxford PV: A Promising Solar Technology
(40:55) - Conclusion and Farewell

About the guest:
George Robinson is the founding partner of Oxford Investment Consultants, a firm advising on investments in spinout companies from Oxford and other UK universities. Since its founding in 2015, the firm has invested over £70 million in 35 companies, targeting early-stage ventures in technology and biotech.

An active investor with a keen focus on Oxford’s innovation landscape, Robinson was an early backer and former board member of companies like Adaptive Immune Therapeutics and Immunocore. He is also a founding partner of Technicos, a private equity firm investing in spinouts from Oxford's Institute of Biomedical Engineering.

With a distinguished career that began in listed equities, Robinson co-founded Sloan Robinson in 1993, focusing on global investments with a speciality in Asia and emerging markets. An Honorary Fellow of Keble College, Oxford, he holds a B.A. in Engineering Science and has served on Oxford University’s Endowment Investment Committee.

Connect with George on LinkedIn

About the host:
Susannah de Jager 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

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Oxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

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