Isis Software Incubator

Software IP based on copyright is on the increase and Isis recognises that it is rarely weighed down by the usual expenses of patents or the need for research facilities, product design, validation and trials. Meanwhile, Isis understands that early stage software developers often benefit from opportunities to carry out some significant technical or commercial development, in order to create sustainable businesses. With this in mind, Isis has recently launched a new initiative called the Isis Software Incubator.

The Isis Software Incubator offers support to emerging software ventures and assists them with trading without external investment.

Types of ventures

The Incubator has been designed to offer appropriate support to emerging software ventures for development of products or services and to assist them with trading without external investment.

At the point of entry to the Incubator, the key characteristics of the candidate ventures are:

Oxford Input copyrighted IP: The venture should be based on non-patented copyrighted IP which originated at the University and can serve as a platform for the venture’s product or service.
No investor needed: The Incubator is targeted at ventures that do not need initial financial investment to achieve trade revenue to sustain the venture, to develop a product or service, or make it a viable trade-sale target.
Entrepreneurs/founders: The Incubator targets entrepreneurs or founders that have a connection with the University of Oxford, who are willing and able to commit significant time and effort to the development of the venture instead of the usual professional management team. It welcomes in particular students and ex-students, as well as researchers. A typical individual may be coming towards the end of their time studying at the University, or reaching the end of a University post such as a post-doctoral position, and wishing to use the opportunity to develop their work into commercial reality.

Stages of entry into the Incubator

Ventures that are accepted for support from the Incubator may be at three distinct stages of development:

Stage 1: Pre-incorporation operation; the venture is not yet registered as a limited company and operates partly as an Isis project. The length of time spent in this mode will determine the University’s equity holding in the venture.

Stage 2: Incorporated without external investment; the venture is registered as a limited company, has no initial need for external investment, but continues to enjoy the services of the Incubator.

Stage 3: Incorporated with external investment; the venture is registered as a limited company and has external investment.

Advantages for new ventures

Incubator services include commercial mentoring through regular board meetings, IP advice and management and discussions that take place under Confidential Disclosure Agreements.

Ventures not yet established as limited companies also benefit from services such as accounting and insurance. The Incubator can also act as a shop window for new ventures, creating a web presence and handling business enquiries.

Importantly, the Incubator offers assistance with identifying and reaching out to potential clients, help with applications to the University Challenge Seed Fund for financial support, and support in the search for CEOs and investors where appropriate. Advice on the creation of a limited company and help with necessary legal documents is also available.

An Isis project manager will help each venture with any existing obligations to the University and its funders and the use of existing University owned IP, allowing the entrepreneurs to concentrate on the development of their product and business.

All of these elements are of crucial importance to a newly created company emerging from the University of Oxford.

Flying Start

Although only recently launched, the Incubator has already generated an overwhelmingly positive response.

Several ventures have already been admitted into the Incubator, all of whom are commercialising deals in the UK and the US. Further companies are in the process of finalising admission into the Incubator.

For further information, please read our Software Incubator guidelines booklet, available here.

Software Incubator Companies

The Incubator welcomes all enquiries or new applications. For an informal and confidential discussion please contact:

Roy Azoulay, Technology Transfer Manager
Isis Innovation Ltd
E roy.azoulay@isis.ox.ac.uk
T +44 (0)1865 280969