Social ventures balance profitability with an impact mission to deliver positive social, environmental, or cultural change.
What are social ventures?
Academic and student founders often seek equitable, sustainable ways to translate their research into real-world impact. Operating outside the university provides greater freedom and access to diverse funding options. Founders are often motivated by their values rather than profit, ensuring their venture remains mission-aligned as it grows.
We’ve formed social ventures thrive in Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine, Science and Engineering. The products of our social ventures range from medical devices and technology through to social service delivery and training.
Jonathan Tan from Greater Change speaking at the Social Ventures Showcase
Support for social ventures
OUI leads ImpactU, a collective of UK universities working collaboratively to support and raise awareness of mission-driven businesses emerging from our ecosystems.
OUI sources and screens a pipeline of investable, research-led social ventures and encourages co-investment from impact investors. Our social ventures are almost always research-backed interventions where the idea has been tested, peer-reviewed and shown to work, looking to scale up delivery.
Get in touch to find out about investment opportunities
