Oxford Guild launches new start-up scheme

LONDON: An Oxford-based students' body has launched a new scheme to help budding entrepreneurs launch new businesses and start-ups.

The Oxford Guild, one of the oldest careers society in Europe, had launched a trial of the new Oxford Accelerator last year and is now officially opening up the initiative to applications from Oxford students, alumni and start-up hopefuls from the surrounding Oxfordshire area in England.

Oxford University, which is unaffiliated to the Oxford Guild, already runs a programme to help students bring their ideas to market such as Oxford Launchpad but, according to the founder of the Oxford Accelerator Abbas Kazmi, the Guild's new scheme is focused on hi-tech engineering and science research.

"They will get everything from mentoring and training to access to workspace and funding. People think it's harder to start a business than it is and that's something we're looking to change," Kazmi told 'The Daily Telegraph'.

Oxford Accelerator is aimed as the UK's answer to Y Combinator, the California-based accelerator programme.

"There are no opportunities for students at Oxford, especially undergraduates, to launch apps, service businesses or lifestyle companies. The support on offer is very tech-focused," Kazmi said.