Conception X (PhD deep tech venture programme)
Conception X
Usually opens in May and August
Projected from the months this call usually opens — not a date the funder has confirmed.
Projected from the pattern of past calls — confirm on the funder's page before planning around it.
GIVES NO STANDARD CASH CHEQUE and takes no equity for the core programme: a part-time venture programme that trains PhD students to turn their research into a company while still doing the PhD. Some cohorts have offered small grants or credits to teams. Capital comes afterwards from angels, university funds and Innovate UK grants.
You must co-fund 0%.
Conception X
private · national
Deadline: annual_call — Annual cohort aligned to the UK academic year; applications typically close in the summer for an autumn start.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Quick — mostly identity and bank details.
Who can apply
- Sectors: deeptech, health, ai, climate
- Stage: idea, pre_seed
- Locally registered entity required
For PhD students and postdocs at UK universities. No company or prior commercial experience required.
Source. https://www.conceptionx.org/ — checked 2026-08-14 · not human-checked