Dear Sponsors, Partner, Friends, and Members – old and new.

Welcome to Oxford Entrepreneurs – the most exciting and inspiring movement ever to hit the University of Oxford.  You might aspire to be the next Richard Branson or the next Lord Sugar, you might have an idea but not know what to do with it, or you might just want to develop your skills to make yourself more employable in today’s tough economic climate. Either way, you’re sure to find yourself at home with OE.

Oxford Entrepreneurs is open to EVERYONE, and is TOTALLY FREE, and our members come from all disciplines and all levels of study. We won’t refuse you membership if you aren’t already running a business, but if you are, we can definitely help you grow! Essentially Oxford Entrepreneurs is for people who are doers – people who have a burning desire to go out into the world and make a difference.

And that’s where we come in.

Through our events at OE, you will be inspired by some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs and innovators, develop your skill set through our vast range of workshops, connect with likeminded people at our numerous events, learn how to run a company through our Ideas 2 Market Programme, and even get the chance to win up to £10,000 in ‘no-strings attached’ cash at our flagship event, Idea Idol, as well as get the support, encouragement and advice you need to master your future, all for FREE.

This term we bring you Daniel Ek, founder of Music phenomenon Spotify, and Richard Reed, founder of market giants Innocent Smoothies. For the second year in a row we are also running our Ideas2Market programme, developed in-house, to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to begin a business while at University.

This year, while continuing to support Oxford Women in Business and SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), OE is proud to be launching a new programme, the OxPrentice. Using the model of TV’s the Apprentice, our version will be more inclusive, and hopefully more fun too! This term we have at least 2 events lined up – one where we will be making a new iPhone App, and one where we will be making and selling 2 new Ice Cream flavours in conjunction with G&D’s! We also have a couple of surprises lined up, so watch this space!

With more members than any other student-led entrepreneurship society in Europe, and spinning out companies numbering in the dozens each year, it’s not surprising that the Department of Trade and Industry described Oxford Entrepreneurs as ‘one of the top three organizations in the UK for supporting innovation and enterprise’. From ideas on the back of napkins to Tech Spin-outs, events to social ventures, Oxford is buzzing with start-ups, and Oxford Entrepreneurs are right in the thick of it.

Join Oxford Entrepreneurs now, and become part of a dynamic community of some of the most innovative, driven, creative, talented and FUN people at the University of Oxford. Join us in becoming the next generation of world leaders, whether that be as an entrepreneur, an innovator, or an ‘intra’-preneur.

Please also join us at our launch party, at 7pm on the 12^th of October at Thirst Lodge, where I will be delighted to talk more about our plans for the year ahead.

I can’t wait to meet and work with all of you over the coming year.

Yours,

Jordan Poulton

President, 09/10