Workman takes the helm at OUIINV

University of Oxford’s tech transfer operation, Oxford University Innovation (OUI), has made Adam Workman head of OUI Investments & New Ventures (OUIINV), which merges OUI’s new ventures and equity portfolio departments.

Workman had previously led OUI’s new ventures department and will now manage its existing portfolio investments in addition to overseeing its seed-stage functions.

OUIINV will be OUI’s first point of contact with the financial and investment ecosystems, and it has begun searching for two investment managers and an associate to join Workman’s team.

Workman’s responsibilities have so far included managing OUI’s proof-of-concept funding initiatives and its Oxford Angel Network initiative. He joined OUI in 2016 after 17 years in venture capital at firms including 350 Investment Partners and 3i.

“This is a great time to be involved in investments from the University of Oxford,” he said. “We have seen a significant interest in investment activity over the last few years.”

Workman succeeds James Mallinson as the manager responsible for OUI’s spinout equity investments, following the latter’s resignation in December 2017.

OUI said Mallinson had brought its portfolio to a “healthy position,” consisting of more than 100 companies valued at a combined total of approximately $162m. Its portfolio companies have achieved 11 acquisitions or initial public offerings worth a combined £1.52bn.

Matt Perkins, chief executive of OUI, said: “We expect Adam and the OUI Investments team will further improve our ability to create and nurture world-leading spinout companies that have a positive impact on society.”

– Photo of Adam Workman courtesy of Oxford University Innovation.