E09 | From T-Shirts to Deep Tech: Ahmed Saad from Oxford Said Entrepreneurship Centre on Building Ecosystems and Failing Forward

Ahmed Saad has worn many hats: founder, ecosystem builder, educator—and program manager at Oxford's Saïd Business School, where he helps idea-stage ventures become investment-ready startups. But before all that? He had a closet full of unsold Egyptian cotton t-shirts and a crash course in startup failure.

In this episode, Ahmed shares his journey from launching a fashion brand in Egypt to shaping one of the UK’s most influential university entrepreneurship programs. We dive into what makes a great founder, how to build support systems around early-stage innovation, and what it really takes to turn research and raw ideas into real companies.

With experience across startups, accelerators, policy, and academia, Ahmed offers a 360° view on entrepreneurship that’s as honest as it is energizing.

Here’s what’s covered:

• How Ahmed’s first venture failed—but sparked a career in entrepreneurship

• What working across government, coworking spaces, and academia taught him about startup needs

• Why supporting early-stage founders requires empathy and structure

• The goals and impact of the Oxford Venture Builder program

• Lessons from helping students, scientists, and engineers become entrepreneurs

• What makes a university startup ecosystem thrive (or fall short)

• How to connect research with real-world value

• Building an inclusive path for deep tech and mission-driven ventures

  
  

  Learn more about the Oxford Said Entrepreneurship Centre (here) and the Oxford Venture Builder Programme (here)