OpenOcean x Oxford's Saïd Business School: Why We Created O³, Startup Insights Platform

At OpenOcean, we've always envisioned a startup ecosystem where stakeholders make informed decisions grounded on solid data. Today, in collaboration with Oxford's Saïd Business School, we have made steps towards it in the form of O³, our latest open-access startup insights platform.

Historically, one of the challenges the tech ecosystem has faced has been the lack of transparency. Policymakers, investors, and startups have often navigated through murky waters, making choices based on instinct and fragmented information. With O³, we aim to change this narrative. The platform will provide unprecedented data about startups, their technology stacks, go-to-market strategies, and more. Using a taxonomy developed from Oxford's years of research coupled with OpenOcean's expertise, O³ will offer unparalleled insights, making it easier to evaluate startups and grasp ever-changing market dynamics.

For instance, the platform's early data reveal that while the UK strives to be an AI powerhouse, some segments lack funding. Early analysis from O³ has found that AI infrastructure startups in the UK raised £2.7 billion collectively, compared to £10 billion for AI startups in the application layer. This fundraising pales against major international rounds, including $11.3 billion for OpenAI alone. With infrastructure critical for keeping in-demand AI applications running, backing this market segment will be critical to ensure UK leadership on AI.  

Ekaterina Almasque, General Partner at OpenOcean, said: “In my time in venture capital, far too often the choice of which startups receive funding has come down to instinct and opportunistic use of data, rather than accurate definition and comparison of startups. We wanted to change that, creating a platform that cuts through the noise, and removes bias from decision-making. This is about empowering founders, investors and policyholders with the tools they need to accurately understand today’s tech ecosystem. Already in the early days of the platform, we have shown it provides unique insights that were not possible before. But this is only the beginning. We want to see it expand to cover more markets and geographies. It is a community driven project, built on open access, where the more stakeholders participate, the more powerful is the common knowledge.”  

Mari Sako, Professor of Management Studies at Oxford Saïd, said: “We are delighted to partner with OpenOcean to launch the O³ platform, the first open-source venture classification system of its kind. The OpenOcean team brings a fantastic granular understanding of the AI landscape that comes from more than a decade investing in cutting edge AI companies, complementing our research expertise in entrepreneurship and strategy. This platform will help to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses of AI ventures in the UK. It will enable policymakers, researchers, founders and investors globally to clearly identify gaps and opportunities in the AI ecosystem. We believe this platform has immense potential to aid innovators in making informed decisions based on sound data, and to boost research on AI.”

O³ is more than just a platform; it's a step towards a more transparent future for the tech ecosystem, where founders, policymakers, and investors collaborate effectively, driving success based on data and knowledge.

Visit the platform: https://o3.ventures/