Dr Riam Kanso is the founder and CEO of Conception X, the UK's leading programme for PhD deeptech startups. Riam grew up in Beirut; Lebanon. She attended the American University of Beirut; where she was a Merit Scholar; where she studied both Psychology and Physics. On graduation, she moved to Oxford on September 27, 2008. Towards the end of 2008, she won the Clarendon Scholarship to continue studying for a PHD at the University of Oxford, focusing on neuroscience. Riam finished her PhD in less than three years, and started working at University College London in 2012. She is also actively involved in the world of entrepreneurship, having started two companies, and helping others start and accelerate their own. Since 2018; her main focus has been on Conception X; and growing it out to become a national deep tech institute. Riam is also an NED on Baltic Ventures; and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Luxembourg FNR.