AUT Innovation Fund: Supporting AUT Researchers to Create Real-World Impact
At AUT, research isn’t just about knowledge creation; it's about action, application, and ultimately, impact. The AUT Innovation Fund, managed by AUT Ventures, exists to help AUT staff and researchers turn ideas into something real and fundable.
Vice-Chancellor Damon Salesa says that growing research impact is a key focus, and the AUT Innovation Fund extends the way that AUT Ventures supports innovation and research commercialisation.
“The AUT Innovation Fund is more than just a financial instrument. It’s a signal — to our researchers, our partners, and our country — that AUT is ready to lead. Ready to invest. Ready to go first.”
Whether you’re seeking investment, testing a concept, or building a business case, there’s support ready for you.
Here’s how you can tap into it:
Venture Investments: Turning Proof into Potential
For research that’s ready to take the leap toward commercialisation, the AUT Innovation Fund can support direct investments into AUT-born ventures. Governed by the AUT Ventures Investment Committee, these investments help bridge gaps in funding and boost confidence to external investors.
There are several funding pathways:
- Pre-seed co-funding – where extra capital is needed to top-up early-stage commercialisation funding like KiwiNet PSAF;
- Bridging investment – to maintain momentum between funding rounds;
- Co-investment – partnering with external lead investors in promising spinouts.
A fourth category, Impact Investments, is also available for projects aligned with AUT’s social, environmental, or strategic priorities.
To qualify, ventures must demonstrate a clear AUT link, traction with customers or investors, a sound business plan, and strong potential for financial or societal return.
Tīmatanga | Initiate Grants: A Launchpad for Collaboration
In te reo Māori, Timatanga means “to start something” and that’s exactly what this grant is for. Timatanga Initiate grants offer up to $40,000 to help AUT academics take the first steps toward commercialisation. The funding supports early-stage research activities, such as developing a proof of concept, especially where there’s strong potential for industry engagement and commercial opportunity.
Grants are available throughout the academic year and awarded every two months (or until the fund is depleted). To apply, researchers must meet with the AUT Ventures team, then submit a formal application reviewed by the AUT Ventures Investment Committee. Projects aligned with the Innovation Fund’s priority areas may be given precedence.
“The Timatanga Initiate grants are about giving good ideas a real shot at impact and recognising that even the most innovative minds need support to explore the possibilities.” – Cindy Luo, Venture Programme Manager
Pito Mata | Potential Grants: A Place to Begin
Pito Mata, meaning “new beginnings,” is a unique grant fostering collaboration between researchers and MBA students. Through the Pito Mata initiative, AUT researchers gain a professional, high-quality business case for their research project; a vital tool for commercial or impact pathways.
In return, MBA students get to tackle a real-world challenge as part of their coursework. It’s a win-win: researchers access commercial expertise, while students gain meaningful, applied experience.
The process is simple: researchers submit their project to AUT Ventures, who work with the MBA programme to match them with interested students. Once paired, the MBA student receives a stipend and develops a comprehensive business case under the researcher’s guidance.
“Great research deserves a great strategy — and by accessing Pito Mata Potential grants, AUT academics can get both.” – Cindy Luo, Venture Programme Manager
The fund is being launched with investments into Dot IngredientsTM and CONICAL
Motion Capital is the lead investor in the $350k early funding round in Dot IngredientsTM, alongside Climate Venture Capital Fund and the AUT Innovation Fund.
Formerly known as Spherelose®, Dot is the brainchild of Associate Professor Jack Chen, who developed a new way to make critical ingredients for everyday products like soaps, detergents and cosmetics, but using wood pulp instead of petrochemicals or palm oil. Based in laboratories at AUT, the company is also participating in the Aurora Climate Lab run by Creative HQ, New Zealand’s leading climate-tech accelerator backed by Motion Capital. The programme supports high-potential start-up companies solving global decarbonisation challenges, while scaling production and developing new applications.
$110,000 will be invested into CONICAL to support the upcoming launch of its indie role-playing game, Faeborne.
Launched out of AUT in 2016 by alumnus Alejandro Davila and entirely staffed by AUT graduates, CONICAL quickly gained headlines through the success of its Green Fairy TV series. After earning a reputation for developing cutting edge virtual reality exhibits and activations for businesses across New Zealand and worldwide, Faeborne marks a return to the company’s fairy fantasy origins. Faeborne is a fast-paced, story-driven co-op game centred around the conflict between two fairy sisters in the fantasy realm of Lamparis, and is slated for a multi-platform launch in late 2025.
AUT Ventures is here to help AUT academics at every stage of their research impact journey. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, our team can provide guidance, resources, and funding to help you explore, validate, and grow your ideas.