Pito Mata Potential Grant

Having some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most innovative minds is a wonderful thing. Connecting them to collaborate on ground-breaking research and translate ideas into real-world impact takes innovation to the next level.

Pito Mata is te reo for ‘new beginnings’ which is an ideal way to describe this AUT Innovation Fund initiative that fosters collaboration between AUT researchers and Master of Business Administration (MBA) students. These provide researchers with a robust business case for their projects while giving MBA students a practical applied business challenge with real-world impact.

Pito Mata Potential grants create mutual benefits; researchers gain critical commercial insights, while MBA students apply their skills in a high-impact setting.

HOW IT WORKS

The researcher applies to AUT Ventures for support to complete their business case.

• AUT Ventures collaborates with the MBA Programme Coordinator to promote the research project to available MBA students.
• Interested MBA students apply to work on a specific project and receive a Pito Mata Potential stipend.
• AUT Ventures selects an MBA student to complete the applied business project.
• MBA student and researchers collaborate on the project.
• MBA student develops a comprehensive business case.
• A clear pathway to impact is identified for the research project.