Idea2Impact

We’re seeking expressions of interest for the Spring25 cohort which kicks off in September 2025. Register your interest now!

Idea2Impact Logo

Congratulations to the Autumn25 cohort on their triumphant Showcase event - the projects presented were of the highest calibre, but particular acknowledgement must be given to:

  • $3000 Innovation Award winner, Federico Sarzi Braga for LandLend
  • $2000 Innovation Award winner, Stephanie Wagner for Soul Sip
  • $2000 JW Legal Award winner, Boyuan Qian for Qior
  • $300 Ignite Award winner, Jasper Xu

Recent PhD graduate Dr Balakrishnan Nair is now CEO of PreventS-MD, a company implementing life-saving stroke risk assessment tools in clinical settings. PhD candidate Tanuj Wadhi won the 2023 Innovation Challenge with his athlete monitoring technology #EliteVu. And Dr. Sandra Grau-Bartual turned her PhD research on humidifying ‘smart fabrics’ into a company called RespirAq, which recently secured $3 million in venture capital.

AUT Ventures has played a part in each of these success stories. We are responsible for turning university research and expertise into opportunities for real world impact and commercialisation is a key part of our pathways to impact. We’re proud to partner with Ignite Innovation to present a cohort-based commercialisation programme designed to educate and inspire postgrad students to consider commercialisation.

Results from the first cohort include 100% of participants saying they’d recommend the programme to their peers, giving it an average 4.7/5 rating and facilitator Sabrina Nagel received a 5-star rating.

This introductory programme with four modules runs over eight weeks (approximately 30 hours).

Topics covered:

  • Commercialisation models
  • AUT Intellectual Property policy
  • AUT spinout stories
  • Market and competitor analysis
  • Market validation
  • Value proposition
  • Revenue and business models
  • Intellectual Property
  • Building a brand
  • Company structures and investment landscape
  • Pitch practice

Autumn 2025 conference

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