Why did you start your spin-out?
I was primarily motivated by the potential of my research to have greater impact, beyond just academic publications, and I wanted to see how my research can be used to make a real difference to daily life. I was influenced by the question my PhD advisor asked me some 40 years ago, “Surely good research is more than just publishing?”.
What piece of advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurial academics?
Be perseverant, adaptive, detail-orientated and always in control of expectations. On perseverance, two quips from old colleagues that have stuck with me are, “Research is only 3% and making it work is 97%” and “If you haven’t failed at least 5 times you haven’t even tried”. I think these are both correct and linked. Having been involved in four start-ups since 1998, I can tell you none were without many failures. On adaptiveness, let facts lead where you go, not pre-conceptions leading where you want to go. On details, know them and not just the big picture stuff, and don’t assume others will know them for you. On expectations, promise less, deliver more, do what you promise, and do the hard stuff.