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A round-up of news and happenings from Aotearoa's thriving commercialisation community

Welcome to the KiwiNet Researcher News for 2023, created especially for researchers, scientists, and innovators across the motu.

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This month we’ve started our newest reoccurring feature, covering top media tips from PR consultant Megan Fowlie. Have a read of the first instalment, on how to get your story to land in the news.

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Plus, get to know Shalini Divya, CEO of Tasmanion, who passes on her learnings to her fellow entrepreneurial researchers.

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And don’t forget that entries for the 2023 KiwiNet Awards close on 6th April! Don’t miss your chance to be recognised alongside Aotearoa’s best and brightest deep-tech innovators. Full details available here: kiwinet.org.nz/Awards​

GetFUNDED is coming to Christchurch!

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17 May 2023

Christchurch (location TBC)

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Are you a researcher looking to get your project investor-ready, an engineer or designer looking for funding, or an entrepreneur looking to scale your idea?

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A must-do for publicly-funded researchers, GetFUNDED will help you articulate the impact of your science ideas to attract research and commercialisation funding.

Each month we catch up with a different researcher to pass on their advice and learnings from their commercialisation journey.

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Introducing Shalini Divya, Co-Founder and CEO of Tasmanion, previous Emerging Innovator, and 2021 KiwiNet Breakthrough Innovator Award winner.

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What are the three most valuable skills or experiences you’ve gained through the process of commercialising your research?

• People management skills are crucial – managing people and their expectations are complicated, but patience is the key! I surrounded myself with people who helped me through the process.
• Becoming more confident in having difficult conversations – there were times when I found it tricky to step out of my comfort zone and have challenging discussions.
• Handling my emotions – I have found that being an empath (during business) doesn't always have many advantages. I am still learning!

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What advice would you give to this year’s Emerging Innovator cohort?

• Be honest – it's okay to ask questions – even if they sound stupid to you!
• Participate in conversations to get a clear understanding of the commercialisation process.
• Make sure you have cheerleaders around you or people who support you no matter what. We are on a different journey, and every bit of motivation counts!

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What’s next for Tasmanion?

• More technical development work – our prime focus is on making the batteries better.
• Expanding the technical team – because the company is only as good as its team!

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​Connect with Shalini on LinkedIn.​

Grab a cuppa, and dive into some fun and interesting content brewing in the commercialisation space!

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​What the Silicon Valley Bank collapse means for science start-ups​

​Saved for a rainy day: 5 pieces of advice for founders and investors​

​Turning trees into green hydrogen​

Media and comms consultant Megan Fowlie provides practical tips on how entrepreneurial researchers can prepare for media interviews and get attention.

Preparing to land with media

When dealing with media or any sort of communication, sending your message out into the world is only half the job.

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To complete the job, you need to ensure your news lands with your preferred audience, sticks with them, and maybe, if all goes well, it will be carried onward and shared with others.

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These simple steps can help you land your story well:

1. Hone down your message into three key points (a guide only, but it is a good discipline to master).
2. Speak with a clear voice and where possible, use simple everyday language.
3. If you’re going to be on camera, try to stick to a fairly moderate dress code that won’t distract attention away from what you are saying. Unless of course you’re a known fashion icon who could get away with it!
4. Try to provide high-resolution photos or video content to the journalist - they can use this to reinforce what you say, hold the audience’s attention, and help the audience visualise any unfamiliar concepts without having to explain it in words.

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All of this will ensure your message sticks in the audience’s memory.

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