Investors as Translators: Pitching Research Beyond Academia
- Dr. Edmund Ukwuru
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
You don’t need to be an entrepreneur—but you do need to be understood. Investors are not just funders—they’re translators who help move research from lab to market. If you want your research to leave the journal and make a real-world impact, you must learn how to pitch like a problem-solver—not just a publisher.
The Problem
Many researchers see investors as profit-obsessed outsiders or difficult gatekeepers. However, many investors—especially in social and impact sectors—are searching for credible, scalable, research-driven solutions.
The real issue is misalignment.
Researchers often discuss hypotheses, sample sizes, and p-values. In contrast, investors are interested in market gaps, target users, and value propositions.
If you can’t explain why your research matters, whom it helps, and how it functions, investors are unlikely to engage—with no regard for how brilliant your ideas may be.
The Possibility
Take Dr. Adaeze Obasi, a behavioral health researcher. She joined forces with a design studio and accelerator to present her mobile cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention aimed at trauma survivors. While her science was solid, it was the connection to human need and scalable delivery that secured her $500,000 in impact capital.
In another case, Dr. Emeka Oguejiofor pitched his energy efficiency research to a clean-tech venture group, framing it not as “just research,” but as a business opportunity. His work aims to cut costs and emissions in the real estate sector and is now being implemented across over 30 buildings in Nigeria.
These scholars didn’t abandon their research. They simply reframed it.
The Solution
At the Translational Research Forum, we help researchers pitch their work with clarity and confidence through various practical workshops:
🎤 “The 5-Minute Research Pitch”: Learning how to distill your research into a short, impactful presentation.
📦 “Packaging Research for Investors, Not Just Journals”: Understanding how to tailor your research presentation to meet investor needs.
Through these workshops, you will learn how to:
Identify the core value of your research.
Develop a narrative that resonates with non-academic audiences.
Create visual aids that showcase key data.
Practice your pitch in a supportive environment.
Bridging the gap between your research and investors' expectations can transform your work into a compelling story that garners attention.
Call to Action
Don’t just publish—pitch.
👉 Register now for the Translational Research Forum and learn how to make investors your partners in translation—so your research reaches the people who need it most.
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