What Investors Want: Translating Research for Funders

Your research might be groundbreaking, but without clear communication of its value, it’s unlikely to secure funding. Investors want more than just data—they seek direction. They need to understand which problem your research addresses, how scalable your solution is, and what success looks like in concrete terms. Learning how to articulate these points effectively can be the deciding factor between remaining in the lab and successfully launching your project in the market.

The Problem

Many researchers face challenges in attracting investment not because their ideas lack merit, but because they are not speaking the investors’ language.

Academic writing often emphasizes complexity, while investors prioritize clarity and potential outcomes. Research proposals filled with specialized jargon, devoid of insights into customer needs, scalability, or actionable plans, create a disconnect. A 2020 study by the National Science Foundation found that nearly 75% of innovative research projects never receive funding, often due to insufficient communication of their value proposition.

To bridge this gap, researchers need to translate their evidence into opportunities that resonate with potential funders.

Research findings being presented with charts in the background

The Possibility

Numerous researchers have successfully made the transition from lab to market.

Take Dr. Vanessa Ezenwa, a biomedical scientist who transformed her university research on malaria diagnostics into a startup. By centering her pitch around the significant disease burden and the demand for her solution, she was able to secure funding from a health tech incubator, despite having no prior business experience. In her case, the potential market size was estimated at approximately $10 billion, highlighting her solution’s scalability.

Similarly, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, an education researcher, converted his digital literacy study into a scalable e-learning product. He focused on measurable impact—specifically, a projected improvement in digital access for underserved communities by 30%—and showcased a clear scaling strategy that attracted investments from both government and venture funds.

What these individuals learned is crucial: funders do not want a dilution of scientific content; they seek evidence of utility, scalability, and sustainability.

The Solution

At the Translational Research Forum, we’ll show you exactly how to prepare your research for investment.

Key sessions include:

💡 “Pitching Evidence to Investors: What They Really Want to Hear”

📊 “From Problem to Product: Framing Research for Funding”

💬 “Investor Panels: Live Feedback on Research Pitches”

You’ll learn to:

• Identify the right type of investor (venture, impact, public, philanthropic)

• Speak to both impact and return

• Translate academic results into fundable roadmaps

• Present risks and assumptions transparently—like a pro

Whether you're building a product, a policy innovation, or a social venture, these skills will help your research move forward—with backing.

Approaches to Monetizing your Research

1 December 2025 at 10:00 – 4 December 2025 at 16:00Lekki

Register Now

Call to Action

Funders are looking for big ideas—but they need to understand them.

👉 Register now for the Translational Research Forum and learn how to align your pitch with what investors want—without losing your academic voice.