Student and Faculty Venture Track
VENTURATM
A 12-week incubation and accelerator programme delivered to universities as a service. We turn student and faculty research into venture-ready companies. We provide the curriculum, mentors, and infrastructure. Your institution gets the spinout pipeline.
The Problem
Research is being produced. Ideas are being generated. But the pathway from idea to enterprise is not yet systematic.
Universities across Africa have no shortage of research output or student innovation. What is missing is a structured mechanism to translate that activity into commercially viable ventures in which the university retains an equity stake.
Most institutions lack the budget, specialist expertise, and infrastructure to build this pathway internally. VENTURA™ was designed to close that gap.
The Programme
Five phases. Twelve weeks. Venture-ready outcomes.
Team Formation and Ideation
Weeks 1 to 3
Structured team assembly. Customer discovery workshops. Problem-solution fit validation. Each team identifies a clear market problem and target customer.
Proof of Concept and MVP Build
Weeks 4 to 6
Build a working first version of the product or service. Fractional Domain Expert mentorship on technical feasibility, cost, and design. Weekly check-ins.
Business Model and Market Validation
Weeks 7 to 9
Revenue model design. Competitive positioning. Customer acquisition strategy. First revenue target defined. Unit economics modelled.
Investment Readiness
Weeks 10 to 11
Pitch deck development. Financial projections. Cap table structuring. Equity allocation (including university stake). Preparation for DAZZLE Day.
DAZZLE Day
Week 12
Each venture pitches to a panel of investors, industry leaders, and university leadership. Best ventures are awarded post-programme advisory support.
Outcomes
What the university gets
A spinout pipeline.
3 to 4 venture-ready companies per cohort, each targeting revenue within 12 months.
An equity stake.
The university retains a 10% equity stake in every venture that graduates the programme.
Proof of concept.
Measurable outcomes that support the case for a full Technology Transfer Office.
Internal champions.
Faculty and students who have been through the process and can advocate for innovation internally.
A pathway to OTTO™.
A successful VENTURA™ pilot creates the evidence base for a full outsourced TTO engagement.
No infrastructure required.
MARATTO™ provides the curriculum, methodology, mentors, domain experts, and technology platform. The university provides the cohort.
The Network
Delivered by practitioners, not consultants
Every cohort and engagement is supported by MARATTO™'s network of 28 Fractional Domain Experts spanning 10 countries across the African continent and diaspora.
28 Domain Experts
Each FDE brings direct operational experience in commercialisation, IP, investment readiness, ecosystem development, and related disciplines.
10 Countries
Spanning the African continent and diaspora. FDEs are matched to cohorts and engagements by discipline, geography, and need.
Practitioner-Led
MBAs, PhDs, and industry practitioners who have built, funded, and scaled ventures. Not theorists. Not generalists. Specialists.
Pricing
Accessible by design
VENTURA™ is priced to be accessible for any institution, at any stage of its innovation journey.
From $2,000 per cohort
Pricing varies based on cohort size, engagement tier, and institution requirements. All pricing is in US Dollars. Phased payment structures are available.
University budget allocation
Alumni sponsorship
Industry partnership
Phased payment (50/50)
Ready to build your institution's spinout pipeline?
Book a discovery call to discuss how VENTURA™ can work for your university. Or email phin@maratto.africa to start the conversation.
VENTURA™ earns the trust. OTTO™ delivers institutional capability.
A successful VENTURA™ pilot creates the evidence base, internal champions, and institutional confidence for a full outsourced Technology Transfer Office engagement.
Learn more about OTTO™