We turn deep-tech research and early innovation into real-world commercial and industrial outcomes.
For Founders
Your bridge from academic innovation to commercial traction
We work inside the venture as a hands-on commercialisation bench, helping founders develop the real-world entrepreneurial skills needed to build momentum in their first 12–24 months.
We help founders:
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Build funding and finance pathways (SEIS/EIS, Innovate UK grants, investor readiness)
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Shape offers, pricing, pilots and early sales
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Map regulatory routes and technical pathways
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Add fractional commercial and operational expertise
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Build entrepreneurial confidence, commercial thinking and decision-making
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Develop intrapreneurial capability for teams remaining inside university contexts
Founders we typically work with include those emerging from:
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University innovation programmes, incubators and accelerators
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Translational programmes such as Elevate and Innovate UK ICURe
For Industry
Access the UK's emerging talent and breakthrough technologies
We help organisations connect with the newest research-led ventures, emerging founders and technical teams coming out of universities, research centres and innovation cohorts.
We help industry:
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Access emerging technologies relevant to real operational challenges
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Identify and engage high-potential founders and early-stage teams
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Shape challenge statements that match real-world demand
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Run structured challenge-to-pilot programmes
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Build intrapreneurial capability in internal teams working with early innovations
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Create pathways for long-term adoption, partnership or investment
Origin Works strengthens the commercial capability and strategic thinking required for academic teams and industry innovators to move from research to real-world impact
What makes us different
We work inside the venture, not around it
Origin Works provides practical commercial, strategic and operational input that early founders and academic teams often lack. We help build the skills, confidence and structures needed to progress from research to real-world traction
Deep-tech needs specialist experience, not generic advice
We understand regulated, complex and research-driven innovation. Our work turns technical potential into clear pathways covering use cases, regulation, partners and early market entry
We connect emerging founders with the industries that can scale their impact
Working with founders emerging from programmes like Elevate and ICURe, and with organisations seeking new talent and technology, we create commercially aligned routes from discovery to deployment
Our founders and advisors
ANDY PARDOE
Andy is Professor of AI and Chair of the Deep Tech Innovation Centre at Warwick University, with 30+ years of IT, business and management experience across sectors including Financial Services, Retail, Media, Telecoms, Technology and Public Services. He is also Head of AI at Informed AI, advising CEOs and boards on AI strategy, governance, responsible AI, operating models and scaling. A global AI influencer and thought leader, Andy is a keynote speaker, author and active community leader with an extensive international network. He is also the founder of the AI SEIS fund VentureFlows.
MICKEY CLARKE
Mickey is a research-to-commercialisation specialist with decades of experience helping innovators turn complex ideas into clear value propositions and scalable ventures. She excels at guiding researchers through early-stage uncertainty and translating emerging technologies into investable opportunities. As a Champion for ICURe and a facilitator for the Future Founders programmes at the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University, Mickey supports teams as they validate markets, test assumptions and define credible commercial pathways. Her practical, people-focused approach helps founders move quickly while staying grounded, building the trust and momentum needed for long-term success.
EMMA FLETCHER
Emma specialises in strategy and commercialisation for startups and growing businesses across multiple sectors. She delivers clear, practical solutions that support growth, sharpen market positioning and provide focused strategic and operational guidance. Collaborative and hands-on, she works closely with teams, creates design-led marketing that resonates with target audiences, and acts as a business advisor and facilitator on university programmes such as Future Founders. As a consultant or fractional team member, Emma applies strong operational experience; including management accounts, budgeting and preparing data rooms for investment, to develop results-driven strategies aligned with business goals and return on investment.
JOHN COOKE
John Cooke is an experienced entrepreneur and commercialisation mentor with deep expertise in IP strategy, market validation and investment readiness. As an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Birmingham, he supports researchers and founders in building credible routes to market and strengthening early-stage ventures. John works across university, incubator and accelerator programmes, providing practical guidance on opportunity assessment, business growth and commercial planning. With a background in Environmental Science and Geophysics and an extensive international network spanning industry, academia and investors, he helps teams turn promising ideas into globally scalable commercial opportunities.
PETE BANDTOCK
Pete is an internationally experienced Chartered Global Management Accountant who supports early-stage and scaling ventures through strategy, commercialisation and investment readiness. He has worked with global teams across multiple sectors and has guided several tech companies through funding rounds, growth phases and successful exits, acting as a founder, fractional CFO and board advisor. With a strong focus on green tech, digital innovation and operational transformation, Pete brings a practical, evidence-led approach to shaping credible commercial pathways. An active contributor to the Midlands startup ecosystem since 2020, he works closely with founders to strengthen financial strategy, build investor confidence and create the foundations for sustainable, scalable ventures.
ANGEL MITEV
Angel is a serial IT entrepreneur and angel investor. He has founded successful businesses in the UK and Bulgaria and has several exits to multinational companies such as Uber, VMWare and Sirma Group. As an angel investor and a LP in an early stage VC, Angel is an active participant in the startup ecosystem. Angel has a strong focus on building high-performing teams, product strategy and execution. He is working across the IT industry with a strong focus on AI, supply chain and green tech. Angel is working with founders to support setting up their development teams and organisation efficiently, building the right partnerships and executing a successful product development and go to market strategy.
