“We believe that Profit is Fuel. Our mission is to help researchers reclaim their agency by architecting ideas into resilient enterprises that serve the world without burning out the founder.”
— Dr Ana Attlee

IMPACT ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ARCHITECTING IDEAS INTO ACTION — WITHOUT THE HUSTLE, HESITATION, OR COMPROMISE.

Universities and research organisations are full of transformative ideas — but the leap from a research paper to a resilient, revenue-generating business often feels like a move into a different world.

The result is a loss of potential: brilliant research that never reaches its full commercial or social power because the "business" side feels misaligned or overwhelming.

The Maya Academy Impact Entrepreneurship Lab exists to bridge that leap.

What is the Impact Entrepreneurship Lab?

The Impact Entrepreneurship Lab is a practical, high-intensity design space helping researchers and innovators to:

  • Translate knowledge into viable, value-led business models.

  • Navigate the transition from "Subject Matter Expert" to "Impact Entrepreneur."

  • Build an engine for impact that generates profit as fuel for real-world change.

This is not generic business training. It is a systems-design laboratory — focused on building high-performance enterprises that stay true to academic rigor and social values.

Who it’s for

The Lab is designed for:

  • Academic researchers (at any career stage) exploring commercialisation.

  • Researchers and teams seeking career autonomy through enterprise.

  • Interdisciplinary projects requiring a sustainable, independent home.

  • Knowledge Exchange and Innovation leads seeking to foster a culture of "Founder-Academics."

It is particularly valuable for those building businesses in:

  • Sustainability, ecology, and environmental tech.

  • Social enterprise and community-led innovation.

  • Educational technology and knowledge platforms.

  • Consultancy models based on deep technical or social expertise.

What makes it different

Most business training focuses on:

  • Traditional business plans and "hustle" culture.

  • Pitching to venture capital at all costs.

  • Frameworks that prioritise profit over the original impact mission.

The Impact Entrepreneurship Lab focuses on:

  • Values-based architecture: Ensuring the business model protects the mission.

  • Asynchronous systems: Designing businesses that scale without burning out the founder.

  • Revenue as Impact: Treating profit as a metric of reach and longevity.

  • The "Dr. Ana" Method: Leveraging academic rigor to build commercial precision.

Participants leave with:

  • A stress-tested model, not just a vague idea.

  • Operational clarity, not a generic to-do list.

  • A roadmap for independence, grounded in real-world systems.

The Format

IMPACT ENTREPRENEURSHIP LAB — 3-HOUR INTENSIVE

Fee: £2,000 Format: In-person (can be online if requested) Participants: Any career stage

Each Lab is tailored to the projects and people in the room. Typical flow:

  • The Translation Matrix — Converting research assets into commercial value.

  • Revenue Architecture — Building sustainable income streams beyond institutional grants.

  • Systems Design — Creating the "Asynchronous Engine" to ensure the business lasts.

  • The Stress-Test — Identifying "Deal Killers" and compliance traps before they occur.

Participants actively work on their own business ideas or research projects, not hypothetical case studies.

Outcomes

By the end of the Lab, participants typically have:

  • A viable business structure that aligns with their research values.

  • A clear strategy for funding and revenue that prioritises impact.

  • A practical system for managing growth without sacrificing personal well-being.

  • The confidence to step into the role of Founder.

Institutions gain:

  • A clear path for Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation (KEC).

  • Resilient, entrepreneurial researchers who can lead independent projects.

  • Stronger evidence of "Research Impact" through successful enterprise.

Why this matters now

We are living in a moment where:

  • Institutional funding is becoming more competitive and uncertain.

  • Global challenges require rapid, scalable, and independent solutions.

  • Researchers are seeking more agency over how their work is applied in the world.

The Impact Entrepreneurship Lab supports researchers to build their own vehicles for change, ensuring their work has a life—and an impact—that lasts.

How to book

To discuss hosting an Impact Entrepreneurship Lab for your institution or team, please get in touch.

Each Lab is collaboratively scoped to match your specific research strengths and institutional priorities.