Peter Evans has joined the Northern Triangle Mentor Programme as the new AI Expert in Residence. He brings a wealth of technical and commercial experience to the role and will work with researchers and early-stage spinouts from the Universities of Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.
With a strong background in AI-driven innovation and a personal commitment to supporting new ventures, Peter will help academic teams develop their ideas into scalable, investable opportunities.
As CEO of Orderly, a company that uses AI and data to help global retailers reduce food waste, Peter is no stranger to turning complex technology into real-world solutions. He’s now sharing that experience with researchers exploring their own commercialisation journeys.
We caught up with him to find out more about what drew him to the programme, what he hopes to contribute, and what advice he’d offer to researchers starting out in enterprise.
What motivated you to join the Northern Triangle Mentor Programme?
“I wanted to give something back to the region where I studied and started out. I’m keen to help researchers avoid some of the common missteps I made when turning great ideas into investable businesses. I’ve worked closely with spinouts before and want to help them move faster with fewer distractions – and take a look at some cool ideas too. Some of these ideas can do real good in the world, and I want to see them get used and succeed.
“At Orderly, we help global retailers reduce food waste using AI and large datasets. There’s a lot of innovative tech under the hood, and I’m keen to support others building equally bold products.”
What’s your area of expertise, and how do you think it can support researchers?
“I specialise in putting the right building blocks around core innovation, making sure it’s set up in a way that’s ready for the market. That means choosing the right tools for things like authentication and hosting, especially in SaaS, and structuring contracts and terms in a way that works for everyone involved.
“It’s about creating something solid and scalable that investors and customers can trust.”
What advice would you give to an academic exploring commercialisation for the first time?
“Having a great idea that runs perfectly on your desktop isn’t enough. You need to think about how people will use it, how you’ll distribute it, how you’ll keep it secure, and how you’ll protect your moat. Sometimes those things matter even more than the idea itself.”
What do you enjoy most about mentoring?
“I enjoy helping people get clarity. Sometimes just asking a sharp question or reframing the problem is all it takes to get things moving again. Seeing that moment when someone clicks into action…that never gets old.”
The Northern Triangle Mentor Programme connects researchers with experienced mentors who offer one-to-one guidance across all aspects of early-stage commercialisation. From developing a clear business model and identifying market opportunities to building investor networks and improving strategic direction, the programme provides structured support to help ideas grow and succeed.
To find out more about being mentored through the programme, view the NTT Mentee Handbook.
Please contact us if you’re interested in joining the network as a mentor.
