Innovation Sprint: Speed-dating Your Idea to the Next Level
The Innovation Sprint – curated by Northern Triangle Mentor Network – brought together academic innovators, mentors and commercialisation experts for a high-energy day of idea-sharing and honest commercial insight.
Held at The Victoria in Sheffield on 2 October 2025, the event adopted a “speed-dating” style format where mentors and mentees rotated around the room in 20-minute sessions. By the end of the day, every mentee had spoken to every mentor – creating a lively and collaborative atmosphere that sparked new ideas, connections, and opportunities.
Ken Nettleship introduces the Innovation Sprint format
Listening, not pitching
One of the key takeaways from the fireside chats was the importance of listening to customers rather than leading with your research. When carrying out market research or customer discovery, innovators were encouraged to stay in “listening mode” – to understand what challenges potential customers face, what they struggle to solve, and where their pain points really are.
As Rob Ward, who join the fireside chat with Ken Nettleship, explained:
“It’s not about going in and telling them about your invention – it’s about learning how your idea can help them solve their problems.”
The day kicked off with Ken Nettleship and Rob Ward, CEO of DigitalCNC, discussing how to navigate the paths to investment.
Sharpen your message
Another strong theme was the need to communicate clearly. Being able to articulate your idea beyond the science – focusing instead on the problem it solves, the market opportunity, and your plan to take it forward – is vital when speaking to external audiences.
Ciara, who was second up in the fireside chat, shared a valuable lesson from her own experience: during a casual pitch practice session, she unknowingly presented to two people who would later become investors in her company. Her takeaway?
“Always be ready to explain your idea clearly, even when it’s ‘just practice'”
Ciara Doran talks to Ken Nettleship on spinning out a business from the The University of Sheffield and what she has learnt on the journey so far.
Build your support network
Innovation can be a lonely journey, so surrounding yourself with the right people makes all the difference. Whether it’s a mentor, a colleague, or a local business contact, having trusted people to talk ideas through with helps refine your thinking and build momentum.
Ken encouraged participants to make the most of existing networks and events:
“Use what’s available to you – mentor networks, networking events, exhibitions – these are all great places to meet people who can help you further down the line.”
Be ambitious
The final message of the day was simple: be ambitious. Whether that means stepping up to become a CEO or aiming higher with your investment goals, a clear vision and bold mindset can accelerate progress.
What did the Mentees think?
Watch the shorts in this playlist below to find out what they thought about the event and programme as a whole.
A day of connection and energy
Reflecting on the event, Ken said:
“I loved the energy in the room – seeing conversations in full flow all day was brilliant and infectious. Everyone who came in commented on how great the room felt – full of people connecting and learning.”
The ‘Innovation Sprint’ in full swing.
Feedback from participants showed that the Sprint delivered real value. Early-stage ideas were validated, founders gained new perspectives on potential markets, and valuable new contacts were made.
Meet the mentors
The event featured mentors from across the Northern Triangle universities (Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield) – an inspirational network of founders, industry leaders, and subject matter experts spanning sectors such as healthtech, AI, advanced materials, life sciences, manufacturing, cleantech and more.
Among the mentors were:
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David Richards MBE, Managing Partner, Yorkshire AI Labs
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Emma Sheldon MBE, CEO, Healthcare World
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Simon Chandler, CEO, Rinri Therapeutics
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Dr Sophie Dale-Black, Founder, SBD Innovation
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Rachel Muzyczka, Investment Director, dmg ventures
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Colin G Miller, CEO, Bracken Group
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Nicky Dibben, Founder, Invention Marketing
Together, they shared decades of experience across business development, fundraising, leadership, and go-to-market strategy – providing academic innovators with a rare opportunity to gain tailored, practical advice from people who’ve already successfully navigated the journey from idea to impact.
Mentor, Stephen Tunnicliffe-Wilson (left), Director at Alliance Strategy Consulting and Sheraz Hussain (right), a new mentee.
Join the Next Innovation Boost Mentoring Programme
Following the success of the Autumn Innovation Sprint, applications are now open for the next cohort of Innovation Boost – a 14-week mentoring programme kicking off the week of 27 October 2025.
Innovation Boost offers academics the chance to gain dedicated, one-to-one support from an experienced mentor, helping them accelerate their commercialisation projects and develop their professional skills.
Looking ahead
With the Northern Triangle Talent (NTT) project coming to a close, the Mentor Network has now secured funding for the next three years, ensuring its support continues for academics across Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.
To date, the NTT project has:
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Supported 77 academics through its programmes
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Recruited 45 mentors from across the UK and overseas
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Enabled 19 Fellowships for academics to focus on commercialisation
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Helped 18 spinouts recruit senior leadership teams
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Delivered over 100 engagements through the Experts in Residence scheme
The Northern Triangle Mentor Network continues to go from strength to strength – building an ambitious, connected community of innovators driving real-world impact.
