Home/Researchers & Academics
For Researchers & Academics
Turn discovery into impact :
without leaving your mission behind.
You have made a discovery that could change the world. PIPE provides the structured commercial pathway to get it there: protecting your IP, respecting your timeline, and doing the heavy lifting on commercialisation so you can focus on the science.
Your Returns Under PIPE
Your returns should not depend on
an exit that may never come.
The traditional equity model asks researchers to wait a decade or more for shares to pay out, and only if the company is sold or listed. PIPE's revenue model delivers real income from the first month your Protégé Company generates trading revenue.
Traditional Model
Equity: wait for exit
You receive shares. Those shares generate income only when the company is acquired or listed, an event that may be a decade away, or may never arrive. For most spinouts that trade profitably but never achieve a major exit, the founder receives nothing from the commercial success they created.
PIPE Revenue Model
Monthly income from first trading
Under PIPE's revenue model, a defined percentage of your Protégé Company's monthly net sales flows to you through the PEX Asset Manager. From the first month of trading, you receive real cash income, not a theoretical future stake. As the company matures, your cash entitlement transitions progressively to Revenue Tokens traded on the PEX.
Cash first, then tokens: designed for founders who need real income. The PEX parameters are specifically structured so founders receive their share of the revenue obligation predominantly as cash in the early years. The transition toward Revenue Tokens happens gradually as the company's cashflows strengthen and your financial position with it.
Read the full Revenue Model and Revenue Token explanation →
Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions,
answered.
Will submitting to PIPE affect my ability to publish or patent?
No. The PIPE disclosure process is specifically designed to protect both patent potential and publication timelines. You never disclose the inventive step: the assessment is conducted on the basis of context, problem statement, and application area. Your TTO is involved at every stage, and no commercial engagement occurs without your explicit consent.
Do I have to leave my academic role to commercialise through PIPE?
No. PIPE Associates handle the commercial pathway: from market validation and investor engagement to venture formation and IP structuring. You choose the level of involvement that works for you, from occasional advisory input to active founding role. Many researchers remain fully in post throughout.
What happens if my project does not pass the Go/No Go assessment?
You receive a detailed report explaining the assessment findings, including what factors contributed to the decision and, where applicable, what changes could improve commercial viability. This feedback is confidential and is shared only with you and your TTO. There is no cost to you for the initial assessment.
Who owns the IP? What equity do I receive?
IP ownership arrangements are agreed with your institution and formalised before any commercial engagement begins. PIPE operates within your institution's standard IP framework. Researcher equity participation is structured on a project by project basis and is always documented transparently before you commit to proceeding.
Is there a cost to submit an innovation?
Registration and initial submission are free. The Go/No Go assessment is provided at no direct cost to the researcher: PIPE's commercial model is based on shared value creation at later stages, not upfront fees from individuals.