Overview

Too many great innovations take too long to reach commercial impact. Nicky’s mission is to help founders and research-led businesses fast-track their journey of moving from early-stage innovation to global market success sooner and with greater clarity.

With hands-on experience launching two food ingredient start-ups into global markets and nearly a decade at Callaghan Innovation working across

a range of technologies, she has supported hundreds of ventures through validation, go-to-market strategy and global launch readiness.

Nicky works across the Agritech, Food and Beverage and Environment sectors, bridging the gap between growers and farmers, research

organisations, government, investors, funders, and industry.

Nicky is a relationship builder, systems thinker, and strategic collaborator who thrives in complex environments and enjoys working at the edge of what’s next.

Expertise

• Market validation & go-to-market strategy

• Growth strategy & execution roadmaps

• Strategy facilitation:  guiding development, testing ideas, and building team alignment for focused execution

• Scaling ventures & business development - streamlining operations through growth.

• International expansion & market entry

• Investment & funding readiness

• Innovation capability building using frameworks like 10 Types of Innovation

• R&D and IP strategy roadmapping & commercial planning

• Ecosystem engagement (government, research, investors, industry)

• Project leadership & execution support - do the doing when things need to be done!

• Fractional advisory & embedded support.

Special Interests:

Backing good people to build great businesses that make a real difference in Aotearoa and the world.

Little Known Fact:

I once turned a zero-revenue R&D initiative into a $3M global business—before most people had even heard of the ingredient.

Consulting Options:

• Fractional Roles

• External contractor

• Full-time or Fixed-term contract

• Commercialisation and Business Growth Manager

• Advisor

• General Manager within a small-scale growth business

• Business Development Manager