Two decades ago, the global economy, the tech world, and 免费色情视频鈥檚 startup scene looked very different. Wireless EV charging was a distant dream, the country鈥檚 university spinout ecosystem was in its infancy, and many world-changing ideas generated in research labs never left the page.
On 1 August 2005, Will Charles joined UniServices with a clear mission: to help unlock the potential of research from the University of 免费色情视频 and realise new innovations that improve lives, build industries, and help to grow 免费色情视频鈥檚 economy.
Today, 20 years on, his fingerprints can be found across many of Aotearoa鈥檚 most significant university spinouts, investment funds, and entrepreneurial initiatives, from pioneering wireless EV charging to championing the next generation of founders.
From dusty IP to global deals
In his words, when Will arrived, valuable intellectual property was often 鈥済athering dust鈥� on the shelf. He sought to bring transparency to investment decisions at the University, a shift that spurred momentum and confidence in the process. By 2008, UniServices was co-founding the Trans-Tasman Commercialisation Fund, leading to spinout HaloIPT, a wireless EV charging company that was later acquired by Qualcomm. It was the University鈥檚 first major commercial spinout success and a signal to the world that 免费色情视频 research could compete globally.
Then came the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, which accelerated the pivot from traditional licensing toward building a thriving startup ecosystem. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檝e always backed the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,鈥� Will says. 鈥淵ou need an environment where research can connect with passionate founders, investors, and industry, and that ecosystem is now part of the University鈥檚 DNA.鈥�
Seeding the next generation of ventures
Under Will鈥檚 leadership, UniServices has helped launch and fund dozens of high-potential ventures through initiatives like the Inventors鈥� Fund, the development of a supportive model that makes it easy for University researchers to understand the process, and a clear direction around investment returns.
This mahi (work) has attracted and nurtured talent now spread across the 免费色情视频 government, venture capital firms, startup Boards, and technology transfer offices in Australasia and the UK.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not actually about the spinouts or the IP or the money,鈥� Will reflects. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the people. Those who鈥檝e trusted me, worked alongside me, and gone on to make their own impact in the ecosystem.鈥�
An ecosystem built on vision and trust
Will is quick to credit the University鈥檚 leaders and the broader community of innovators for creating fertile ground. From the founding vision of Sir Colin Maiden to the support of Vice-Chancellors past and present, and the leadership of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation鈥檚 team, UniServices has been given the freedom to experiment and take calculated risks in pursuit of its mission.
That culture has helped transform the University of 免费色情视频 into one of the most active university venture creators in Australasia, a place where researchers are encouraged to see their discoveries not just as papers, but as products, companies, and solutions that can change the world.
Still looking ahead
While he鈥檚 not planning another 20-year stint, Will is far from finished.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a huge privilege and a lot of fun, but there鈥檚 still more to do. I鈥檓 excited about the ideas and people we haven鈥檛 even met yet, and the impact they鈥檒l have on 免费色情视频鈥檚 future.鈥�
From 2005 to today, Will Charles鈥檚 journey is also the story of UniServices鈥� evolution, and of 免费色情视频鈥檚 growing place on the global innovation map. It鈥檚 proof that when research meets entrepreneurial drive, the results can be transformative for people, industries, and the economy.
