New Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence encourages green innovation and diversity in entrepreneurship

The University of Exeter is delighted to welcome a new Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence, Susannah McClintock. During her time with us, Susannah will be working on a new Green Futures Accelerator at the University and will champion diversity in entrepreneurship.

Susannah McClintock is a specialist in commercialising early-stage innovation in the environmental and sustainability sectors. She has worked for 20 years launching, funding and growing start-up and spinout companies. She is an expert in commercialising environmental technologies, having supported more than 70 technology innovations and invested in and supported a portfolio of 30 start-ups. She is recognised for a career dedicated to the belief that the power of commercial innovation is the key to solving the environmental challenges of climate change and resource scarcity. Susannah is also a University of Exeter alumna and is currently an Investment Director at the Clean Growth Fund, having previously held a similar position at Sustainable Ventures.

While at the University, Susannah will be working with and mentoring researchers to help them explore ideas to commercialise their research, develop new ventures, and achieve their entrepreneurial ambitions. To achieve this, she will be working with the IIB team to deliver a new Green Futures Accelerator Programme. Here, she will provide mentoring to anyone developing solutions to key sustainability challenges. Regular mentoring clinics will be promoted through the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) “Early Career Researcher Network” as well as talks and information sessions to help researchers on their commercialisation journey.

“I hope to be able to offer mentoring and advice to anybody who wants to learn more about commercialisation in the environmental space. Through the Green Future’s Accelerator programme, I’ll be available to work with everyone, from students to post-docs, staff, and alumni,” explained Susannah.

The Green Futures Accelerator will also link closely with the Entrepreneurial Researcher Programme (ERP), delivered by SETsquared Exeter. Susannah will be working with environmental and sustainability-focused cohorts, supporting researchers with expert external advice, connections to industry, investors, and mentors. She will be working with researchers to help them develop and articulate value propositions, undertake market validation and create commercialisation action plans.

In addition to Susannah’s work in the environmental sector, Susannah is also an advocate for women in entrepreneurship and is the co-founder of fivethirteen.org, a not for profit that increases investment flows to female entrepreneurs. She also leads the Finance initiatives for the Mayor of London’s Women in Cleantech programme.

Susannah will be assisting with activities to support women in entrepreneurship and diversity and inclusion across the SETsquared universities. Activities will include events to help women understand and consider entrepreneurial pathways.

“I want to increase diversity and the representation of women in entrepreneurship. I will be working with the wider SETsquared partnership to support female entrepreneurial researchers,” explained Susannah.

“I want to actively encourage women from the University of Exeter looking into entrepreneurship to reach out and join the events.”

Susannah will be hosted by the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI). She will deliver sessions both virtually and on-campus. She looks forward to working with researchers and students across the entire University.

“I am excited to work with the University to increase awareness and knowledge of how commercialisation and collaborative industrial research can create exciting and impactful career opportunities for those undertaking cutting edge environmental and suitability research to help us achieve net-zero.”

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