From Academia to Entrepreneurship: A Researcher’s Journey Across Global Ecosystems

So, you’re a startup founder in Berlin now! What motivated you as a researcher to take a step into entrepreneurship and become a start-up founder?

I am a molecular biologist by training, and for most of my academic career, I imagined my path within research. Entrepreneurship was not something I initially planned. My journey really began with the Innovators Connect Tandem programme in 2023, where I was first introduced to the idea that researchers could translate their work beyond the lab and build something of their own. That experience opened a new perspective for me. I started seeing science not only as discovery but also as something that could be shaped into solutions, teams, and ventures that create real-world impact. Over the past couple of years, that curiosity gradually turned into commitment. Today, leading our start-up RENATRIX has been a continuous learning process; every step has come with new challenges, but also growth, resilience, and clarity. What motivated me most was the desire to step out of my comfort zone as a researcher and explore how far my ideas and skills could go. The transition has taught me that scientists already have many of the qualities needed for entrepreneurship: problem-solving, persistence, and the ability to learn quickly.

Team Renatrix

How did the Innovators Connect Tandem programme support your entrepreneurial development?

Innovators Connect Tandem was the starting point of my entrepreneurial journey. It was the first time I was exposed to start-up thinking, ecosystem building, and conversations around translating research into ventures. The programme created a safe and inspiring space to explore entrepreneurship without needing to have everything figured out. It connected me with mentors, founders, and fellow researchers who were also curious about building beyond academia. That early exposure helped me realise that entrepreneurship is not a fixed path it’s something you grow into. The programme planted a seed that stayed with me, and over time it gave me the confidence to take the first concrete steps toward founding a company. Looking back now, it’s meaningful to see how a programme like that can change the trajectory of someone’s career. It certainly did for me.

From the Innovators Connect Tandem programme in India, Falling Walls in Berlin, to the GUILD programme at DWIH San Francisco, how did exposure to Silicon Valley and multiple start-up ecosystems influence the way you think and operate as a founder today?

Being part of programmes and ecosystems across India, Germany and later exposure to the United States broadened my perspective significantly. Each environment has its own energy and way of approaching innovation. What stayed with me most was seeing how founders think globally, learn quickly, and support one another across borders. Exposure to different ecosystems helped me become more adaptable and open-minded. It also made me realise that there is no single “right” way to build a start-up each journey is unique, and you grow into your role as a founder over time. These experiences gave me the confidence to keep moving forward even when things felt uncertain. They reinforced the idea that growth happens when you step into new environments and keep learning.

How would you compare your experiences with start-up cultures in India, Germany, and the United States and what key differences or similarities stood out to you?

Each ecosystem has something valuable to offer. India has a strong sense of ambition and momentum, with a growing community of researchers and founders exploring entrepreneurship. Germany provides a very supportive environment for deep-tech and research-driven start-ups, with strong institutional backing and structured programmes that help researchers transition into entrepreneurship. The United States brings a mindset of scale, speed, and bold thinking. Experiencing all three has shown me that innovation is truly global. What matters most is building supportive communities and creating opportunities for researchers to explore entrepreneurship, regardless of where they start.

Share your experience as an EXIST Women Awardee and what advice would you give to women researchers keen to explore deep-tech entrepreneurship?

Being part of the EXIST Women programme was an important step in my transition from researcher to founder. It gave me the space, confidence, and mentorship to seriously explore entrepreneurship while I was still shaping my path. Receiving the EXIST women and then the EXIST Business Grant soon after provided real momentum; it allowed us to build a team for RENATRIX, validate our direction, and take the first concrete steps toward becoming a startup. For women researchers curious about entrepreneurship, my advice is to start exploring early and stay open. You don’t need a perfect plan to begin. Programmes like EXIST can provide the support, network, and confidence needed to take that first step. Most importantly, trust that your scientific training is a strength. The resilience, curiosity, and problem-solving mindset developed in academia translate naturally into entrepreneurship. My own journey began with a single programme that introduced me to this world, and a few years later, I’m leading a start-up with two other women founders and learning every day. I hope it encourages more researchers, especially women, to explore where their ideas can take them.

Dr. Komali Valishetti was part of the DWIH’s 2023 cohort of the Innovator’s Connect Tandem Programme. Her journey from a researcher to a co-founder of Renatrix is a testimonial of the cross-border network of the DWIHs, interlinking research, people and innovation.

Learn more about the DWIH global network.