For decades, the “gold standard” of PhD success was a publication in a high-impact journal. You spent years identifying a research gap, securing funding, and proving a hypothesis, only to have your findings sit behind a paywall, read by a handful of peers.
But in 2026, the paradigm is shifting. Universities and funding bodies are increasingly prioritizing research impact and commercialization. The question is no longer just “is it true?” but “is it viable?”
Whether you have developed a new biotech compound, a novel educational framework, or an AI algorithm, your dissertation might be more than just a book—it could be a business. But moving from “Lab to Market” requires a skill set that academia rarely teaches: Market Feasibility Analysis.
The “Valley of Death” in Academic Innovation
Investors often talk about the “Valley of Death”—the gap between a brilliant academic discovery and a commercially successful product. Thousands of innovations die here because scholars focus on technology readiness (TRL) but ignore market readiness.
You know your research works technically. But:
- Who will buy it?
- How much will they pay?
- Who are the competitors you haven’t even noticed?
To bridge this gap, you need to swap your “Researcher” hat for an “Entrepreneur” hat.
3 Market Research Steps to Validate Your Spinoff
Before you approach a Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or an investor, you need data to prove your idea has legs.
1. Identify the “Use Case,” Not Just the “Discovery”
- Academic View: “I have developed a novel polymer with high tensile strength.”
- Market View: “This polymer reduces the weight of EV batteries by 15%, increasing range by 50 miles.”
- The Research Task: We conduct in-depth interviews (IDIs) with industry leaders (e.g., automotive engineers) to validate if this specific benefit addresses their top pain points.
2. Sizing the Market (TAM, SAM, SOM)
Investors won’t fund “a cool idea.” They fund “a large opportunity.”
- The Research Task: You need a rigorous Market Opportunity Assessment.
- TAM (Total Addressable Market): The global market for battery materials.
- SAM (Serviceable Available Market): The market for EV battery materials.
- SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market): The share you can realistically capture in 3 years.
3. The Competitive Landscape (Beyond the Literature Review)
Your “Literature Review” found gaps in academic knowledge. A “Competitive Analysis” finds gaps in commercial solutions.
- The Research Task: We map your competitors not by their citations, but by their pricing, distribution channels, and customer reviews. We find the “White Space” where current commercial solutions are failing (e.g., “too expensive,” “too toxic,” “slow supply chain”).
How McKinley Research Bridges the Gap
At McKinley Research, we specialize in Market Feasibility Studies for Academic Innovations. We work with PhD scholars and university TTOs to de-risk the commercialization process.
We don’t just hand you a report; we give you the data you need to win grants like SBIR/STTR or pitch to Venture Capitalists.
- Concept Testing: We survey 500 potential buyers to test your product concept before you build a prototype.
- Pricing Strategy: We use econometric modeling (Van Westendorp) to determine exactly how much the market is willing to pay.
- Investor Decks: We help you translate complex academic data into the clear, punchy “market signals” that investors look for.
Your Research Deserves to be Used
Don’t let your hard work gather dust in a library. Your PhD proves you can solve complex problems. Now, let’s prove that the world is ready to pay for your solution.
