Healthcare Expert Joins Marketwise Strategies
POSTDOCTORAL rheumatology researcher Dr Paul Koshy has joined Newcastle market research firm Marketwise Strategies to help grow its work in the healthcare sector.
Paul, 35, from Newcastle, completed his PhD in Rheumatology at Newcastle University in 2000, carrying out research into arthritis.
Previously he completed a BSc in Medical Biochemistry at Brunel University in London, where he worked on research projects ranging from osteoporosis research at the Royal London Hospital to cancer work at the Institute of Cancer Research in Surrey.
Paul has also worked in industry, testing the biocompatibility of a new medical engineering product.
After a spell in Germany working on a church leadership programme, Paul has joined the seven-strong Marketwise Strategies team after being introduced by one of the firm’s clients.
He is now delivering proof of concept research for an innovative new medical device and has already carried out research for a potential spin-out from Newcastle University.Paul, who also gets married this month, said: “Marketwise Strategies has an excellent reputation for its research and strategy support to technology-based businesses.
Marketwise Strategies Make Business Dreams Reality
A MARKET research company is helping staff at a North university turn business ideas – that begin life as academic research – into reality.
Newcastle-based Marketwise Strategies was one of five experts chosen to advise entrants in the Northumbria University Staff Business Competition 2009.
The staff business plan challenge invited university staff to put forward their money- making ideas, with Northumbria bringing in experts to help take the potential businesses from initial planning all the way to market entry.
Applicants have pitched ideas from consultancy and training services to health and aptitude testing as part of the annual competition.
And four out of five of this year’s finalists have opted to use market research conducted by Marketwise Strategies, which is based on the city’s Westgate Road, to help boost their fledgling businesses.Managing Director Jacquie Potts was involved in the business plan clinic offered to finalists, which also included advice from a top lawyer and financial advisor.
She said: “Part of the role of academic staff is to carry out research so, as a result, academics often develop product or service ideas that could be commercialised.
Could market research help high-tech businesses get ahead in the recession?
Absolutely, argues Marketwise Strategies managing director Jacquie Potts.
FOR technology businesses, the need to win investment can dominate the months (and even years) leading up to market entry.
That can mean that the business planning phase focuses on generating the kind of statistics and projected accounts to make investors sit up and take notice.
Unfortunately, it can also mean that not enough attention is paid to the real nuts and bolts issues, such as ‘how warm is the market to the benefits of this product?’ and ‘what possible barriers exist to successful market penetration?’.
That’s why most marketing-savvy investors insist on detailed proof of concept market research, at the earliest stages of product development – and then more research before market entry.
After the University of Sunderland came up with the idea for a groundbreaking new software tool to tackle financial fraud, it invested in rigorous proof of concept research.
Newcastle Firm Helps Ameeca Listen to Market
A North East technology company has launched a unique range of remote headphones for children – with the help of specialist market research agency Marketwise Strategies.
Based in County Durham, Ameeca has developed StoryPhones, a wireless MP3 audio system for use in schools, to help young children develop speaking and listening skills. However, in order to develop the product effectively, Ameeca, run by husband and wife team Dr Simon and Eleanor Johnson, turned to the Newcastle-based research experts for help.
Marketwise Strategies managing director Jacquie Potts said: “Simon and Eleanor first approached us for research in 2005, to help prove that there was a market for their product. There were three stages to the project: initial proof of concept research; then market entry research; and finally marketing strategy development. At each stage we worked very closely with Ameeca, to help develop both the product and the ways in which it would be marketed.
