Agility Over Overhead: Transforming Dormant Research into Market-Ready Assets
Maintaining a full-scale, internal Technology Transfer Office (TTO) carries significant fixed overheads.
The Contact Sport of Innovation
There is a common misconception in higher education that Technology Transfer is a purely administrative function—a series of forms, filings, and filtered communications. In reality, Tech Transfer is a contact sport. It requires proactive scouting, aggressive networking, and the stamina to push through the inevitable friction of the marketplace. For many African universities, however, the greatest friction isn't the market—it is Institutional Inertia.
The Cost of Inactivity
In the 2026 innovation landscape, speed is the primary currency. While internal committees debate the nuances of Intellectual Property (IP) policies, the window for commercialisation often slams shut. This inertia is not merely an administrative bottleneck; it is a profound financial drain.
Maintaining a full-scale, internal Technology Transfer Office (TTO) carries significant fixed overheads—salaries, infrastructure, and legal retainers—that often outweigh the revenue they generate. But the most significant loss is the Opportunity Cost: the value of the equity the university could have held in a successful spinout, had the research reached the market in time.
The MARATTO™ Advantage: Fractional Expertise, Total Commitment
MARATTO™ offers a strategic alternative to the heavy, high-cost internal model. As Africa’s outsourced TTO, we provide the programmes and fractional domain experts necessary to move research from the bench to the boardroom with the speed the modern economy demands.
We act as the university’s frontline players, navigating the "contact sport" of industry engagement while bypassing the red tape of institutional inertia. Our model is built on mutual success and long-term institutional health:
1. For Public Universities: We secure a foundational 5% equity stake in every successfully guided spinout.
2. For Private Universities: We secure a 10% equity stake, reflecting the unique risk profiles and agility of private institutional structures.
Securing Your Stake in the Future
By partnering with MARATTO™, universities shift from a model of unpredictable overhead to one of guaranteed equity. We provide the "Ground Game"—identifying commercialisable assets early, protecting them robustly, and matching them with the right industry partners before the opportunity expires.
In an era where institutional funding is increasingly tied to tangible impact, the question for University Leadership is no longer whether they can afford a TTO, but whether they can afford to let their most valuable assets remain dormant.
Take the First Step
Is your institution’s research portfolio working as hard as your faculty?
Stop letting Institutional Inertia dilute your legacy.
We invite Vice-Chancellors and Directors of Research to book a Fractional TTO Discovery Session. In this session, our experts will outline how we can de-risk your commercialisation pipeline and secure your university's stake in the next generation of African industry.
Book your Discovery Session here (cal.com/maratto/discovery)
About the author
AI Educator & Innovation Ecosystem Builder in Africa
An AI and Computing Education Specialist, Programme Manager, and technology advocate dedicated to making emerging technologies practical, accessible, and impactful across Africa. With 10+ of experience spanning technical support, digital skills training, and innovation ecosystem development, I have worked with students, educators, entrepreneurs, and community organizations to bridge the gap between technology and real-world impact. My work focuses on simplifying complex technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence, and helping individuals and institutions understand how these tools can enhance productivity, decision-making, and sustainable development. I am the founder of The Nunomol Hub, a virtual learning community designed to support AI literacy, practical experimentation, and responsible technology adoption. I also serve as an AI Instructor at The Cube Innovation Hub, where I facilitate training programmes, workshops, and collaborative learning initiatives that introduced AI and computing concepts to diverse audiences. Throughout my career, I have contributed to technology and innovation programmes with organizations including Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT Kenya), EldoHub, Sitaha Holdings, and several GIZ-supported initiatives focused on entrepreneurship, SME development, and digital transformation. Through these efforts, my work has reached hundreds of learners through training sessions, workshops, and community-led initiatives. I am also a certified Training of Trainers (ToT) facilitator in Financial Literacy and Product Certification under the IYBA-SEED programme, equipping me to train and mentor Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on financial planning, access to finance, consumer protection, standards compliance, and improving market readiness through certification pathways. As a certified Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals professional (IBM) and a Toastmasters Best Speaker, I actively contribute to conversations around ethical and inclusive AI adoption in Africa. I have spoken at events such as the Kenya Software & AI Summit, Moi University Digital Transformation Workshop, Eldoret City Innovation Week, and Google Developer Groups – UEAB’s “The Limits of AI.” Recently, I began exploring the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Renewable Energy, and I am currently upskilling through Solar Energy International (SEI). My interest lies in understanding how AI can serve as a practical tool for optimizing energy systems, supporting sustainability, and improving access to reliable power across African communities. At the core of my work is a simple belief: Technology should empower people, strengthen communities, and solve real problems. Through training, partnerships, and community building, I continue to champion a future where Africans are not just consumers of technology but active creators and leaders in shaping it.