What does it take to turn world-class academic research into a real, revenue-generating company? In this episode of Owner’s Roundtable, Jeff McLarty sits down with Jack Nicholas, Co-Founder and CTO of Qdot Technology, to unpack his journey from Oxford University’s labs to the front lines of clean aviation.

Jack shares how his Ph.D. research in cooling nuclear fusion reactors became the foundation for a deep-tech startup tackling one of aviation’s hardest problems: thermal management for zero-emissions flight. Along the way, he opens up about the realities of spinning a company out of a university, the costly mistake of leading with technology instead of customer problems, and why he ultimately stepped aside as CEO to put the right leader in place.

This is a candid conversation about the long timelines of deep tech, raising capital in tougher markets, navigating VC relationships, and why finding the right people may be the hardest and most important challenge of all.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The hidden challenges of spinning a company out of a top university
• Why starting with “great technology” instead of a clear problem can slow growth
• When founders should step out of the CEO role
• How investor expectations have shifted from vision to early revenue
• Practical advice for raising capital and pitching VCs
• Why recruitment is harder (and more critical) than most founders expect

About Jack Nicholas

Jack Nicholas is the Co-Founder and CTO of Qdot Technology, a deep-tech company advancing thermal management solutions for clean aviation. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, where his research focused on cooling technologies for nuclear fusion reactors. After completing his doctorate, Jack led the design of a £1M industrial test facility for next-generation gas turbine materials in collaboration with aerospace partners. Today, he applies that expertise to solving the thermal challenges standing in the way of zero-emissions flight.

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Contact Jeff McLarty:

• Website: FocalPointEdmonton.com
• Linkedin: Jeff McLarty
  
  

Contact Jack Nicholas:

• Website: Qdot Technology
• LinkedIn: Jack Nicholas
• LinkedIn: Qdot Technology