Meet Buvana; She came to Europe as a researcher more than 10 years ago and earned a PhD in electrical engineering at KU Leuven before fully committing to entrepreneurship.
Inspired by her mother, a passionate electrical engineer, she developed a love for technology at an early age. With Alari Technologies, she aims to make solar energy more efficient and accessible.

Advice That’s Worth Gold: A Short Interview

How has your academic background (or research mindset) influenced your approach to entrepreneurship?
🗣️ "When I entered the private sector after my PhD, I noticed that turning research into real-world impact wasn’t always a given—neither in academia nor in business. That’s why I founded Alari: a company committed to making technology meaningful for society and the planet."

What skills from the PhD journey have helped you the most in running a business?
🗣️The research mindset itself is an asset—rigorous problem-solving, resilience under uncertainty, and the ability to iterate are all startup survival skills. My PhD trained me to dissect complex systems and validate solutions methodically—a direct parallel to building Alari’s AI solutions."

Many PhD graduates hesitate to take the entrepreneurial path – do you have tips?
🗣️Don’t fear the ‘unknown.’ Market gaps are opportunities in disguise. PhDs are uniquely equipped to spot these gaps: we’re trained to ask ‘why not?’ and test boundaries. The leap isn’t about abandoning academia; it’s about expanding your impact beyond the lab."

As a finalist for the WOMED Award, for which we would like to congratulate you, you’re a role model for aspiring female entrepreneurs. What message would you like to share with PhDs considering entrepreneurship?
🗣️Your research-trained mind is a superpower—not a barrier. Academia teaches you to question, pivot, and solve layered problems—the exact skills that build disruptive companies. To women in particular: the tech sector needs your perspective. Only 22% of tech leaders are women, yet diversity drives innovation. Own your seat at the table."

How can we bridge the gap between academia and business, and what role do PhDs play in this?
🗣️PhDs are natural bridge-builders. We can leverage long-term thinking to tackle systemic challenges (like solar efficiency). Collaborate early with industry—feedback loops turn theory into relevance."