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Natasha Nagle didn’t always see herself in the world of entrepreneurship. As a PhD student in geoarchaeology, she was deep in research when she stumbled across the Student Fellowship. Fast forward a few months, and she was pitching a science communication startup, meeting founders, and seeing startups in a whole new light. Her story proves that innovation isn’t limited to one field - it’s for anyone who wants to make an impact.

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Ready to launch your career in startups? Join our next intake of Student Fellows.

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Startmate: What led you into your PhD?

Natasha: I was one of those rare kids who loved geology from a really young age. I grew up in Pennsylvania, spending hours collecting rocks and annoying my parents by leaving them all over the house.

At the same time, I fell in love with ancient history and archaeology, thanks to the Percy Jackson books. So, when I got to university, I studied both. That eventually led me to a master’s in geoarchaeology and, now, my PhD at La Trobe in Melbourne.

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Startmate: What drew you to entrepreneurship?

Natasha: A lot of PhD students aim for academia, but I’ve always known that wasn’t quite right for me. I wanted something more collaborative and impactful. My dad runs a small steel fabrication business, so I grew up seeing the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship firsthand.

I started thinking - what if I could apply that same thinking to science and research?

There’s so much incredible research out there that never reaches the public because it’s locked behind paywalls. I’m passionate about science communication, and I saw entrepreneurship as a way to break down those barriers and help researchers share their work.

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Startmate: How did you hear about the Student Fellowship?

Natasha: Through the innovation and entrepreneurship team at La Trobe. I read about it in their newsletter, and it immediately caught my eye.

As an international student and someone new to Melbourne, I wanted to meet other students who were also interested in entrepreneurship. I applied on a whim, and I’m so glad I did!

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Startmate: What was the most valuable part of the Fellowship for you?

Natasha: The people. Meeting other students who were passionate about startups was amazing. The in-person meetup in Melbourne was a huge highlight, and the coaching sessions were incredibly helpful.

In fact, I’m still in touch with one of the coaches who’s helping me refine my startup idea.

And of course, Student Fellowship program lead, Kaya, was fantastic - having her guide us through everything was invaluable!

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Startmate: Did you pitch at the Founders Challenge?

Natasha: I did! I pitched a segment of my startup, ReadSTEMM™, called Catalyst Connect. It’s a crowdfunding platform for scientific research.

One of the biggest challenges researchers face is funding - so many scientists spend more time writing grant applications than actually doing research. My idea was to create a platform where researchers could engage the public, share their work, and get direct funding.

It was nerve-wracking but also really rewarding to pitch something I’m so passionate about.

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Startmate: Did any founders inspire you during the Fellowship?

Natasha: Melanie Perkins from Canva is a huge inspiration. I love how she identified a problem- how hard it was for people to use design software - and found a simple, elegant solution. What really stood out to me was her ability to pivot, refine her idea, and grow Canva into something massive.

I want to bring that same mindset to science communication - finding the simplest way to get important research into the hands of people who need it.

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Startmate: Do you see yourself continuing as a founder?

Natasha: Absolutely! I’ve already set up ReadSTEMM™ and am working on growing it. It’s intimidating, but the potential to make a real impact is too exciting to ignore.

I want to help bridge the gap between researchers and the public, combat misinformation, and make science more accessible.

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Startmate: Any advice for students thinking about entrepreneurship?

Natasha: If you’re even remotely curious, just go for it! So many students feel locked into traditional career paths, but entrepreneurship gives you the freedom to explore and apply your skills in unexpected ways.

The Student Fellowship is a perfect way to dip your toes in - you’ll meet incredible people, gain new skills, and realise that startups aren’t just for business majors.

And most importantly, don’t be afraid to learn outside your niche. You never know where it might take you!

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Natasha didn’t plan on diving into startups, but the Student Fellowship gave her the space to explore, test ideas, and take action. If you’re sitting on the fence about entrepreneurship, let this be your sign - just start. You never know where it might take you.

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