Dr Revel Iyer has a long career in the technology transfer (technology commercialisation) environment in a wide range of roles. As a researcher he was involved in various fields of biotechnology research culminating in him leading a transgenic maize research program at the University of Cape Town.

As an inventor he was involved in the development of a basket of technologies directed at genetically engineering drought tolerance in plants. Patents for one of the technologies has been granted in USA and China. Other patents are in prosecution.

In addition to his scientific qualifications, he also obtained an LLB degree with electives including intellectual property law, forensic medicine and environmental law, an LLM in Intellectual Property Law and an MBA. His thesis here was directed at royalty rate calculation for biotechnology products.

During 2016, he was awarded a Fellowship in the Leaders in Innovation programme, which is run by the Royal Academy of Engineering and funded by the UK Government Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ Newton Fund programme. Here he was placed first at the pitching event amongst the South African cohort. In 2020, he was placed first at the Ocean Innovation Africa start-up pitching competition, whilst representing Aequorea, in his capacity as interim CEO.

In October 2016, he joined Cape Peninsula University of Technology as Director of the Technology Transfer Office. Here he played a central role in the creation of the holding company of CPUT, Aonyx Holdings. He has served as the CEO of the company from inception. He has also been active in the development of university spin-offs. These include four companies at CPUT, three of which he serves in the capacity of interim CEO.