The Power of Ecosystems: Entrepreneurs’ Key to Tech Transfer Success with Chris Campbell
In the realm of tech transfer—and, indeed, in the broader world—relationships are paramount. Establishing new connections unlocks opportunities for collaboration with individuals and their organizations, while also granting access to their extensive network of relationships. This rapidly evolving web of connections forms a robust ecosystem of support, which is vital for startups and tech transfer initiatives.
Our guest today exemplifies and champions the significance of these ecosystems. Chris Campbell, the CEO and founder of Simpli-Fi Automation, an electronic systems engineering solutions company, is here to share his insights.
Chris embarked on his entrepreneurial journey during his college years with the creation of Live Wire Entertainment, a record label and studio design and fabrication company. In 2018, he founded Simpli-Fi Automation, which initially thrived until the pandemic disrupted the global landscape. It was during this challenging time that Chris discovered federal tech transfer. Simpli-Fi licensed an innovative technology from NASA known as the electronic nose. To develop the e-nose, Chris has relied heavily on these support ecosystems.
Today, Chris will discuss his unique journey and this intriguing technology, providing an entrepreneur's perspective on the discovery, navigation, and success within the world of tech transfer.
In This Episode:
[02:43] Chris's background began with electrical systems engineering. For 20 years, Chris integrated systems to control and automate everything in a building.
[04:04] After COVID, they were forced to take a pivot. Brown Venture introduced them to the NASA tech transfer program.
[05:50] The NASA electronic nose really stood out. It had a sensor with the capability of smell. It could tell the difference between a healthy or an unhealthy state.
[08:41] Ecosystems are a must. The ecosystem helps with risk mitigation.
[10:40] Challenges minorities may experience are lack of relationships.
[12:18] Challenges include having the needed education to unlock the awareness.
[13:29] TRL technology readiness levels. A scale that measures a Technology's maturity level on a scale from 1 to 9.
[14:03] Chris talks about how a small business is able to last in the time that it takes to do the additional research to introduce the new technologies.
[17:13] The ecosystem also introduced Chris to the PTO pro bono program.
[19:25] They got their commercial license from NASA last year. They've finished design and are now in production. Today is a big day from the iterating process to scale. They are now going into trials.
[21:11] They partnered with another NASA technology partner that determines pregnancy in cows.
[25:05] The technology is new, so they are now focused on validating and gaining credibility.
[28:17] NIST MEP definition.
[29:04] Chris had to build the sensor himself.
[32:04] We need to bring contributors into the process and expand on our relationships. How do we make a concerted effort to outreach?
[36:00] The FLC is taking all of the resources that are impossible to find, putting them in one place. We need to get people to go there and look at it with the right perspective of technologies that they can use to further their endeavors.
[40:10] Chris shares how four minority businesses are building technologies for some of the largest medical companies in the world. The technology is in the hands of people who will actually take it to market.
Resources:
Christopher Campbell LinkedIn ( / christopher-campbell-3a6939172 )
Simpli-Fi Automation (https://simplifiautomation.com/)
Brown Venture Group (https://brownventuregroup.com/)