AUTM on the Air Podcast Por AUTM arte de portada

AUTM on the Air

AUTM on the Air

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AUTM on the AIR is the weekly podcast that brings you conversations about the impact of research commercialization and the people who make it happen. Join us for interviews with patent and licensing professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs, and tech transfer leaders on the issues and trends that matter most.

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Episodios
  • Building a Model for Non-Dilutive Funding Success with Sam Tetlo

    Building a Model for Non-Dilutive Funding Success with Sam Tetlo
    Nov 5 2025
    Few people bridge the worlds of engineering, venture capital, and biotech entrepreneurship the way Sam Tetlow does. After early years at General Electric and a successful run in venture capital, Sam founded The Grant Engine out of frustration with a broken system with too many brilliant innovators failing to secure the funding they needed to move lifesaving research forward. What began as a personal mission to write better grants for his own portfolio companies has evolved into a thriving 75-person firm that now submits more than five percent of all NIH SBIR applications in the United States, with win rates two to four times higher than the national average.In this conversation, Sam talks about what makes The Grant Engine’s approach so different including the deep training every writer goes through before ever touching a client proposal, the collaborative “brain trust” culture that fuels problem-solving, and the rigorous external reviews that pressure-test every draft. He explains how the company’s structure mirrors that of a venture-backed startup by being focused, data-driven, and built for scale without the equity trade-offs. They help clients access non-dilutive funding that keeps ownership intact while accelerating innovation.We also take a look at today’s funding landscape. Sam doesn’t shy away from describing 2025 as a turbulent, even “scary,” year for federal research programs. His message is to stay the course. He shares how The Grant Engine is guiding clients through political uncertainty, shifting budgets, and the sudden influx of AI-generated proposals that flooded agencies last year. Along the way, he offers grounded advice for tech transfer offices and startups, plus how to prepare when others freeze, where new opportunities are emerging, and why persistence, preparation, and quality still win.In This Episode:[00:33] Sam’s career journey from aerospace engineering to venture capital and entrepreneurship.[01:40] The origins of The Grant Engine and how a failed grant experience sparked a new business model.[02:52] The mission behind The Grant Engine by helping innovators secure non-dilutive funding that saves lives.[03:45] How the company grew to 75 employees and achieved a win rate two to four times higher than the national average.[05:12] What makes The Grant Engine’s approach different from traditional grant writing services.[06:45] Why rigorous training and mentorship create consistently successful grant writers.[07:58] The importance of subject matter expert reviews before engaging a client.[08:38] External peer reviews and the “pressure test” process that elevates proposal quality.[09:43] Discussion on the national drop in SBIR win rates and how The Grant Engine’s rates improved despite it.[11:30] Understanding their higher success rates across Phase I, Phase II, and Fast Track programs.[13:10] How The Grant Engine’s “X factor” lies in data, experience, and honest client feedback.[15:02] Regular internal analysis: studying what makes a proposal win or lose.[16:20] How understanding study section audiences helps tailor more competitive applications.[17:09] The link between commercialization experience and strong grant proposals.[18:50] The “Find, Win, and Manage” framework that defines The Grant Engine’s services.[20:20] How the company helps clients identify the right solicitations and map funding to product roadmaps.[22:00] Managing post-award compliance and staying “audit ready.”[22:33] Addressing turbulence in federal funding and the ongoing government shutdown.[24:00] Sam’s take on political uncertainty and how intentional disruption is affecting research programs.[25:54] Why this is a time to double down rather than pull back from federal funding pursuits.[26:58] The impact of AI-generated grant proposals on funding success rates.[27:56] The case for staying persistent and why consistency eventually beats randomness in the review process.[29:33] Outlook for 2026 and how to prepare for the eventual SBIR reauthorization.[31:44] The shifting balance between academic and company-based research funding.[32:24] Signs of hope: proposals to double SBIR allocations and bipartisan support for innovation funding.[34:16] Advice to continue preparing proposals even while programs are paused.[36:46] Why readiness for the next submission window creates a competitive advantage.[38:20] The benefits of over-preparation and staying proactive through uncertainty.[39:53] How The Grant Engine uses AI responsibly by augmenting research without replacing human expertise.[41:30] The limits of AI writing tools and the danger of relying on them for winning proposals.[42:38] The company’s acquisition of Streamline and its research on predictive grant modeling.[44:50] New opportunities ahead in defense, cybersecurity, space, and life sciences.[47:20] Observations on budget trends and where funding will likely expand or contract.[50:29] Encouragement for startups ...
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    57 m
  • Innovation Needs Connection: Finding the Human Side of Tech Transfer with Joe Runge

    Innovation Needs Connection: Finding the Human Side of Tech Transfer with Joe Runge
    Oct 29 2025

    It’s often the connections between people that keep innovation burning bright. My guest today is Joe Runge. He’s spent more than two decades exploring that truth from several angles, including as a practicing patent lawyer, published scientist, educator, and veteran of the innovation economy. Joe holds the rare distinction of being the only student in history to earn both a law degree and a master’s degree in biology simultaneously from the University of Iowa, a combination that uniquely shaped his perspective on how science and law intersect to move discoveries into the world.

    Today, Joe serves as Associate Director and Co-Founder of the UNeTech Institute, a joint research institute between the University of Nebraska Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His work extends far beyond traditional tech transfer. He’s helped secure over $5 million in competitive funding through economic development and entrepreneurship grants, while guiding faculty, startups, and community partners through the often-uncertain process of turning research into real-world impact.

    In our conversation, Joe reflects on his recent TEDx Omaha talk, "Innovation Needs Connection," in which he explores how a single word can change everything and why understanding your audience is just as critical as understanding your invention. We talk about the emotional side of tech transfer, from frustration and failure to purpose and gratitude. We also discuss how UNeTech’s latest ventures, including Respira AI and IMPOWER HEALTH demonstrate what happens when collaboration meets creativity.


    In This Episode:

    [01:57] Joe reflects on co-founding UNeTech and the transition from Unimed to a broader vision for innovation in Nebraska.

    [03:26] Revisiting Joe’s past podcast, Innovation Overground, and how scaling UNeTech changed his focus.

    [04:15] The origin of Joe’s TEDx Omaha tal,k Innovation Needs Connection, and how one word, stent versus balloon, shifted everything.

    [07:07] Lessons from the “stent to balloon” moment about language, audience, and empathy in tech transfer.

    [08:54] Understanding cultural differences between scientists and industry partners.

    [09:29] Why Joe chose to be open about frustration and anger in his TEDx talk and what that revealed about connection and authenticity.

    [12:18] Helping inventors stay hopeful despite statistics showing most patents and startups fail.

    [13:32] How UNeTech reframed innovation work toward workforce development and long-term community impact.

    [16:02] Balancing urgency and burnout while tackling global challenges like climate change and pandemics.

    [18:59] The personal reflections and family conversations sparked by Joe’s TEDx experience.

    [21:30] How applying for TEDx became an unexpected journey of self-discovery and professional identity.

    [24:58] The meaning behind “big ideas must die three deaths” and learning to value failure as part of excellence.

    [27:52] Joe’s biggest lessons from projects that didn’t make it to market and how humility plays a role in resilience.

    [30:21] UNeTech’s exciting startup portfolio, including Respira AI for COPD monitoring and IMPOWER HEALTH’S self-pacing treadmill.

    [33:23] Joe’s new role with Gearhart Law and how his tech transfer background informs his IP work.

    [36:27] Emotional intelligence and vulnerability as tools for better collaboration in tech transfer.

    [38:04] Encouragement to reflect, redefine success, and find personal purpose in innovation work.

    [39:08] What keeps Joe inspired about the future of innovation and why human connection remains at the heart of progress.


    Resources:

    AUTM

    UNeTech Institute

    Innovation needs connection | Joe Runge | TEDxOmaha

    Innovation Overground Podcast

    Joe Runge - LinkedIn

    Gearhart Law
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    43 m
  • Accelerating Startups with Michael Lyon

    Accelerating Startups with Michael Lyon
    Oct 22 2025
    Some people talk about innovation. Others live it. Michael Lyon has built a career that bridges worlds most of us only dream about, from helping launch the first space tourists to diving miles beneath the ocean surface, and now mentoring the next generation of tech entrepreneurs. A Harvard Law graduate with experience spanning government, finance, and frontier industries, Michael has spent over 40 years helping bold ideas find their place in the real world. Today, he serves as a longtime mentor at the Creative Destruction Lab, guiding hundreds of founders in fields like space, ocean technology, and AI.In this conversation, Michael shares the hard-won lessons behind his new book, Accelerating Startups: Lessons from Mentors. He opens up about the questions founders don’t always stop to ask, like whether they’re truly ready for the risks, trade-offs, and constant pressure that come with building something new. Michael explains why it’s smarter to chase a real-world problem than to fall in love with a piece of technology, and how founders can stay grounded when money, time, and people all pull in different directions. What stands out is how he draws on the precision of a lawyer and the curiosity of an adventurer to illustrate the messy and rewarding nature of the startup path.We also discuss the human side of Tech Transfer, including how universities can better prepare innovators for the leap into business, what it means to listen to mentors truly, and why staying humble often opens more doors than any credential ever could. When the topic turns to AI, Michael keeps it practical, discussing where it helps, where it falls short, and how founders can utilize it without compromising their creative edge. His stories have a lived-in quality that makes you believe progress is built through patience, self-awareness, and the kind of mentorship that keeps you moving when things get hard.In This Episode:[02:15] How Michael helped launch the first space tourists and later mentored hundreds of ventures at the Creative Destruction Lab.[03:40] What inspired him to write Accelerating Startups: Lessons from Mentors, and how common startup challenges led to the book.[05:08] The “Section Zero” question and why founders should pause to ask if they’re truly ready to build a company.[06:45] The personal and professional sacrifices that come with startup life and how timing matters.[08:20] Why reflection, self-awareness, and resilience are critical traits for any founder.[09:30] The trap of “a solution looking for a problem” and how tech transfer teams can help avoid it.[10:45] Why falling in love with the problem, not the technology, is key to real market traction.[11:55] The role of early business plans in aligning co-founders and clarifying assumptions.[12:40] Customer discovery tips for academic founders and how to measure perceived customer value.[14:00] Blind spots Michael often sees in university-based startups and why being coachable changes everything.[15:28] The balance between technology development and commercialization within research spinouts.[16:45] How mastering a 30-second pitch can transform a founder’s understanding of their own business.[18:10] Why many companies struggle with active listening and how coachability affects mentor relationships.[20:25] Building the right founding team and why compatibility and trust matter more than equity splits.[22:30] Michael’s advice on founder “prenups,” equity vesting, and handling co-founder departures.[24:10] How startups should approach global markets early and the role tech transfer offices play in preparing them.[26:30] Inside the Creative Destruction Lab model—goal setting, mentorship quality, and science-based acceleration.[28:20] Legal pitfalls academic entrepreneurs often overlook and why strong agreements matter.[29:45] Michael’s take on AI in startups and how it can streamline, and where human creativity still leads.[31:20] His top three takeaways for new founders include building a business plan, refining your pitch, and staying open to learning.[33:00] Reflections on mentorship, trust, and the patient, disciplined path from idea to impact.Resources: AUTMAccelerating Startups: Lessons From MentorsMichael Lyon - LinkedInmentor@lyoncapitalservices.comCreative Destruction Lab
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    34 m
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