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What It Takes to Turn Academic Research into a Venture-Backed Startup l Build Mode

Deep tech founders face a unique challenge: turning breakthrough science into a scalable startup. From navigating academia and IP to fundraising, manufacturing, and product-market fit, the path from research lab to real-world impact is anything but straightforward. This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Capella Kerst, founder and CEO of @geCKoMaterials and…

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Deep tech founders face a unique challenge: turning breakthrough science into a scalable startup. From navigating academia and IP to fundraising, manufacturing, and product-market fit, the path from research lab to real-world impact is anything but straightforward.

This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Capella Kerst, founder and CEO of @geCKoMaterials and 2024 Startups Battlefield runner up. geCKo Materials is building a bio-inspired adhesive with applications across robotics, manufacturing, and even space. In this episode, they explore how she turned a Stanford PhD breakthrough into a venture-backed deep tech company.

This conversation covers:
🧩How to turn academic research into a scalable startup
🧩The challenges of moving from Stanford PhD to founder and CEO
🧩What it takes to raise capital as a deep tech and hardware startup
🧩Why commercialization and manufacturing are the hardest parts of innovation
🧩How to identify real-world use cases and achieve product-market fit

Following recent episodes on building teams, this conversation focuses on the foundation behind every startup: transforming breakthrough technology into a viable business.

Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.
TechCrunch Disrupt: If you’re thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we’re back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.

Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.

Chapters:
00:00 The Breakthrough Moment
01:45 From Startup Battlefield to Scale
02:42 What Gecko Materials Actually Does
05:18 Turning a PhD Into a Company
07:44 The Big Vision for Gecko Materials
09:19 From Wild Ideas to Real Use Cases
11:16 Spinning Out of Stanford
14:49 Raising Capital (and a 36-Hour Round)
17:54 Breakthroughs and Momentum
18:00 Building a World-Class Team
22:19 Owning the Founder Role
24:21 Finding Product-Market Fit in Deep Tech
26:54 Why More Research Doesn’t Become Startups
29:15 What’s Next for Gecko Materials

New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

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CNET

Electric Dirt Bikes Are Changing Everything | Gas vs. Electric

Are electric dirt bikes finally ready to replace traditional gas-powered machines? We explore the rapid rise of e-motos and compare them with gas dirt bikes. Featuring the Segway Xaber 300 and real-world racing insights from events like the Red Bull Erzberg Rocket Ride, we cover both the game-changing advantages and current limitations, like range and…

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Are electric dirt bikes finally ready to replace traditional gas-powered machines? We explore the rapid rise of e-motos and compare them with gas dirt bikes. Featuring the Segway Xaber 300 and real-world racing insights from events like the Red Bull Erzberg Rocket Ride, we cover both the game-changing advantages and current limitations, like range and charging infrastructure. Are you sticking with gas forever, or are you ready to make the switch to electric?

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
Segway Xaber 300 eDirt Bike – Red
*Cnet may get commission on this offer.

Read more about it on CNET.com
CES 2026: Segway Debuts 2 New E-Bikes and an e-Dirtbike Along With New Accessories

0:00 Intro: The Electric Dirt Bike Revolution
0:45 Weight & Agility
1:36 Convenience & Zero Maintenance
1:59 Noise Levels & Trail Access
2:53 Instant Torque & Performance Modes
3:28 Pro Racing & Podium Sweeps
4:10 Limitations: Range & Charging Infrastructure
5:29 Final Verdict: Are E-Motos the Future?

Video Credits:
Host: Dillon Lopez
Scripted by: Dillon Lopez
Producer: Dillon Lopez
Camera: Dillon Lopez
Video Editor: Dillon Lopez
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan

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#emoto #motorcycle #segways

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CNET

Celebrating Windows 95’s Birthday | CNET Archives

CNET’s initial impression was that Windows 95 would have a major impact, thanks to features like long file names, the taskbar and the Recycle Bin. Explore this vintage review. 0:00 The Windows 95 Hype and Cultural Phenomenon 0:45 Initial Skepticism and the Mac User Perspective 0:59 CNET Reality Check: Expert Panel Introduction 1:33 Hardware Requirements:…

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CNET’s initial impression was that Windows 95 would have a major impact, thanks to features like long file names, the taskbar and the Recycle Bin. Explore this vintage review.

0:00 The Windows 95 Hype and Cultural Phenomenon
0:45 Initial Skepticism and the Mac User Perspective
0:59 CNET Reality Check: Expert Panel Introduction
1:33 Hardware Requirements: 386/486 vs. Pentium Reality
2:05 Hard Drive Space Demands
2:18 Plug and Play: “Plug and Pray” vs. Reality
2:52 The Windows 95 vs. Mac Debate
3:33 The New Interface: Goodbye Program/File Manager, Hello Explorer
4:04 Understanding the Taskbar and “My Computer”

Video Credits:
Video Editor: Vatsal Upadhyay
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
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#windows95 #birthday #microsoft

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Science & Technology

A Cosmologist’s Guide to the End of the Universe | Katie Mack and Debbie Millman | TED

How does studying the end of time change your perspective of life on Earth? Cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack joins designer and podcaster Debbie Millman to talk about the story of the cosmos — from the Big Bang’s ancient light still glowing across the universe to the five ways it might all come to…

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How does studying the end of time change your perspective of life on Earth? Cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack joins designer and podcaster Debbie Millman to talk about the story of the cosmos — from the Big Bang’s ancient light still glowing across the universe to the five ways it might all come to an end — plus what aerobatic flying taught her about staying present. (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 10, 2025)

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

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TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Astronomy

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