Capella Kerst, founder and CEO of geCKo Materials, discussed the process of turning academic research into a venture-backed startup on the TechCrunch Build Mode podcast.
The transition from laboratory discovery to a commercial product is a critical hurdle for deep-tech companies. Kerst's insights highlight the operational shifts required to move bio-inspired technology from a controlled academic environment into a scalable market presence.
During the conversation with host Isabelle Johannessen, Kerst focused on the challenges of commercializing breakthrough science. The company specializes in bio-inspired adhesive technology, which seeks to replicate natural mechanisms for attachment. This process requires scientific validation, and a strategy for venture-backed growth to fund the necessary scaling efforts.
Kerst said that the path to market involves overcoming specific hurdles associated with deep-tech, where the gap between a proven concept and a manufacturable product can be vast. The company has already gained industry recognition for its approach. geCKo Materials was a runner-up in the 2024 Startups Battlefield competition [1].
The discussion emphasized that translating academic success into business success requires a different set of priorities than those found in a university setting. While research focuses on discovery, a startup must focus on reliability, cost-efficiency, and customer acquisition. Kerst said that the goal is to bridge this gap to ensure that high-impact science actually reaches the end user.
By sharing these experiences, Kerst provides a roadmap for other academic researchers attempting to launch companies. The focus remains on the ability to scale a specialized adhesive technology that can compete with traditional chemical glues or mechanical fasteners.
“geCKo Materials was a runner-up in the 2024 Startups Battlefield competition”
The ability to move deep-tech from the lab to the market is a primary driver of industrial innovation. When academic founders successfully navigate the venture capital landscape, it accelerates the deployment of bio-inspired materials that can replace less sustainable or less efficient traditional adhesives, potentially impacting manufacturing and robotics.
