#37 The Great Lab Exit: From Academia to Funded Ventures.

Great science rarely becomes a great company on its own. The challenge is turning research into something customers, investors, and partners believe in.Aykut Aksit (Co-Founder & CEO, Haystack Medical), Demetri Maxim (Co-Founder & CEO, Nephrogen), and Jonathan Scheiman (Co-Founder & CEO, FitBiomics) join moderator Scott Alpizar (Managing Partner, Emerging Innovations Consulting) to share what it really takes to build a company from academic research.The conversation explores the transition from scientist to entrepreneur, covering technology transfer, licensing, fundraising, customer discovery, team building, and the commercialization strategies that transform promising research into venture-backed companies. Along the way, the founders share practical lessons on navigating university IP, raising capital, and why commercial thinking often matters as much as scientific excellence.Recorded live during Scalpels & Spreadsheets' Healthtech Week during NY Tech Week.