Bryton Praslicka from FluxWorks

Magnetic gearboxes built for the moon? Yeah, you read that right. Bryton Praslicka started out zapping circuits in his garage as a kid and ended up engineering contactless gear systems originally meant for NASA and now they’re showing up in everything from factory robots to aerospace tech. In this episode, he breaks down how FluxWorks went from a research lab to raising \$5M to bring its sci-fi-sounding gearboxes into the real world. We talk about why “motion solutions” are bigger than gears, what it takes to scale hard tech, and how magnetic tech is changing the game for robotics and automation.Click here to watch a video of this episode.Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.ioClick here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Bryton Praslicka Intro01:14 - Causes of Wear and Tear in Systems06:06 - Invention of FluxWorks Technology09:17 - How FluxWorks' Magnetic Gear Operates12:14 - Understanding Slippage in Technology14:15 - Finding Value in Society through Innovation18:17 - Deciding to Start a Company21:39 - Tailoring Pitches for Different Audiences23:23 - The Importance of Storytelling in Business24:26 - Snobby Founder Moment Explained26:25 - Insights from EnergyTechNexus26:40 - Hiring Strategies for Startups27:00 - Managing Older Employees Effectively28:10 - Defining Mission, Vision, and Core Values31:40 - Deciding on Core Values for Your Company33:24 - Overcoming Significant Challenges in Business37:35 - Navigating the Fundraising Journey40:45 - Learning Fundraising Terminology42:30 - Fundraising Beyond Texas45:33 - Misunderstandings in Hard Tech Companies49:24 - Legacy: What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?51:20 - Contacting Jason for Insights52:40 - Podcast Wrap-Uphttps://twitter.com/collide_iohttps://www.tiktok.com/@collide.iohttps://www.facebook.com/collide.iohttps://www.instagram.com/collide.iohttps://www.youtube.com/@collide_iohttps://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters