On this episode of the SouthFound podcast, I talked with Alex Lewis of Electro-Active Technologies.   Like some other past guests, Alex was originally involved in the startup industry on the West Coast of the United States. However, he found a home here in the South at the University of Tennessee where he completed his Ph.D. studies.   During his Ph.D. research, Alex and his co-founder came across a way to a way to convert waste into hydrogen. That hydrogen can be used in a variety of ways, including as a fuel source. Due to the nature of their research, the company has licensing agreements with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) and Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL).   Alex credit those two organizations, along with the Bredesen Center, for drawing him to this area. However, once he got to Eastern Tennessee he learned about all the other various resources that are available to entrepreneurs and startups.   They include:

• the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
• LaunchTN
• the Tennessee Advanced Energy Mentor Network

  The company is currently seeking funding from a variety of grant opportunities, including SBIR grants. Which Alex points out requires a different sort of skill set versus traditional venture capital.   To learn more about the company head here.