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From Lab Bench to Breakthrough: Nanochon's Journey to Reinvent Cartilage Repair Ep. 42
This week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Benjamin Holmes and Nathan Castro, co-founders of Nanochon, a company bringing a new approach to cartilage repair into the world. Their journey from academic research labs to biomedical innovation reveals how curiosity and persistence can reshape the future of regenerative medicine.
Ben and Nathan trace their path from early experiments in biomedical engineering and 3D printing to the creation of Nanochon. They share how each stage of their nine-year journey—iterative design, animal trials, regulatory navigation, and funding rounds, including support from Wealthing—shaped both their technology and their vision.
Alicia and her guests dive into the promise of next-generation cartilage repair, exploring what it means to move a deep-tech medical innovation from concept to clinical reality. They discuss the challenges of translational science, the patience required to prove safety and efficacy, and the excitement of preparing to treat their first human patient.
From scientific rigor to entrepreneurial resilience, this episode highlights the long arc of building meaningful medical breakthroughs—and the impact possible when innovation, discipline, and mission-driven leadership come together.
About Ben: Dr. Ben Holmes is the co-founder and CEO of Nanochon. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The George Washington University, where his research focused on tissue engineering, biomaterials, and 3D printing for orthopedic applications. He earned his B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia. Since founding Nanochon in 2016, Ben has led the company through scientific development, IP creation, regulatory planning, and capital formation. Under his leadership, Nanochon has raised over $13.5 million to date across both dilutive and non-dilutive sources, including federal SBIR grants, venture capital investment, and strategic partnerships. He was instrumental in driving the company's novel Chondrograft™ implant through 12-month large-animal studies and into its upcoming first-in-human trial, following Health Canada approval. Ben also serves as a public advocate for early-stage biotech, regularly appearing at industry events, investor forums, and in other public forums.
About Nathan: Dr. Nathan J. Castro is an experienced biomedical researcher and entrepreneur. He has assisted in the design, testing, regulatory approval and clinical translation of 3D printed medical devices, as well as co-founded Nanochon, Inc. He is skilled in policy analysis, life sciences, data analysis, and quantitative research with particular interest in clinical translational (bench-to-bedside)
Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbhceo/
Connect with Nathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-j-castro/
🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club
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By Alicia Castillo HolleyThis week on the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Benjamin Holmes and Nathan Castro, co-founders of Nanochon, a company bringing a new approach to cartilage repair into the world. Their journey from academic research labs to biomedical innovation reveals how curiosity and persistence can reshape the future of regenerative medicine.
Ben and Nathan trace their path from early experiments in biomedical engineering and 3D printing to the creation of Nanochon. They share how each stage of their nine-year journey—iterative design, animal trials, regulatory navigation, and funding rounds, including support from Wealthing—shaped both their technology and their vision.
Alicia and her guests dive into the promise of next-generation cartilage repair, exploring what it means to move a deep-tech medical innovation from concept to clinical reality. They discuss the challenges of translational science, the patience required to prove safety and efficacy, and the excitement of preparing to treat their first human patient.
From scientific rigor to entrepreneurial resilience, this episode highlights the long arc of building meaningful medical breakthroughs—and the impact possible when innovation, discipline, and mission-driven leadership come together.
About Ben: Dr. Ben Holmes is the co-founder and CEO of Nanochon. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The George Washington University, where his research focused on tissue engineering, biomaterials, and 3D printing for orthopedic applications. He earned his B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia. Since founding Nanochon in 2016, Ben has led the company through scientific development, IP creation, regulatory planning, and capital formation. Under his leadership, Nanochon has raised over $13.5 million to date across both dilutive and non-dilutive sources, including federal SBIR grants, venture capital investment, and strategic partnerships. He was instrumental in driving the company's novel Chondrograft™ implant through 12-month large-animal studies and into its upcoming first-in-human trial, following Health Canada approval. Ben also serves as a public advocate for early-stage biotech, regularly appearing at industry events, investor forums, and in other public forums.
About Nathan: Dr. Nathan J. Castro is an experienced biomedical researcher and entrepreneur. He has assisted in the design, testing, regulatory approval and clinical translation of 3D printed medical devices, as well as co-founded Nanochon, Inc. He is skilled in policy analysis, life sciences, data analysis, and quantitative research with particular interest in clinical translational (bench-to-bedside)
Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbhceo/
Connect with Nathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-j-castro/
🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club