The second matchup of the Fabulous 4 is here This is where things shift. The ideas are sharper. The stakes are higher. And every decision starts to look a lot more like a real investment call.

Druid Agriculture is building technology to modernize farming and food production, while Marla Amplification is building handcrafted, American-made music equipment.

One is tackling a global systems problem. The other is rebuilding a category through craftsmanship and community.

We’ve got two physical-world businesses with two totally different paths.

🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:

• Traction matters, but real-world use cases matter more
• Hardware businesses face different scaling challenges
• B2B vs. B2C paths create very different venture outcomes 

👇 Featuring the Fab 4 Selection Committee:

• Zakiya Alta Lee-Hill (Principal, IDEA Fund partners)
• Greg Boone (CEO of Walk West)
• Carly Connell (Principal at BCVP)

👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket
👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship

⏱️ Timestamps
 00:00 — Welcome
 00:45 — Intro
 01:45 — Druid Pitch
 04:15 — Druid Q&A
 14:20 — Marla Pitch
 19:30 — Marla Q&A
 33:00 — Deliberation
 38:20 — Winner

🎯 About Tweener Madness
Tweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.

--- 

Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

We’re down to the Fabulous 4. Four startups. Two matchups. One step closer to the $25K investment from the NC Tweener Fund.

This is where things shift. The ideas are sharper. The stakes are higher. And every decision starts to look a lot more like a real investment call.

Utilyst is building deep infrastructure software for utilities. HAM is building lightweight AI tooling for developers. One is grounded in physical systems and regulation. The other is riding the fastest-moving wave in tech. Two B2B plays. Two completely different paths to scale.

🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:

•  AI cost is becoming a real problem → efficiency is the next wave 
• Clear problem vs. massive market defined the matchup 
• Investors want dollar impact, not just features 
• Speed + scale potential won this round

👇 Featuring the Exceptional 8 Selection Committee:

• Zakiya Alta Lee-Hill (Principal, IDEA Fund partners)
• Greg Boone (CEO of Walk West)
• Carly Connell (Principal at BCVP)

👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket
👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship

⏱️ Timestamps
 00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness
 00:45 — Fabulous 4 Intro: Utilist vs. HAM
 08:10 — Utilist Pitch
 13:00 — Utilist Q&A
 23:05 — HAM Pitch
 26:00 — HAM Q&A
 33:00 — Judges Feedback Begins
 33:10 — Feedback on Utilist
 35:00 — Feedback on HAM
 39:30 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)

🎯 About Tweener Madness
Tweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.

--- 

Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Round 4 of Tweener Madness is here and it’s the final matchup of the Exceptional 8. Marla Amplification vs. Build-A-Bookie

One is building American-made hardware for musicians. The other is building a social platform that reimagines betting without money.

Both are consumer-focused. Both are founder-driven. But only one moves forward.

🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:

•  A consumer hardware company scaling U.S.-based manufacturing 
•  A sports tech platform gamifying predictions without financial risk 
•  Live investor Q&A and real feedback 
•  The tension between venture-scale returns vs. mission-driven businesses

👇 Featuring the Exceptional 8 Selection Committee:
 - Jan Davis - RTP Angel Fund / Triangle Angel Partners
 - Robbie Hardy - Accel Ventures
 - Jen Summe - Primordial Ventures

👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket
👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness
 00:45 — Round 4 Intro: Marla Amplification vs. Build-A-Bookie
 01:15 — Marla Amplification Pitch
 06:20 — Marla Amplification Q&A
 18:00 — Build-A-Bookie Pitch
 22:00 — Build-A-Bookie Q&A
 30:00 — Judges Feedback Begins
 30:10 — Feedback on Marla Amplification
 32:00 — Feedback on Build-A-Bookie
 33:30 — Debate: Venture vs. Lifestyle Business
 35:00 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)

🎯 About Tweener Madness
Tweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.

--- 

Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Round 3 of Tweener Madness is here. With a spot in the next round on the line, Druid Agriculture and HuVia Technologies go head-to-head in a high-stakes pitch battle.

One is building real-time infrastructure to help farmers monitor and manage crops remotely. The other is creating an AI-powered coaching platform to improve how interpreters (and eventually other professions) develop skills over time.

Both are ambitious. Both are tackling real-world problems. But only one moves forward.

🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:
- An agtech startup bringing visibility + automation to farming
- An edtech platform using AI to guide workforce development
- Live investor Q&A and unfiltered feedback
- Where clarity, traction, and storytelling make (or break) a pitch

👇 Featuring the Exceptional 8 Selection Committee:
 - Jan Davis - RTP Angel Fund / Triangle Angel Partners 
 - Robbie Hardy - Accel Ventures 
 - Jen Summe - Primordial Ventures 

👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket
👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship

00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness
00:45 — Round 3 Intro: Druid Agriculture vs. HuVia Technologies
01:15 — Druid Agriculture Pitch
06:20 — Druid Agriculture Q&A
15:30 — HuVia Technologies Pitch
18:00 — HuVia Technologies Q&A
27:20 — Judges Feedback Begins
27:30 — Feedback on Druid Agriculture
29:50 — Feedback on HuVia Technologies
31:00 — Pitch Lessons (Clarity, Slides, Storytelling)
31:30 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)

🎯 About Tweener Madness
Tweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.

--- 

Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

Round 2 of Tweener Madness is here. With a spot in the next round on the line, Iguana Cyber and HAM (Hierarchical Agent Memory) go head-to-head in a high-stakes pitch battle.

One is building next-gen cybersecurity to stop AI-driven exploits. The other is helping engineering teams cut AI costs and improve performance. Both are technical. Both are ambitious.
 
But only one moves forward.

🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:

•  A cybersecurity startup tackling unknown AI threats 
•  An AI infrastructure company optimizing token usage and cost 
•  Live investor Q&A and real feedback 
•  What founders get wrong (and right) when pitching technical products

👇 Featuring the Round 2 Selection Committee:

•  Jan Davis - RTP Angel Fund / Triangle Angel Partners 
•  Robbie Hardy - Accel Ventures 
•  Jen Summe - Primordial Ventures 

👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket
👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness 
00:45 — Round 2 Intro: Iguana Cyber vs. HAM
01:15 — Iguana Cyber Pitch
06:20 — Iguana Cyber Q&A

15:30 — HAM Pitch
18:00 — HAM Q&A

27:20 — Judges Feedback Begins
27:30 — Feedback on Iguana Cyber
29:50 — Feedback on HAM
31:00 — Pitch Lessons (Clarity, Jargon, Slides)

31:30 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)

🎯 About Tweener Madness

Tweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.

--- 

Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

8 founders. One bracket. $25,000 on the line. Welcome to Tweener Madness 2026, the high-stakes startup competition where North Carolina’s most promising companies go head-to-head.

In this Round 1 matchup, Utilyst and BeneDoc step into the arena to pitch their businesses to a panel of experienced investors. Each founder has one shot to make their case, answer tough questions, and prove they deserve to advance.

One moves on. One goes home.

🧠 What you’ll see in this episode:

•  A power infrastructure startup tackling knowledge loss in utilities 
•  A healthtech company rethinking regulatory workflows with AI 
•  Live investor Q&A and real-time feedback 
•  Behind-the-scenes judge deliberation (what actually matters in a pitch) 

👇 Featuring the Round 1 Selection Committee:

•  Jan Davis - RTP Angel Fund / Triangle Angel Partners 
•  Robbie Hardy - Accel Ventures 
•  Jen Summe - Primordial Ventures 

👉 Subscribe for more episodes as we move through the bracket
👉 Follow along as we go from the Exceptional 8 → Fantastic 4 → Championship

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Tweener Madness  
00:45 — Meet the Selection Committee  
03:05 — Format + What’s new this year  
05:05 — Matchup Intro: Utilyst vs. BeneDoc  
05:35 — Utilyst Pitch  
10:30 — Utilyst Q&A with Judges  
20:40 — BeneDoc Pitch  
26:15 — BeneDoc Q&A with Judges  
40:00 — Judges Deliberation Begins  
41:10 — Feedback on Utilyst  
43:10 — Feedback on BeneDoc  
46:20 — Pitch Lessons + What stood out  
49:05 — Final Decision (Winner Revealed)

🎯 About Tweener Madness

Tweener Madness is run by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA and showcases top startups from across North Carolina. The winner receives a $25,000 investment and statewide exposure.

--- 

Tweener Madness is hosted by Scot Wingo, run by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, and brought to life by Walk West, who leads production and podcast creation.

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

This episode kicks off Season 2 of Tweener Madness and sets the stage for what’s ahead. You’ll get:

• The evolution of Tweener (from list → fund → statewide platform)
• Why this competition exists (and why founders love it)
• How the bracket works
• What judges are actually looking for
• And of course… the reveal of all 8 competing companies

This isn’t just a competition. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how early-stage investors think.

🔥 What Were the Biggest Takeaways From the Selection Show?

• Tweener officially expands statewide with NC IDEA partnership
• $4M investment from NC IDEA fuels the next phase
• 50+ startups applied from across North Carolina
• Focus on venture-scale, IP-driven companies (not lifestyle businesses)
• Real investor judges, real feedback, real decisions
• Founders iterate pitches throughout the competition
• Episodes drop starting March 31, leading to a live championship

The stage is set. The pitches are ready. Now it’s time to see who can rise above the rest.

Timestamps

•  00:00 – Welcome to Tweener Madness 2026
•  00:40 – Tweener origin story (List → Fund → Media)
•  02:40 – NC IDEA partnership + statewide expansion
•  04:00 – Why founders love this format
•  05:00 – Sponsors + ecosystem support
•  06:20 – Meet the judges
•  10:10 – How the bracket works
•  12:00 – Selection criteria explained
•  15:20 – What didn’t make the cut (and why)
•  17:40 – The Exceptional 8 revealed
•  22:20 – Bracket matchups
•  23:30 – What’s next + episode schedule

--- 

This episode of Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. 

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 
- Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

What does a go-to-market engineer actually do, and why is this role suddenly showing up everywhere?

In this episode, we unpack one of the fastest-evolving roles in modern startups. Evan shares how he went from using ChatGPT as a college student and new BDR to helping build AI-powered systems inside one of the Triangle’s best-known software companies.

The conversation covers how AI is changing outbound sales, why intent signals matter more than generic research, how tools like Clay, Cursor, Cloud Code, Lovable, n8n, and Supabase fit into a modern GTM stack, and why great go-to-market engineering is about making humans better, not replacing them.

Highlights Covered

• What a go-to-market engineer is and why the role is growing fast
• How Evan turned experimentation as a BDR into a new AI-focused role at Pendo
• Why intent signals + research create stronger outbound outreach than either one alone
• How Pendo uses AI to make BDRs faster, more focused, and more effective
• The difference between SDR inbound signals and BDR outbound signals
• How tools like Clay help enrich leads, personalize messages, and trigger outreach quickly
• Why the CRM still matters as the source of truth in an AI-heavy workflow
• How Evan builds internal dashboards using Salesforce, Supabase, Lovable, n8n, and Cloud Code
• Why GTM engineering is likely to split into multiple specialties over time
• How AI can increase sales productivity without replacing the people doing the work

If you’re a founder, operator, or revenue leader trying to understand where AI fits into your go-to-market motion, this episode is a practical look at what that future already looks like inside a fast-moving North Carolina company.

Timestamps:

• 05:05 — Meet Evan Inscoe from Pendo
• 08:05 — Evan’s background and discovering AI early
• 10:28 — What a BDR actually does
• 13:04 — How Evan created his own path into GTM engineering
• 16:29 — What the go-to-market engineer role looked like at the start
• 19:05 — Breaking down the BDR workflow
• 21:40 — Where Pendo is today after nine months of GTM engineering
• 23:00 — How Pendo uses Clay
• 24:45 — What counts as an intent signal
• 26:00 — Inbound vs outbound signals
• 31:00 — Why CRM still matters
• 35:20 — Measuring impact and efficiency gains
• 36:00 — Building dashboards with Lovable, Supabase, and n8n
• 42:35 — Tools Evan recommends most
• 43:40 — Driving adoption across the team
• 45:20 — Where GTM engineering is headed next
• 48:00 — Why AI won’t replace BDRs
• 48:45 — Evan’s next big project

Where to Find Scot Wingo:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/
Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/
X: https://x.com/scotwingo

Where to Find Evan Inscoe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaninscoe/

--- 

This episode of Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. 

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 
- Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html 

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Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

This episode is a special one. We’re replaying NC IDEA’s Ecosysteming Podcast episode featuring Scot and Robbie following the announcement of the new North Carolina Tweener Fund, powered by NC IDEA. (Check out the announcement.) 

The conversation covers the “why” behind the partnership, how the Tweener model works, why statewide startup data matters, how founders can connect with the fund, and why this effort could attract even more outside capital into North Carolina. It’s part ecosystem strategy, part founder playbook, and part invitation to think bigger about what’s possible for startups across the state.

Highlights covered

• NC IDEA and the formerly Triangle-focused Tweener Fund have joined forces to create the North Carolina Tweener Fund powered by NC IDEA. The partnership expands the Tweener model from the Triangle to all of North Carolina
• Robbie shares his own story of receiving an NC IDEA grant in 2009 and how that support helped launch his startup journey
• Scot explains the origin of the Tweener List and how it became the foundation for the fund’s index-style approach
• The fund is designed to invest in a basket of promising North Carolina startups, helping reduce risk through diversification
• The discussion reinforces the idea that North Carolina has a uniquely broad startup base across sectors like AI, healthtech, agtech, aviation, manufacturing, ecommerce, and more
• Thom Ruhe highlights how better startup data helps ecosystem builders, policymakers, and funders make smarter decisions
• Scot and Robbie explain how increased visibility and deal activity can help pull more outside capital into the state
• Founders are encouraged to reach out directly, the approach is intentionally founder-friendly and operator-led
• The episode also outlines how accredited investors can participate, including through AngelList and, in some cases, retirement vehicles like self-directed IRAs

North Carolina’s startup ecosystem has been building toward this moment for years, and this conversation makes one thing clear: the next chapter is going to be bigger, broader, and more connected than ever.

Timestamps:

2:00 – Thom Ruhe introduces the episode and announces the NC Tweener Fund powered by NC IDEA
2:49 – Scot and Robbie react to the early excitement around the statewide expansion
4:00 – Why the NC IDEA and Tweener relationship makes sense from an ecosystem perspective
6:17 – Thom explains the bigger mission: creating a virtuous cycle for North Carolina’s economy
7:20 – Robbie’s background, his 2009 NC IDEA grant, and why NC IDEA mattered to his startup journey
11:05 – Robbie on joining Scot and helping grow the Tweener Fund
12:08 – Thom sets up the fund thesis and why the Tweener model stands out
14:03 – Scot’s background, startup history, and “pay it forward” approach to ecosystem building
16:47 – Scot explains product-market fit and why “tweener” companies are such an important stage
18:59 – The origin story of the Tweener List
20:18 – How the Tweener Fund grew out of the list and why diversification matters
22:50 – The index-fund analogy and how the Tweener model works
23:30 – How AI is changing startup timing and why Tweener is selectively moving earlier in some cases
25:07 – Why the Tweener List matters for policymakers and ecosystem builders
28:03 – Why mapping startups is harder than most people think
29:12 – What North Carolina startup formation data says about the state’s momentum
30:50 – Why becoming one of the most active funds matters for attracting attention and capital
33:20 – How outside VCs discover North Carolina through Tweener’s activity
35:28 – The case for bringing more outside capital into North Carolina
37:30 – How entrepreneurs can approach the North Carolina Tweener Fund
38:47 – How LPs and accredited investors can get involved
41:44 – Fund structure, fees, and why the model aims to be accessible
44:10 – Where to learn more and how to invest through the website
46:53 – Final thoughts on ecosystem impact and investment opportunities
47:52 – Quarterly LP webinars and using retirement vehicles like Alto
49:10 – Closing reflections on building a statewide startup ecosystem

Where to Find Scot Wingo:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/
Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/
X: https://x.com/scotwingo

Where to Find Robbie Allen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbieallen/

Where to Find Thom Ruhe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasruhe/

--- 

This episode of Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by NC Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. 

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 
- Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html 
 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/

In this episode, we unpack how a college capstone project turned into a scalable system for custom-fit 3D-printed bracing, moving from “hours in CAD” to minutes with automated design templates. We get into the origin story, the technology moat, go-to-market evolution, fundraising, and the founder mindset required to stay in the game.

Highlights covered

• How PROTECT3D started with a custom brace for a Duke teammate
• Why “one-size-fits-none” is the real problem in bracing
• The core workflow: iPhone scan → automated digital design → 3D print
• How they reduced design time from 5+ hours to under 5 minutes
• Material/printing approaches and why they use multiple technologies
• Scaling from sports to insurance-reimbursable clinical products
• Expansion into military / defense applications via non-dilutive funding
• Founder lessons: failing fast, surviving COVID-era building, and grit
• Kevin’s advice to younger founders: keep going, the grind is the game

Custom-fit should be the norm, and PROTECT3D is building the rails to make that possible at scale. If you’re a founder working at the intersection of software + real-world manufacturing, this one is packed with practical lessons and a lot of heart.

Timestamps:
00:04:29 — Kevin’s background: Greensboro → Duke mechanical engineering + football

00:05:43 — The spark: 3D-printing a custom brace for an injured teammate

00:06:37 — “One-size-fits-none”: why off-the-shelf bracing fails most bodies

00:10:23 — Turning it into a real company through Duke I&E + early traction

00:12:21 — Early funding: friends & family + NC IDEA Micro Grant path

00:16:45 — The modern 3-step process: app scan → digital fabrication → 3D print

00:17:11 — From traveling to scan athletes… to scanning with an iPhone app

00:23:29 — Scaling breakthrough: design time drops from 5+ hours to <5 minutes

00:24:19 — Growth: working with over half of NFL teams + other leagues

00:25:21 — Beyond sports: clinics, insurance reimbursement, nationwide footprint

00:32:44 — Fundraising + non-dilutive: ~$5.5M raised, including DoD/SBIR support

00:34:44 — Founder lessons: fail fast, market expansion timing, surviving COVID

00:36:25 — Team size: 12 FTE + ~5 contractors; vision for clinical-scale bracing

00:38:30 — New channel: “at-home” scanning + direct-to-consumer experiments

00:41:18 — Kevin’s message to young founders: keep at it, the grind doesn’t stop

Where to Find Kevin Gehsmann:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-gehsmann/
Front PROTECT3D: https://protect3d.io/

Where to Find Scot Wingo:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/
Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/
X: https://x.com/scotwingo

--- 

This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. 

We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: 

Platinum: 
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org

Gold Sponsors: 
- Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs 
- EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com 
- Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com 
 
Silver Sponsors: 
- Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co 
- Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html 
 

------
Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/