The Hatch Podcast

Would you let a robot draw your blood?

For anyone who gets nervous around needles, the idea might raise a few questions. But Ravi Kaushik believes robotics and artificial intelligence could help address some of the challenges behind a familiar medical procedure.

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast, Tim Scott talks with Ravi, founder and CEO of ROPHAI, a company developing a human-assisted robotic system for drawing blood.

Calling in from Boston, Ravi explains how the device uses imaging to locate a vein and guide a needle, while a technician remains involved in the process. He also describes the machine learning behind the technology, how people have responded during testing, and the development work ahead as the company works toward FDA clearance.

Ravi shares what led him from a career in medical technology to starting ROPHAI, the partnerships he’s looking to build, and how the Hatch Biotech Accelerator, powered by Bessel, connects his work to Fairhope and the Gulf Coast.

In this episode:

• The staffing and skill challenges behind everyday blood draws
• What happens when a technician brings the robot beside a patient
• How imaging and machine learning guide the process
• How donors and patients have responded to the technology
• ROPHAI’s development progress and path toward FDA clearance
• Ravi’s experience with the Hatch Biotech Accelerator and the support he’s seeking

Featured in This Episode

Ravi Kaushik
Founder & CEO
ROPHAI

Learn More:

ROPHAI

Ravi Kaushik on LinkedIn

Email Ravi: [email protected]

ROPHAI is seeking clinical, engineering, and manufacturing partners, along with funding, mentorship, and advice.

About Hatch:

Hatch Fairhope
https://hatchfairhope.com

Produced by Tim Scott
in/timscottproductions

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. When a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain, every minute matters. But physicians performing clot-removal procedures face a significant challenge: they can't always see exactly where the clot begins.

Perceptive Robotics is developing technology that could help change that.

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast, Tim Scott talks with Evan Austill, co-founder and Chief Development Officer of Perceptive Robotics, a Vanderbilt University spinout developing a new approach to stroke treatment.

The company's first product, LumenSense, is designed to give physicians a sense of touch during catheter-based procedures. The small device attaches to existing aspiration catheters, helping physicians determine when the catheter tip has reached a blood clot without requiring changes to the equipment or procedure they're already using.

Evan shares how eight years of Vanderbilt research led to the company, the progress they've made through preclinical testing, and what lies ahead as they work toward FDA clearance. He also discusses his experience building medical technology companies, the challenges of bringing new devices to market, and how Hatch's Powered by Bessel accelerator is helping connect Perceptive Robotics with the broader medical technology community.

In this episode:

• Why locating blood clots during stroke procedures can be difficult
• How LumenSense adds sensing capabilities to existing catheters
• The Vanderbilt research behind Perceptive Robotics
• The path from medical innovation to FDA clearance
• Lessons from Evan's experience building and financing medical technology companies
• The company's next milestones and its connection to Hatch

Featured in This Episode

Evan Austill Jr.
Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer
Perceptive Robotics

Learn More:

Perceptive Robotics
https://perceptiverobotics.ai

Evan Austill on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanaustill/

About Hatch:

Hatch Fairhope
https://hatchfairhope.com

Produced by Tim Scott
in/timscottproductions

What if the biggest obstacle to treating diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and brain cancer isn't the medicine itself, but getting that medicine where it needs to go?

In Episode 58 of The Hatch Podcast, producer Tim Scott sits down with Afreen Allam, founder and CEO of SiNON Nano Sciences, a biotech company developing an innovative approach to delivering medications across the blood-brain barrier.

Afreen explains how her team is using carbon-based nanoparticles as a kind of Trojan horse to carry medications into the brain, potentially opening the door to safer, less invasive treatments for neurological diseases.

She also shares the personal experiences that inspired her journey into biotech, including seven years volunteering with cancer patients at Duke Cancer Center, the challenges of developing new medical technology, and what brought SiNON to Hatch's biotech accelerator in Fairhope, Alabama.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• Why the blood-brain barrier prevents most medications from reaching the brain
• How SiNON's Trojan horse approach could change drug delivery
• The potential advantages of less invasive treatments for neurological diseases
• How volunteering with cancer patients shaped Afreen's career
• The challenges of developing and funding new biotech technology
• Why Afreen joined Hatch and the partnerships she's looking to build

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Afreen Allam
Founder & CEO, SiNON Nano Sciences
Website: https://sinontx.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afreenallam/

LEARN MORE

Hatch Fairhope
https://hatchfairhope.com

Hatch Events & Meetups
https://hatchfairhope.com/events

Produced by Tim Scott

https://timscott.me

"God made the plant." It's a simple observation that opens the door to a much bigger conversation about the evolution of cannabinoids, science, and the future of medicine.

What if compounds found in cannabis could lead to new approaches to treating disease?

In this episode of the Hatch Podcast, producer Tim Scott sits down with Christopher St. Pierre, CEO of Oscity BioSciences, to explore how a company based in Foley, Alabama, is working to bring cannabinoid-based compounds into the world of pharmaceutical development.

This episode is part of our Hatch Bessel 3 series, highlighting the innovative companies and entrepreneurs involved in Hatch's biotech accelerator program.

Chris shares the story behind Oscity, the science of co-crystals, and how the company's patented technology aims to improve the stability and potential pharmaceutical applications of cannabinoids.

The conversation also explores the therapeutic possibilities of these compounds, the challenges of developing new medicines, and what it takes to build a biotechnology company along Alabama's Gulf Coast.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

• How Oscity BioSciences got started and what inspired Chris to get involved
• Why cannabinoids are attracting interest in pharmaceutical research
• What co-crystals are and how Oscity's patented technology works
• The potential therapeutic applications of cannabinoid-based medicines
• Why Oscity chose Foley, Alabama, as the home for its research and development
• The opportunities and challenges of bringing new pharmaceutical technologies to market

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Christopher St. Pierre
CEO, Oscity BioSciences
Connect with Christopher on LinkedIn

LEARN MORE

Oscity BioSciences
https://oscity.com

Hatch Fairhope
https://hatchfairhope.com

Hatch Events & Meetups
https://hatchfairhope.com/events

Produced by Tim Scott

Interested in starting a podcast? Learn more at:
https://timscott.me

What if AI could give you back some of the time you lose every week to schedules, emails, meal planning, work projects, and everything else competing for your attention?

Marie Kline spent nearly nine years at Amazon, including working with AI teams in HR, and now serves as Global Director of Talent and Organizational Effectiveness at TERREPOWER. But here on the Gulf Coast, she’s also building something much more local: Women Powered by AI, a hands-on meetup at Hatch designed to help women become more comfortable actually using AI in their everyday lives.

In this episode of the Hatch Podcast, Tim Scott sits down with Marie to talk about how the meetup came together, why she saw a need for it, and what happens when women ranging from complete beginners to experienced AI users get in the same room.

Marie shares practical examples of how she uses AI to manage her own family schedule, automate everyday tasks, organize competing priorities, and free up time. She also explains why the meetups are intentionally hands-on, giving attendees a chance to open the tools, learn how to use them safely, and start building real workflows before they leave.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

• How Women Powered by AI started at Hatch
• Why Marie wanted to create a welcoming space for women to learn AI
• How AI can help manage family schedules and competing priorities
• Marie’s approach to creating a “Family OS”
• Why getting hands-on with AI is so important for beginners
• How the meetup serves everyone from first-time users to advanced AI users
• Practical ways attendees are using AI to save time at work and at home
• Why privacy, safety, and security are part of the conversation
• What’s next for Women Powered by AI in Fairhope and Mobile

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Marie Kline
Global Director of Talent and Organizational Effectiveness, TERREPOWER
Founder/Organizer, Women Powered by AI

LEARN MORE

Hatch Fairhope
hatchfairhope.com

Hatch Events & Meetups
hatchfairhope.com/events

Produced by Tim Scott

Interested in starting a podcast? Learn more at:
timscott.me

What happens when you’re the only creative person on your team?

For graphic designers, content creators, photographers, writers, artists, and other creative professionals, the work can sometimes feel surprisingly isolating. That’s part of the idea behind Atelier, a new creative meetup at Hatch designed to bring people together to connect, share ideas, learn from each other, and build a stronger creative community along the Gulf Coast.

In this episode of the Hatch Podcast, Tim Scott sits down with Madison Burkhardt and Vannie Bohlen, two of the organizers behind Atelier. They talk about where the idea came from, why they felt a creative community was missing in the area, who the meetup is for, and what people can expect when they attend.

They also discuss creating a relaxed environment that feels less like traditional networking and more like a place where creatives can have real conversations, find inspiration, and build relationships with people who understand the work.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

• Where the idea for Atelier came from
• What the name Atelier means
• Why creative work can sometimes feel isolating
• Who the meetup is designed for
• Why you don’t have to be a professional artist or designer to participate
• What to expect at an Atelier meetup
• How the group combines community, education, workshops, speakers, and conversation
• Why Madison and Vannie see an opportunity to build a stronger creative community across the Gulf Coast
• How Atelier could grow alongside Hatch and the new K1 Center

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Madison Burkhardt
Marketing Coordinator, Baldwin Alliance

Vannie Bohlen
Art Director, JJPR Agency

LEARN MORE

Hatch Fairhope
https://hatchfairhope.com

Hatch Events & Meetups
https://hatchfairhope.com/events

Produced by Tim Scott

Interested in starting a podcast? Learn more at:
https://timscott.me

What’s happening inside Hatch?

In this edition of Inside Hatch, we take the mic around to some of the meetups, workshops, and programs bringing entrepreneurs, business leaders, and creatives together across South Alabama.

We stop by WEN South Alabama to hear from local entrepreneurs about mentorship, community, and using technology to grow their businesses. Jenny, founder of Calera, also shares what she learned at Sloss Tech in Birmingham and the value of connecting with other founders and investors.

Then we head over to Lower Alabama AI for a little friendly Pensacola rivalry and a look at what people are learning about AI, before stopping by Marketing for Humans, where David Gibson shares a simple way to answer the question, “What do you do?” in a way that gets people interested in hearing more.

Finally, Hatch Music Accelerator alumnus Ben Kimsal talks about the value of having a clear process and framework for taking a song from an idea through the different stages of development.

In This Episode

• How WEN South Alabama connects and supports female business owners
• The value of building relationships with other founders and entrepreneurs
• What’s happening at the Lower Alabama AI meetup
• How to talk about your business in a way people remember
• Why mentorship and community matter when building something
• How the Hatch Music Accelerator helps artists understand the process behind developing their music

Explore upcoming Hatch events and meetups.

Learn more about Hatch.

Produced by Tim Scott

Interested in starting a podcast? Learn more at timscott.me.

What does it really take to turn a biotech innovation into a company?

In this special episode of the Hatch Podcast, producer Tim Scott revisits conversations with founders who completed the Hatch Biotech Accelerator and brings together some of the most valuable lessons they shared along the way.

From taking the first step before every answer is clear to navigating fundraising, staying focused through difficult seasons, and finding a community of founders who understand the journey, these conversations offer an honest look at the realities of building a startup.

Chris Danek, founder of Bessel, also explains how an accelerator helps founders prepare for the challenges ahead through strategy, mentorship, investor preparation, and connections with other entrepreneurs.

Applications are now open for the 2027 Hatch Biotech Accelerator cohort.

In This Episode

• Why founders should not wait until everything is figured out before getting started
• The mental and emotional pressure that comes with building a company
• How a clear vision helps founders navigate uncertainty
• Why mentorship, partnerships, and founder community matter
• How the accelerator helps companies prepare for fundraising and investment
• The value of learning from founders at different stages of the startup journey

Featured in This Episode

Chris Danek, Bessel

Marlo Young, New Mindset Consulting and Mentalocity

David Nelson, SpectroTherm

Brayden Gibson, Southern Rooted

Yuan Tian, Vivosphere

Shiva Sharareh, Rekovar

Vipul Kashyap, MedHive.ai

Michelle Scott, Gulf Sterilization

Learn more and apply for the Hatch Biotech Accelerator.

Learn more about Hatch.

Produced by Tim Scott

Interested in starting a podcast? Learn more at timscott.me.

Before heading back to Auburn University, Hatch interns Cooper Middleton and Mackenzie Casallo join Tim Scott to reflect on a summer spent working alongside entrepreneurs, startup founders, and community leaders across South Alabama.

From networking at the Biotech Accelerator Pitch Night to discovering career paths they hadn't previously considered, Cooper and Mackenzie share how the experience challenged them, broadened their perspectives, and changed the way they think about building a future after college.

In this episode:

• How two Auburn students found their way to Hatch
• What it's really like working inside an entrepreneurial ecosystem
• The projects and mentors that made the biggest impact
• Lessons they learned that don't show up in the classroom
• How AI is changing the workplace for today's college students
• Why both interns now see new career opportunities in South Alabama
• Advice for students considering a Hatch internship
  
  

Learn more about Hatch at https://hatchfairhope.com.

Produced by Tim Scott.

Interested in starting a podcast? Learn more at https://timscott.me.

Some songs aren't finished when they're written. They're finished when the timing is right.

In this episode of the Hatch Podcast: Music Accelerator, Chris Estes sits down with Music Accelerator alumnus Ben Kimsal to share the story behind his upcoming single, "The Way She Did." Written more than a decade ago, the song sat on the shelf for years before finally finding new life through the Hatch Music Accelerator. 

Ben reflects on what surprised him most about the creative process, from pre-production and recording to post-production and marketing. He explains how having a clear roadmap and experienced mentors helped him approach music with a new level of confidence and purpose.

Whether you're writing your first song or preparing to release your next project, this episode offers practical insight into what it really takes to bring great music across the finish line.

In this episode:

• Why some songs deserve a second chance
• The importance of pre-production before stepping into the studio
• How collaboration and feedback strengthen a song
• Why post-production is a critical part of the creative process
• Developing a marketing strategy before your release
• A practical way artists can use AI to organize their creative ideas
• Standing out when more than 125,000 new songs are released every day
• How the Hatch Music Accelerator provides artists with a complete roadmap from songwriting to release

Learn more and apply at 119collective.hatchfairhope.com.

Learn more about Hatch at hatchfairhope.com.

Produced by Tim Scott

Interested in starting a podcast? Learn more at timscott.me.