This week’s episode of the Selected features The SMART Tire Company co-founder combined with CEO Earl Cole, some one-time Survivor champion in whose startup is working with NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) to commercialize some of its just space-age tech. Cole was the winner a NASA startup sport seeking entrepreneurs to work with the actual scientists and researchers attached to applications of innovations it for space exploration that could accomplish right here on Earth, helping regular people while also forming the basis for a commercially-viable business.
For Cole, which unfortunately resulted in The SMART Tire Company, that venture that’s using technology NASA developed to create longer lasting, puncture-proof tires to train future rovers . (NASA) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION turned to shape memory other metals (SMAs), which is a type of light weight aluminum that can be flexed or bent, but that also has compliant properties to return to its early shape, to handle the unique project of building a tire that wouldn’t require inflation, nonetheless that would be able to handle rocky Martian terrain with aplomb. Cole’s startup is using precisely the same technology to tackle the longer than $100 billion one industry — starting with biking tires, but eventually moving forward to to address other kinds of vehicles much too.
We talked to Cole about the process of working with NASA, including for challenges and what the vehicle has to offer in terms of unique a chance to access cutting-edge technology. He will shared his perspective available on entrepreneurship from decades among experience, including difficulties with non-renewable VC and access to advance, and why he made a decision to initially raise money for the purpose of his own startup through newly-available equity crowdsourcing. Cole likewise told us about the particular being a Survivor champ (and the first unanimous winner) provides a crucial lessons for not exclusively being a founder, but also owning a company and being an dynamic leader, too.
We had a great time chatting with Cole, and we hope you have as much fun listening. And of course, we would love if you can subscribe to Found in Piece of fruit Podcasts , on Spotify , on Google Podcasts or in your podcast instance of choice . Please creates a review and let us realize what you think, or send everyone directed feedback either referring to Twitter or via send me an email. Come back next week for once again great conversation with a owner all about their own unique experience of start up life.
