When four KU alumni-turned-founders gathered to discuss their entrepreneurial journeys, the conversation quickly shifted beyond the usual talking points. These weren’t polished origin stories or rehearsed pitches. Instead, they shared the real challenges of building a business—navigating uncertainty, assembling the right team, finding capital in a changing landscape, and learning how to lead through trial and error. The panel provided a grounded perspective on what it truly takes to transition an idea into a viable company.
Start with a Mission That Matters
The most successful entrepreneurs aren’t just chasing ideas—they’re solving problems that matter to them.
“My personal mission is to help preserve biodiversity. Everything I do ties back to that,” said Nate Crosser, who has worked in venture capital and now runs a consulting firm focused on climate and food tech. That mission has guided his path across industries and projects, including his blog, Fifth Industrial.
Kalin Baca, CEO and co-founder of Icorium Engineering Company, a KU spin-out tackling refrigerant recycling, emphasized the importance of being a good steward of materials. “We’ve been really good at making things without thinking through the end part of it and the recycling part,” she said. “One of the really exciting things going forward is looking at how we integrate those ideas of circularity.”
Whether it’s protecting the planet, improving public health, or building tools that bring people joy, each founder on the panel started by identifying a problem worth their time and building around it.
The Right Team Makes the Risk Worth It
For Adam Roush, co-founder and Chief Design Officer of Bryght Labs, the leap from a successful corporate career to startup founder came down to one key factor: trust in his co-founders. “What got me to quit my stable corporate job in the middle of a pandemic was the co-founders I had – just knowing and trusting their skill set and how complementary it was to my own,” he said. “That’s probably the biggest takeaway: what do you need to have in place before you take a risk?”
Startups can be high-risk, high-reward, and the people you work with can make all the difference.
Be Creative and Resourceful When Raising Capital
The funding landscape is evolving, especially for early-stage startups. Venture capital isn’t always the answer, and might not be easily accessible or available.
Adam shared the success of launching Bright Labs on Kickstarter and eventually appearing on Shark Tank. “There’s no better indicator of consumer demand than someone handing you their actual money,” he said.
David Alburty, who launched the bioscience company InnovaPrep after a career at MRI Global, recommends tapping into a circle of support. “I believe there’s a global conspiracy of good. Find the people who want to support what it is you’re up to,” he said. “Finding it is the scrappy part.”
Crowdfunding, grant funding, and partnerships can all open doors to new opportunities.
Stay Open to Surprises
Not everyone sets out to be an entrepreneur, but the opportunity might develop right in front of you.
“I would have never considered I was getting a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, for one. Two, I would have never considered I’d be sitting here talking about a company,” Kalin said. “All of those things developed along the way.”
That mindset—of openness, experimentation, and resilience—was echoed across the panel. You don’t need all the answers to get started. You just need to start.
Final takeaway
Entrepreneurship isn’t one-size-fits-all. But if you care deeply, surround yourself with the right people, and stay adaptable, your chances of success go way up. The KU Innovation Park community is full of founders who’ve done just that—and who are ready to support the next generation.
