Release date: November 25, 2025
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When research inside government labs finds its way into the hands of entrepreneurs who know how to run with it, that’s where real impact shows up. And that’s the story we’re digging into today: how ideas turn into companies, and how communities working together can make that leap possible.
My guest is Ben Solomon, the founder and CEO of FedTech. Ben started out as a business-minded student who wanted to be close to technology but wasn’t a scientist himself, and that curiosity ended up shaping an entire ecosystem. After going through the NSF I-Corps program, he realized just how big the gap was between government-funded research and private-sector opportunities, and he built FedTech as a bridge. Ten years later, they’ve helped more than a thousand startups, spun out over 200 companies from federal inventions, and supported founders who have raised billions to bring new solutions to life.
In our conversation, Ben talks about what it takes to move a technology from the lab bench into the real world, what separates successful entrepreneurial teams from the ones that stall, and why flexibility, persistence, and community matter more than any single breakthrough. He also shares where he sees tech transfer headed next: simpler licensing, more accessible collaboration, better funding for commercialization, and a stronger pipeline of talent coming into the field. It’s a generous, grounded look behind the scenes at how innovation really gets built.
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In This Episode:
[00:02] The power of community at FedTech and how collaboration creates value.
[00:41] How Ben’s path into entrepreneurship began through the NSF I-Corps program.
[01:20] Ben describes discovering the gap between federal research and commercialization.
[02:40] He shares lessons from launching an early robotics startup and what it taught him.
[04:28] Ben explains why customer discovery and market validation drive every FedTech program.
[05:53] The conversation turns to the importance of iteration and learning quickly from failure.
[06:07] Ben defines what FedTech is and its role as a bridge between federal R&D and entrepreneurs.
[06:51] We hear how FedTech’s startup studio forms teams around federal inventions.
[07:40] Ben highlights success stories, including Canopy Aerospace’s acquisition of a NASA spinoff.
[08:54] Discussion of accelerators and researcher training that support companies new to government work.
[12:15] We learn about the common challenges startups face moving technology into a product.
[14:36] Ben identifies the traits that predict founder success: flexibility, grit, and resourcefulness.
[17:38] The rise of AI emerges as a major area of momentum across federal labs and industry.
[19:04] Ben looks ahead at the future of tech transfer and reducing barriers for entrepreneurs.
[21:22] He emphasizes the need for funding dedicated specifically to commercialization.
[22:38] Ben offers advice for tech transfer professionals, entrepreneurs, and students entering the field.
[24:34] We explore FedTech’s upcoming programs and international expansion initiatives.
[26:07] Closing reflections and appreciation for the FLC community and collaborative mission.