From Lab to Launch: If it wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t be worth doing.

Hard tech isn’t flashy. It’s not fast. And it definitely isn’t easy. But for the founders who choose this path, the payoff isn’t just financial—it’s deeply transformational. It’s about reshaping entire industries, one chemical reaction or microalgae strain at a time.

In this episode, we’re joined by two scientists-turned-founders who are doing just that—building companies with the potential to change how we power, produce, and grow.

Corey Tyree is the founder and CEO of Trillium Renewable Chemicals, based in Knoxville. He’s raised over $38 million to bring bio-based chemicals to market—starting with acrylonitrile, the unsung hero behind everything from wind turbine blades to LEGO bricks. Corey’s building a commercial plant in Texas, leading a team through the high-stakes world of scale-up, regulation, and investor expectations—while staying laser-focused on execution.

Dr. Nicholas Sokol, founder and CEO of Algaeo, is tackling a different frontier: agriculture. With a PhD in Geography and a DIY approach to prototyping, Nick is creating biofertilizers using microalgae to regenerate soil health and improve crop yields. He’s worn every hat—from scientist to engineer to solo salesman—and he’s doing it all with a 3D printer in the basement and a whole lot of grit.

Why This Matters:

This episode is for builders. For researchers with an itch to go commercial. For anyone who’s ever been told their idea was “too hard,” “too early,” or “too weird.”

Corey and Nick open up about the reality of taking science out of the lab and into the field—from raising capital and navigating regulations to resisting “shiny object syndrome” and staying grounded in the mission.

Key Takeaways:

• Hard tech doesn’t get a version 2.0. Safety, reliability, and execution have to be right from day one.
• Fundraising is performance art. Communicating complex ideas to non-technical investors is its own entrepreneurial skill set.
• Shiny objects can kill your momentum. Focus is a superpower—especially when building something that takes years to prove out.
• Prototypes don't have to be pretty. Scrappy, basement-built hardware can still deliver world-class results.
• Customer feedback isn’t optional. It’s the north star that guides product development, even in highly technical fields.
• You’re not just building a product. You’re building trust, infrastructure, and—hopefully—a legacy.

Why It Matters to You:

You don’t have to be in a lab coat to appreciate this one. If you’re building anything that takes time, patience, and belief—this episode is your reminder that hard doesn’t mean impossible.

Because if it wasn’t hard…
it wouldn’t be worth doing.

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Listen to all episodes of the Big Ideas Welcome podcast, available now on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and at bigideaswelcome.com.

This Big Ideas Welcome podcast is brought to you by Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, hosted and curated by KEC Chief Experience Officer Chris McAdoo, and produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co.

A special thanks to K BREW for making this episode possible.

Original theme music “Thinking of You” courtesy of and copyright Kelsi Walker.