Chris Campbell: Why Tech Transfer Matters for Startups and Small Businesses

Sometimes the best conversations are worth hearing again. Today we’re revisiting a Season 1 episode recorded in April 2024 with Chris Campbell, founder and CEO of Simpli-Fi Automation, an electronic systems engineering solutions company. Chris didn’t follow a straight path into this work. He started out in electrical systems and spent years building automation solutions before COVID forced him to rethink everything. That pivot, along with support from Brown Venture Group, introduced him to NASA’s Tech Transfer Program and opened his eyes to technologies sitting on the shelf that small businesses like his could bring to life. In this episode, Chris talks honestly about what that journey has looked like including the risks, the learning curve, and the lifeline tech transfer can provide for entrepreneurs. He shares how ecosystems make the difference in helping minority-owned businesses access federal resources, why awareness is still so low, and how his own company went from early prototypes to scaled manufacturing and clinical trials. In This Episode: [01:11] Chris explains why tech transfer matters to startups and how it can be a lifeline for innovation. [01:44] He shares his background in electrical systems and how he spent two decades in building automation. [02:52] Chris describes the company’s pivot during COVID and how Brown Venture Group connected him to NASA. [04:08] He recalls discovering the NASA Tech Transfer Program and being overwhelmed by the technologies available. [04:44] The “electronic nose” stands out as a technology that could transform patient care. [06:17] Chris talks about the limits of his engineering team and the need for chemistry expertise. [07:54] He stresses the importance of ecosystems in giving small businesses confidence to take risks. [09:16] Ecosystems provide relationships and connections that minority entrepreneurs often lack. [10:29] Chris reflects on the steep learning curve of working with federal tech transfer offices. [11:36] He describes using a one-year research license to acclimate and prototype with NASA. [12:08] The discussion turns to technology readiness levels and the long runway to viable products. [13:18] Funding challenges surface, especially when friends and family rounds aren’t possible. [15:03] Chris explains how Brown Venture Group de-risks investments by backing companies licensing federal tech. [16:09] He shares how the USPTO Pro Bono Program helped him file his first patent without major costs. [17:29] Minority entrepreneurs face unique barriers when family capital isn’t available, making support essential. [18:11] Chris updates on his company’s progress — moving from development into scaled production. [19:22] He highlights clinical trials underway with Cleveland Clinic and early tests conducted on cows. [20:07] A partnership with Australian company Accent accelerates development by sharing data and expertise. [21:28] Collaborating with Accent cuts 18 months off Simpli-Fi’s development timeline. [22:55] Chris explains how building U.S. manufacturing capacity supports not only his company but others in the ecosystem. [23:42] He acknowledges the long road ahead, framing the effort as a ten-year project. [24:27] Relationships, networks, and partners are what make the impossible feel achievable. [26:07] Chris describes the struggle of finding ecosystem support when it wasn’t obvious where to turn. [27:10] The complexity of building sensors highlights why specialized partners are vital. [28:21] Ecosystems introduce companies to the right partners for scaling and manufacturing. [29:05] Sometimes building your own ecosystem is necessary when none exists. [30:24] Chris points out how silos in federal agencies create missed opportunities for collaboration. [31:56] He calls for more outreach to entrepreneurs, noting fewer than 1% know about tech transfer. [33:17] Awareness and relationship-building are key to speeding up the process. [33:49] Chris compares FLC Business to a “dating app” for connecting entrepreneurs with federal labs. [34:41] He emphasizes the staggering lost economic impact if minority communities lack access to capital. [36:00] Pilot programs like FedTech are helping introduce small businesses to tech transfer opportunities. [37:10] Chris explains the pull method of starting with buyers and then connecting them to entrepreneurs. [38:18] Four minority businesses license technologies in the first pilot program with a major medical device company. [39:03] De-risking works for both entrepreneurs and tech transfer offices when buyers are part of the process. Resources:  The Transfer Files: Inside the World of Federal Innovation (https://federallabs.org/flc-highlight...) Christopher Campbell - LinkedIn (  / christopher-campbell-3a6939172  ) Simpli-Fi Automation (https://simplifiautomation.com/) Bro...