What If You Could STOP Getting Sick Before It Even Starts?

Most people think about stopping airborne illness through masks and air filters. Gary Kallstrom Jr. is thinking about it completely differently. In this episode, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Gary Kellstrom Jr., founder and CEO of Geared Power Biotech — a Wayne, NJ-based medical device startup developing BioGuard UVC, a wearable device designed to inactivate airborne pathogens at the source before they ever reach the surrounding environment. Gary is a mechanical engineer, Stevens Institute of Technology graduate, Six Sigma Black Belt, serial entrepreneur with a previous exit, and someone who spent 17 years inside the medical device industry before building this company. He has patents, FDA momentum, congressional support, and major industry recognition — including being named the Coolest Thing Made in New Jersey 2025 and a 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. They cover: → What 17 years at BD (Becton Dickinson) taught Gary about people, process, and building things that last → How BioGuard UVC works — and why it's a fundamentally different approach to pathogen prevention → The FDA process, what it really takes to navigate it, and where they stand today → What it's like raising capital as a pre-revenue medical device startup → The personal sacrifices behind building something this meaningful → Gary's million dollar moment — the small decision that changed everything 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on business growth, exits, and what it really takes to build lasting success. 📩 Want to think through your own capital strategy or exit plan? Reach out to Michael directly at dbdpartners.com Connect with Gary Kellstrom Jr.: 📧 [email protected] 🌐 gps-bio.com 💼 LinkedIn:   / garykellstrom   👉 Connect with Michael on LinkedIn:   / j-michael-fischer-jr-b2868230   DBD Investment Bank: https://www.dbdinvestmentbank.com/ #GoingBeyondTheDeal #jmichaelfischerjr #DBDPartners #MedicalDevice #Biotech #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #StartupFounder #FDAApproval #BusinessPodcast