Drafty windows account for nearly 30% of U.S. home heating and cooling energy use each year—but a solution is in reach. AeroShield Materials has developed a transparent aerogel for double-pane windows that can boost thermal efficiency by up to 65%, outperforming triple panes while remaining thinner and lighter.
In this episode, co-founder and CEO Elise Strobach walks listeners through her journey from lab research to developing a market-ready solution, including how a surprising lab mishap became a pivotal breakthrough. She also reflects on a foundational question that has guided her work: “How could we say no to this opportunity to have a small chance to change the world?” Access the episode transcript here.
You’ll hear:
An inside look at the science and strategy shaping next-generation energy-efficient windows
How trying, failing, and trying again led to pivotal discoveries
Why curiosity is a critical driver behind successful translation from research to real-world impact
How entrepreneurship becomes a series of escalating stress tests—and how resilience is built as the stakes rise
What “dancing with elephants” reveals about the risks of relying on major industry players
How creativity in the lab can spark creativity beyond it, inspiring artistic pursuits outside the startup world
What it takes to move from academic idealism to market reality
Check out the NSF I-Corps™ program, run in partnership with VentureWell, which provides hands-on entrepreneurial training to help innovators move from research to commercialization
Elise participated in VentureWell’s E-Team program, and the Aspire program, which prepares climatetech and medtech startups for investment
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