Fresh off their win at the Rice Lily Pitch Competition, Sean and Chen-Yang share how they went from PhD students at Rice University to founders of HEXASpec, tackling energy efficiency and emissions through advanced heat management materials. They explain how their material science research addresses thermal conductivity challenges in semiconductor packaging, an increasingly critical issue as AI and GPU demand accelerates, and why customer feedback led them to pivot from HVAC to semiconductors, underscoring the importance of adaptability in building a successful startup.00:00 - Intro01:00 - What is Heat Management05:20 -  Materials in Use08:15 - Discovering and Developing New Material10:52 - Market Entry Strategy16:43 - Pivoting in Business20:30 - Market Research for Beginners21:24 - Building a Prototype23:05 - Fundraising Tips29:02 - Lessons from Competitions35:49 - Student Entrepreneurship39:37 - Houston’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem42:04 - Houston’s Hidden Gems47:21 - Innovation Ecosystem Gaps49:40 - Supporting NanoSono50:13 - Founders' Podcast Thoughtshttps://twitter.com/collide_iohttps://www.tiktok.com/@collide.iohttps://www.facebook.com/collide.iohttps://www.instagram.com/collide.iohttps://www.youtube.com/@collide_iohttps://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters
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