Show notes
In this episode, we unpack how a college capstone project turned into a scalable system for custom-fit 3D-printed bracing, moving from “hours in CAD” to minutes with automated design templates. We get into the origin story, the technology moat, go-to-market evolution, fundraising, and the founder mindset required to stay in the game.Highlights coveredHow PROTECT3D started with a custom brace for a Duke teammateWhy “one-size-fits-none” is the real problem in bracingThe core workflow: iPhone scan → automated digital design → 3D printHow they reduced design time from 5+ hours to under 5 minutesMaterial/printing approaches and why they use multiple technologiesScaling from sports to insurance-reimbursable clinical productsExpansion into military / defense applications via non-dilutive fundingFounder lessons: failing fast, surviving COVID-era building, and gritKevin’s advice to younger founders: keep going, the grind is the gameCustom-fit should be the norm, and PROTECT3D is building the rails to make that possible at scale. If you’re a founder working at the intersection of software + real-world manufacturing, this one is packed with practical lessons and a lot of heart.Timestamps:00:04:29 — Kevin’s background: Greensboro → Duke mechanical engineering + football00:05:43 — The spark: 3D-printing a custom brace for an injured teammate00:06:37 — “One-size-fits-none”: why off-the-shelf bracing fails most bodies00:10:23 — Turning it into a real company through Duke I&E + early traction00:12:21 — Early funding: friends & family + NC IDEA Micro Grant path00:16:45 — The modern 3-step process: app scan → digital fabrication → 3D print00:17:11 — From traveling to scan athletes… to scanning with an iPhone app00:23:29 — Scaling breakthrough: design time drops from 5+ hours to <5 minutes00:24:19 — Growth: working with over half of NFL teams + other leagues00:25:21 — Beyond sports: clinics, insurance reimbursement, nationwide footprint00:32:44 — Fundraising + non-dilutive: ~$5.5M raised, including DoD/SBIR support00:34:44 — Founder lessons: fail fast, market expansion timing, surviving COVID00:36:25 — Team size: 12 FTE + ~5 contractors; vision for clinical-scale bracing00:38:30 — New channel: “at-home” scanning + direct-to-consumer experiments00:41:18 — Kevin’s message to young founders: keep at it, the grind doesn’t stopWhere to Find Kevin Gehsmann:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-gehsmann/Front PROTECT3D: https://protect3d.io/Where to Find Scot Wingo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/ Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/ X: https://x.com/scotwingo--- This episode of Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented and produced by Triangle Tweener Fund, with creative assets and design support from Walk West. We couldn’t share posts like this without our amazing sponsors: Platinum: NC IDEA: https://ncidea.orgGold Sponsors: - Balentine: https://www.balentine.com/triangle-entrepreneurs - EisnerAmpner: https://www.eisneramper.com - Robinson Bradshaw: https://www.robinsonbradshaw.com Silver Sponsors: - Automated Consulting Group: https://automated.co - Bank of America: https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/technology-industry-group.html ------Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/
