Episode three out now | Big Ideas Welcome Podcast
In today's episode, Chris McAdoo sits down with two entrepreneurs to discuss the process from lab to launch, and why building hard tech is... hard.
Hard tech isn’t for the faint of heart.
It’s slow. It’s complicated. It often requires years of research, millions in funding, and a near-obsessive level of focus. But for founders like Corey Tyree and Dr. Nicholas Sokol, it’s not just worth it—it’s a calling.
The latest episode of Big Ideas Welcome, a podcast produced by the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, explores what it takes to turn science into scalable companies that can change how we power, produce, and grow.
Tyree is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Trillium Renewable Chemicals, a Knoxville-based company that’s raised more than $38 million to bring bio-based chemicals to market. His first target? Acrylonitrile— a molecule used in wind turbine blades, carbon fiber, and even LEGO bricks.
Trillium is now building its first commercial-scale plant in Texas. Between navigating regulations, meeting investor expectations, and scaling up from lab experiments to real-world application, Tyree’s journey has been anything but simple.
“We’re not making apps—we’re making chemicals. You don’t get to move fast and break things when safety’s on the line,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sokol is charting a different—though equally challenging—course. As founder and CEO of Algaeo, he’s creating biofertilizers from microalgae to regenerate soil health and boost crop yields. Sokol, who holds a PhD in Geography, started with a DIY approach and a 3D printer in his basement. He’s been the scientist, the engineer, and the solo salesperson.
“My cousin said, ‘So you’re dancing for dollars now?’ I laughed, but… yeah. That’s kind of what pitching science is,” Sokol said in the episode.
Both entrepreneurs opened up about the reality of hard tech—the kind of start-up work that doesn’t always make headlines but can transform entire industries. They offered insight on everything from taking customer feedback and creating prototypes to communicating complex ideas to non-technical investors.
Their biggest takeaway? Focus is a superpower.
This episode isn’t just for scientists or founders. It’s for anyone who’s ever been told their idea was “too early,” “too hard,” or “too weird.” Tyree and Sokol prove that with the right mindset, even the most difficult path can lead to world-changing innovation.
To listen to the full episode, search for Big Ideas Welcome wherever you get your podcasts.
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