Hey everyone! Trevor Skene here, back with another episode of the Patent Hacks Podcast, where we dive deep into the minds of top innovators and industry experts.

In this episode, I’m joined by Mike Zimmerman, CEO and founder of Z-Polymers, and someone who’s literally building the future of materials from the molecular level up. We chat about Mike’s fascinating journey from Bell Labs to launching four different startups, the lessons he’s learned about fundraising and scaling, and the incredible breakthroughs happening at Z-Polymers. We also dig into the realities of the startup grind, avoiding common pitfalls, and how to balance entrepreneurship with academia.

If you’ve ever wondered how to take a cutting-edge materials idea from lab to market, or how to turn scientific passion into a scalable, protectable business, you’ll love this conversation. And trust me, you’ll want to hear about the unexpected discoveries Mike’s team has made along the way that could revolutionize industries from 3D printing to medical implants!

[2:22] – Mike shares his career path through RPI, MIT, Bell Labs, and beyond, and how he developed his passion for polymers.

[8:17] – What pushed Mike to leave a stable career at Bell Labs for the uncertain startup world—and the desire to have real impact and control.

[12:56] – How Mike launched his first startup by incubating his venture inside another company, creating prototypes, and using customer validation to secure funding.

[20:44] – Pro tips on successfully exiting startups, creating value, and building solid business plans with room to pivot.

[28:35] – The biggest pitfalls Mike sees in startups—especially scientists overpromising and underdelivering—and how radical honesty builds trust with customers.

[32:22] – Mike talks about his innovative materials at Z-Polymers, including democratizing high-performance 3D printing and unexpected applications in semiconductors and medical devices.

[35:04] – Mike’s #1 piece of advice for inventors looking to build a protectable, fundable, and scalable tech startup—and why finding “fellow travelers” is crucial.

• Z-Polymers Website: https://z-polymers.com/
• Mike Zimmerman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-zimmerman-6079603/
• Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
• Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/

Thanks so much for tuning in, everyone! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to rate, follow, share, and leave us a review—it helps more innovators like you discover the show. Catch you next time on the Patent Hacks Podcast!