How Do You Fund a Deep Tech Startup Without Venture Capital? Ep 34

SCORE Houston Podcast: Subscribe/ Follow FREE:  **YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA\_fRJw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlN... Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4a. In this episode of the **Go Houston Podcast**, host **PV Bala** of **SCORE Houston** sits down with **Dr. Bryton Praslicka**, Founder & CEO of **Fluxworks LLC** — a Conroe, Texas deep tech startup manufacturing revolutionary **magnetic gears** that transmit power using magnets instead of metal teeth, with no lubrication, less noise, and far less maintenance. **🚀 What You'll Learn in This Episode:** - How Dr. Praslicka turned his **Texas A&M PhD research** into a NASA-funded startup - How **Fluxworks LLC** won a **$1.69 million Army SBIR contract** while still in graduate school - Why **magnetic gears** are critical to NASA's **Artemis moon mission** and the **International Space Station** - How to fund a **deep tech startup** without venture capital using **SBIR grants, SBA loans, and pitch competitions** - What it takes to land contracts with **NASA, the US Army, and the Department of Defense** - Lessons learned from the **Rice University Business Plan Competition** - Why Dr. Praslicka turned down a **$2 million investment** offer - How **Fluxworks LLC** became profitable in 2023 and relocated to **Houston, Texas** **🏆 Guest Highlights:** ✅ **Forbes 30 Under 30** honoree ✅ **2026 SBA Houston District Innovation Award** recipient ✅ **Rice Business Plan Competition** winner ✅ Supplier to **NASA, US Army & Department of Defense** ✅ Technology aboard the **International Space Station** **Subscribe for more inspiring Houston small business success stories every week!** 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to **pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org**. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.