Dare to Disrupt Episode 37: Bringing Research Lab Innovations to Your Toilet: The Story of spotLESS Materials

Birgitt Boschitsch is the co-founder and CEO of spotLESS Materials, an advanced materials company and Penn State spinoff commercializing highly repellent anti-fouling coatings. 

In this episode, Birgitt shares how her passion for helping others through research led to her co-founding spotLESS Materials. She discusses her formative experiences, academic challenges, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career path, including her time at Princeton and her decision to pursue graduate studies at Penn State. 

She discusses the original inspiration behind the idea for a toilet coating that repels sticky waste, as well as the challenges of transitioning from lab work to startup life. She shares the importance of community support and the impact of media exposure on sales.

Towards the end of the episode, Viswanathan Ganesh, a current Ph.D. candidate in the department of architectural engineering at Penn State, joins the conversation. He is the entrepreneurial lead for NexDCCool, a Penn State research-based startup that aims to revolutionize data center efficiency with AI-driven solutions that optimize IT expansion, enhance thermal management, and reduce energy consumption. The startup team recently participated in both the Invent Penn State regional NSF I-Corps short course and the NSF I-Corps National Teams program. Viswanathan and Birgitt reflect on the customer discovery process, and Birgitt offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – 6:07 An early interest in science, math, and making a difference

6:07 – 8:46 Being challenged at Princeton

8:46 – 11:38 Choosing Penn State because of now co-founder’s pitch

11:38 – 14:55 Creating a material to repel sticky substances like poop

14:55 – 19:22 Navigating the pathway from lab to startup

19:22 – 23:00 The right timing to launch a consumer product

23:00 – 26:04 Keeping up with demand after NYT Wirecutter feature

26:04 -27:41 Future applications of the spotLESS Materials technology

27:41 – 29:37 Benefits of being based out of State College

29:37 – 36:27 Student section

30:12 – 33:37 Overcoming challenges presented by NSF I-Corps program

33:37 – 36:27 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

Download full episode transcript

About Birgitt Boschitsch

Birgitt is the CEO and co-founder of spotLESS Materials. She graduated from Princeton University with a BSE in mechanical and aerospace engineering. She received her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Penn State.

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Dare to Disrupt is a podcast about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, and the stories behind their success. Learn more.