The UTRF Entrepreneurial Fellows program isn’t just about launching startups—it’s about helping promising researchers mature their technologies, identify their markets, and take the critical leap from research to real-world impact.
For the newest fellows, Katrina Easton and Brian Washington, the program is also about opportunity.
Turning Research into Results
UTRF’s Entrepreneurial Fellows program is part of a broader collaboration between UTRF and the University of Tennessee System, designed to drive the commercialization of high-potential university research. The program provides early-stage innovators with financial support, mentorship, and the business development tools needed to position their technology for real-world adoption. It also plays a crucial role in attracting research dollars to UT and retaining top talent by offering a viable path to entrepreneurship within the academic ecosystem.
The fellowship’s goal is clear: help researchers transform cutting-edge science into viable companies—without losing sight of the technical maturity required for success.
“We are excited to have Brian and Katrina as our 2025 Entrepreneurial Fellows,” said Maha Krishnamurthy, UTRF President. “They are working toward scaling their technology to bring innovative batteries and biomedical products to market, showcasing the growing entrepreneurial culture within the University.”
Meet the Fellows: Katrina Easton
Dr. Katrina Easton is a biomedical engineer who has worked with UT Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering Associate Professor Dustin Crouch to develop a novel prosthetic device for people with thumb amputations. The startup company, EndoLimb Orthoplastic Solutions, Inc., aims to provide implantable prosthetic solutions that offer patients a more natural appearance, improved function, and restoration of sensation.
With a background that spans biology, computer science, veterinary medicine, and bioengineering, Easton returned to UT specifically to continue this commercialization work through the fellowship. She had found the technology exciting when she worked previously in Dr. Crouch’s lab as a postdoctoral researcher and was happy to return when “UTRF and Dr. Crouch were able to secure the funding to bring [her] back for this role.”
UTRF has supported Easton and her team not only through the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund but also by connecting them with key industry stakeholders in the medical device and orthopedic surgery communities. These resources are helping her define the device’s minimum viable product and chart a course through FDA regulatory approval and eventual clinical trials.
Meet the Fellows: Brian Washington
Meanwhile, Dr. Brian Washington is taking on energy innovation with his startup AluminAiry, a company he founded around a next-generation aluminum-air technology that aims to provide clean, high-density energy generation for everything from stationary power to eVTOLs.
He helped develop the technology during his PhD work under UT–ORNL Governor’s Chair for Electrical Energy Conversion and Storage, Thomas Zawodzinski. His research was funded by a project sponsored by the Army Research Lab and later earned him a spot in the Spark Cleantech Accelerator, along with support from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for a pilot demonstration.
“UTRF has been super impactful,” said Washington. “They have helped with IP management, funding opportunities, and even connected us with VCs and angel investors.”
Like Easton, Washington also received support from the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund, reinforcing UTRF’s role in helping fellows not only mature their technology but also move it closer to a minimum viable product.
A Supportive Ecosystem for Innovation
Easton and Washington said UTRF provides structure, funding, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs overcome the “valley of death”—the challenging gap between a promising academic prototype and a commercially viable product.
“There’s usually a big gap between state-of-the-art lab performance and something realistically deployable,” Washington said. “UT and UTRF provide a solid ecosystem to help us bridge that.”
From funding their own salaries through the fellowship to facilitating meetings with consultants and industry experts, UTRF acts as a scaffold for entrepreneurial scientists.
For Easton, whose technology requires navigating complex FDA pathways, those connections have been especially valuable.
“We’ve had a lot of good discussions with surgeons who are really excited about the potential of our prosthetic,” she said. “UTRF has helped us get those early conversations started, which will be essential as we look for investors and move toward clinical trials.”
While the fellowship is just one component of UTRF’s efforts, it plays a crucial role in amplifying UT’s research-to-impact pipeline. By combining institutional support, mentorship, and direct commercialization guidance, the program empowers entrepreneurial researchers to stay connected to the university while pursuing their dreams.
“It’s really inspiring to see something you worked on from the beginning come to life,” said Easton. “It has the potential to truly change patients’ quality of life.”
As these fellows work toward launch, scale, and impact, UTRF continues to serve as a vital catalyst—connecting research to revenue and discovery to delivery.