Bryton Praslicka from FluxWorks

Bryton Praslicka from FluxWorks

Author: collide. June 24, 2025 Duration: 54:50

Magnetic gearboxes built for the moon? Yeah, you read that right. Bryton Praslicka started out zapping circuits in his garage as a kid and ended up engineering contactless gear systems originally meant for NASA and now they’re showing up in everything from factory robots to aerospace tech. In this episode, he breaks down how FluxWorks went from a research lab to raising \$5M to bring its sci-fi-sounding gearboxes into the real world. We talk about why “motion solutions” are bigger than gears, what it takes to scale hard tech, and how magnetic tech is changing the game for robotics and automation.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.


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Click here to view the episode transcript.

00:00 - Bryton Praslicka Intro
01:14 - Causes of Wear and Tear in Systems
06:06 - Invention of FluxWorks Technology
09:17 - How FluxWorks' Magnetic Gear Operates
12:14 - Understanding Slippage in Technology
14:15 - Finding Value in Society through Innovation
18:17 - Deciding to Start a Company
21:39 - Tailoring Pitches for Different Audiences
23:23 - The Importance of Storytelling in Business
24:26 - Snobby Founder Moment Explained
26:25 - Insights from EnergyTechNexus
26:40 - Hiring Strategies for Startups
27:00 - Managing Older Employees Effectively
28:10 - Defining Mission, Vision, and Core Values
31:40 - Deciding on Core Values for Your Company
33:24 - Overcoming Significant Challenges in Business
37:35 - Navigating the Fundraising Journey
40:45 - Learning Fundraising Terminology
42:30 - Fundraising Beyond Texas
45:33 - Misunderstandings in Hard Tech Companies
49:24 - Legacy: What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?
51:20 - Contacting Jason for Insights
52:40 - Podcast Wrap-Up

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They say everything's bigger in Texas, including the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change. That's precisely why Houston has become a surprising epicenter for the global energy transition. In H-Town, the fourth largest city in the United States, a new wave of entrepreneurs is converging, partnering with established industry titans to forge the technologies that will slash emissions and power a low-carbon future. This is the landscape explored in Energytech Startups, a podcast from collide. that goes straight to the source. Hosts Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier sit down with the very people driving this change-the founders, investors, and innovators who are building companies at the intersection of energy and technology. Each conversation digs into the real work: the engineering breakthroughs, the complex business models, and the hard-won lessons from the front lines of a sector undergoing massive transformation. It’s a direct line to the strategies and stories shaping the future of energy, making this podcast an essential listen for anyone curious about the business and investment dynamics behind building a sustainable world. You’ll hear frank discussions about funding, scaling, and the practical realities of bringing a transformative idea to market, all set against the backdrop of a city historically known for oil and gas now betting big on its own reinvention.
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