Startup Success Starts with the Problem, Not the Tech with Marc Filerman

About this episode

Marc Filerman discusses the importance of problem framing and value propositions in startup success.

Turning research into something that actually works in the real world sounds straightforward, but it rarely is. There’s a gap between discovery and impact that trips up even the most promising ideas, and it often has less to do with the science and more to do with how the problem is framed, understood, and communicated. My guest today is Marc Filerman, Chief Business Officer at Start2 Group, a global accelerator working across academia, startups, and government to help early-stage ventures de-risk, grow, and scale. Marc brings a unique perspective shaped by his background as an MIT-trained engineer, corporate leader, and serial startup founder. At Start2 Group, he helps run major programs like BARDA-supported VITAL and NSF-backed Stride Ventures, supporting thousands of companies and contributing to billions in follow-on funding. We talk about what actually separates startups that move forward from those that stall out, including the importance of defining a clear problem, building a real value proposition, and choosing a focused foothold market instead of trying to do everything at once. We also get into where universities and tech transfer offices have an opportunity to better…

People in this episode

Guest: Marc Filerman

Topics covered

• startup success
• problem framing
• value proposition
• tech transfer
• early-stage ventures

Keywords

• research
• impact
• entrepreneurship
• funding pathways
• commercialization

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Start2 Group, BARDA-supported VITAL, NSF-backed Stride Ventures

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