Elliot McAllister: Butterfly net for alien microbes

Elliot McAllister: Butterfly net for alien microbes

From Beers with Engineers by Bert Uschold

April 1, 2026 · 1h 1m · Episode 60

About this episode

Elliot McAllister discusses his journey in engineering, cycling, and the founding of Skyphos Technology.

#60 – Elliot McAllister: Butterfly net for alien microbes Elliot McAllister, founder and CEO of Skyphos Technology in Blacksburg, Virginia, and winner of a Beers with Engineers T-shirt giveaway for being the 1,001st connection. We discuss hands on tinkering and cycling the Iditarod Trail. Engineering wise, we discuss materials science and microfluidics. Sorry, but you’ll have to listen to find out how aliens and butterfly nets fit in. Likes Two-hearted IPA He didn’t choose engineering, it chose him. Elliot and Bert are both cyclists. Elliot wanted to be a bike designer Worked on an all-wheel drive bike. Raced a bike on the Iditarod trail. Story about 1988 Giro d’Italia, “The Day the Strong Men Cried” Materials are always important. Got the idea for his company Skyphos during a class in microfluidics. Similar to electronics but typically much smaller volumes. Why sneakers squeak. Elliot first saw ET while wearing a red sweatshirt. National Outdoor Leadership School in Pacific Northwest Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and uses the Habitat Restore Worked a few years as a roofer. Hiking and skiing with his 3 kids. Analysis of warmest sleeping positions Elliot’s company…

People in this episode

Host: Bert Uschold

Guest: Elliot McAllister

Topics covered

  • engineering
  • microfluidics
  • cycling
  • materials science
  • entrepreneurship

Keywords

  • engineering
  • microfluidics
  • cycling
  • materials science
  • Skyphos Technology
  • Iditarod Trail
  • Two-hearted IPA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Skyphos Technology, Habitat for Humanity, National Outdoor Leadership School, Dexterity Engineering, Beers with Engineers

Products: Two-hearted IPA

Books & works: Giro d’Italia

Places: Blacksburg, Virginia, Pacific Northwest

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