Energy-Industrial Huddle

Driving Market Opportunities: Hatch and Halo

Launched earlier this year, Hatch and Halo is an IP licensing agency that combines Fortune 100 brand extension mastery with proven product and technology commercialization expertise. Learn how this new venture studio leverages its founders’ rich brand extension and disruptive commercialization experience to help companies and universities turn trademarks and patents into new revenue licenses and high-value market entries. Jay Schrankler, Managing Partner, Hatch and Halo. Moderator: Kathleen Gallagher, 5 Lakes Institute.

Commercializing Deep Tech: WAVE Venture Studio

In 2026, the University of Michigan launched a deep tech venture studio in partnership with WAVE Ventures and Tech Transfer Studio. Hear about how the studio identifies high-potential IP and partners with engineers, scientists, product executives and entrepreneurs to accelerate validation and market-readiness of select U-M research and inventions. Travis Linderman, Partner, WAVE Ventures and Kennen Dietz, VP of Product, Tech Transfer Studio. Moderator: Tim Honaker, MRUN.

Building with Industry: TechStars Alabama Energy Tech Accelerator

This intensive, mentorship-driven program based in Birmingham, AL, operates in partnership with Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the largest U.S. utilities. TechStars Alabama Energy Tech Accelerator offers deep, specialized access to utility executives and other personnel, pilot programs, enterprise procurement and more. Learn about it from the program’s Managing Director and the CEO of a startup that participated. Matt Jaeh, Managing Director, TechStars; Hudson Hollister, Founder and CEO, hData. Moderator: Allen Dines, 5 Lakes+MRUN Fellow.

Developing Autonomous Defense Capabilities: Area 52

Led by Sagamore Institute and anchored by Indiana-based Navel Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division, the Area 52 proposal aims to establish a highly secure testing environment for the U.S. Navy’s advanced, unmanned, and autonomous systems — a maritime equivalent to the Air Force’s fabled Area 51. This chat will cover the vision for a broad Midwest strategy for autonomous defense manufacturing, testing, and industrial growth and ways to get involved. Jay Hein, Co-founder and CEO, Sagamore Institute. Moderator: Aina Vilumsons, Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute.