143: Build Your Own Manufacturing for Your Invention
Don Skaggs, founder of US Biotex Corporation and President of the Inventors Network Kentucky, explains how he bootstrapped a local manufacturing facility from a farmhouse in 1991, growing it to over 150 products before selling the company in 2014. He details the strategic decision to keep production in-house to maintain close integration between R&D, marketing, and sales, allowing for rapid iteration based on direct customer feedback from hospital laboratories. Skaggs emphasizes the importance of using Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) parts rather than reinventing every component, and leveraging cross-industry technology transfers to innovate cost-effectively. He concludes by discussing his current work with the Inventors Network, helping entrepreneurs find the intersection of their passion and expertise.