Episode 238: Téa Phillips – Building MetaFlex: From Prototype to Market, Arthritis Relief & Beyond

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Description:

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Téa Phillips, CEO of ATS and inventor of MetaFlex — the world’s first grip-strengthening compression glove.

Téa shares her journey from engineering student to award-winning entrepreneur, driven by a personal mission to help her grandmother and others struggling with arthritis. From early prototypes to manufacturing hurdles, mentorship, and market challenges, her story is a blueprint for building with empathy, resilience, and innovation.

Listeners will walk away with insights into the invention process, navigating real-world business roadblocks, and scaling a product that changes lives.

Key Takeaways:

• Engineering with empathy: Téa combined technical skills with compassion to design MetaFlex for arthritis patients — later expanding its use to carpal tunnel, Parkinson’s, and athletes.
• The power of mentorship: Surrounding herself with mentors and advisors across healthcare, sales, and business was critical to her success.
• Prototype to product: Market research, user feedback, and iteration ensured MetaFlex was not only effective but also comfortable and practical.
• Overcoming hurdles: From a year-long delay in finding the right manufacturer to navigating crushing tariffs, Téa shares how adaptability is key in building a business.
• Building beyond one idea: With a notebook “full of products,” Téa shows how inventors can continue creating while scaling their first breakthrough.

Tune in for a story that blends invention, perseverance, and the drive to build solutions that last.

THE MEAT OF IT!

1. Origins of MetaFlex

• The spark at Tennessee Tech: engineering meets healthcare
• Early prototypes and understanding hand anatomy
• Inspiration from Téa’s grandmother’s arthritis

2. From Concept to Competition Wins

• Eagle Works and state-level recognition
• The role of academic programs in validating ideas
• Building confidence through early accolades

3. Designing with Empathy & Engineering

• Why comfort and wearability mattered most
• Iterating prototypes based on real user feedback
• Expanding use cases beyond arthritis (carpal tunnel, Parkinson’s, athletics)

4. The Road to Manufacturing

• Challenges in finding a medical-grade manufacturer
• Lessons learned during a year-long delay
• Balancing innovation with regulatory compliance

5. The Power of Mentorship & Networks

• Building a board of advisors across fields
• How mentors shaped business decisions and growth
• Practical advice for finding and asking for help

6. Market Entry & Growth

• Crowdfunding and early go-to-market strategies
• Navigating tariffs and unexpected global challenges
• Expanding distribution into international markets

7. Looking Ahead

• Téa’s “notebook full of products”
• The vision for MetaFlex’s continued evolution
• Broader reflections on resilience, innovation, and building for impact

Check out these related Episodes:

• Episode 237: Hunter Jensen – Building, Tinkering, & Thriving on the Cutting Edge (Not the Bleeding Edge)
• Episode 236: Carol Tice – Building Million-dollar Communities: Creating Financial Freedom & A Future Exit
• Episode 230: Yaakov Sash – From Wall Street to Pixels: Building the Future of Gaming with Currency, Community & AI