Ben Feltner of BeeHex: 3D Printing the Future of Food, from NASA Missions to Grocery Stores
Meet Ben Feltner, Co-Founder and CEO of BeeHex, the cutting-edge company that’s taking 3D printing from outer space to your local bakery. Ben’s journey—from a law student and baseball player to the frontlines of food automation—proves that grit, innovation, and a little bit of humor can turn any challenge into opportunity. BeeHex, a NASA spin-off, is revolutionizing food production with its automated bakery equipment and space-ready meal printers, creating personalized nutrition for astronauts and earthlings alike.
Episode Takeaways:
- NASA to Neighborhood Bakeries: BeeHex started as a NASA deep space food project, now creating automated cake decorators for grocery stores.
- Resilience Pays Off: Ben’s first product—a quirky fitness tool—landed on Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel, teaching him the power of perseverance.
- Personalized Nutrition: BeeHex is pioneering 3D-printed meals tailored to individual health needs, winning NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge.
- Leadership Through Transparency: Ben emphasizes open communication and a fun work culture to keep his team motivated through adversity.
- Future Vision: He predicts a world where VR and food science combine to make spinach taste like a Snickers bar—no guilt required.
Ready to see the future of food in action? Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hA-mEgr1zI/a>
Memorable Quote:
"If you can make things happen and people find out about it, that’s one of the most satisfying parts of creating something from scratch." — Ben Feltner