Dr. Rajiv Mishra, a materials science professor at UNT, is the founder of Optimus Alloys, a startup that designs custom aluminum alloy powders for additive manufacturing processes like laser powder bed fusion. His work bridges a major gap in the field. While 3D metal printing technology has advanced rapidly, the materials used often struggle to keep up. His company’s goal is to address this by developing high-performance alloys tailored to the specific physics of each manufacturing method, offering greater efficiency, strength and precision to industries like aerospace, defense and automotive.

Originally funded by the Office of Naval Research, the alloy was developed in Dr. Mishra’s UNT lab and is currently patent pending. Optimus has since secured nearly $650,000 in funding from national labs, commercial companies and universities. The startup is now building low-cost, scalable “recipes” for customers to make new materials more accessible without the legal or financial hurdles that often block innovation.

“Many people do not do this, because they look at the process and it seems incredibly daunting or even impossible,” Mishra says. “We’re trying to break that cycle.”

But, with the right support, space and persistence, he believes any faculty can turn academic research into market-ready solutions. On the academic side, Dr. Mishra is currently teaching a graduate course on invention and innovation, encouraging students to start virtual companies and develop the mindset of an entrepreneur.

“You can train your mind to become an inventor,” he says. “It’s about learning to see what others miss.”