Quixotix
NIT Rourkela
Team Quixotix, part of DST-GDC I-NCUBATE Cohort 04, began their journey with a powerful vision grounded in deep scientific expertise. Emerging from the Biomimetics Lab under the guidance of Dr. Rahul Kailash, NIT Rourkela, the team had a breakthrough innovation—a handheld bioprinter that could potentially allow surgeons to print living tissue directly onto wounds, avoiding painful grafts and reducing surgery time. With years of research, a patent, and published work behind them, the team believed they were on the cusp of revolutionizing wound care.
However, while their product was technically advanced, the market response was lukewarm. Investors repeatedly turned them down, and despite having pitch decks, IP, and a working prototype, nothing translated into meaningful traction. The team was left asking: Why doesn’t anyone get it?
This question found answers in the GDC I-NCUBATE program. The program didn’t just refine their pitch—it fundamentally changed their thinking. The very first challenge they faced was deceptively simple yet deeply profound: Who needs this, and why? The realization that they had a PhD-level understanding of their product but a kindergarten-level understanding of their market was a turning point.
Stepping out of the lab, the team began speaking to real surgeons, real patients, and industry stakeholders. This process dismantled many of their early assumptions. They learned that while the product was impressive in a research setting, it wasn’t aligned with the urgent needs of its intended users. For the first time, they stopped pitching features and started asking questions.
Beyond product insights, the program also influenced their internal team dynamics. Disagreements and unclear direction were common early on, often stemming from unvalidated assumptions. Through the discipline of customer discovery, they found that when real evidence was brought to the table, alignment came naturally. It was no longer about whose opinion was right—it was about what the data revealed.
Most importantly, the I-NCUBATE program gave Team Quixotix the time and space to pause and reflect—not just on what they were building, but why. The process of slowing down allowed them to reconnect with their core mission and recalibrate their approach to solving real surgical problems with validated customer insights.
With the guidance of their mentor, and with the support of instructors the team found a renewed sense of purpose. They are no longer just building a device—they are solving a problem that matters. Their journey is a testament to the transformative power of structured discovery, thoughtful mentorship, and the willingness to question even the most deeply held assumptions.
Quixotix
