Aux Talks – Inside the Startup Journey
Innovation, Startups & Entrepreneurship in Central Massachusetts
Welcome to Aux Talks, the Auxilium Podcast. Auxilium is an all-encompassing innovation studio and accelerator dedicated to empowering early-stage startups with state-of-the-art workspace, training, resources, mentorship, and funding to help them grow and thrive.
Launched in June 2025, Auxilium aims to build a community of creators, thinkers, and leaders committed to fueling groundbreaking ideas and establishing Central Massachusetts as a premier hub for innovation and growth.
Akeyna Smart Needle Targets Safer Dermal Filler Procedures
Akeyna founder and CEO Karen Cronholm joins Aux Talks to discuss the company’s smart-needle technology, which is designed to detect blood vessels and improve safety during dermal filler procedures.
Female Founders, Smart Hiring, and Startup Runway: Key Lessons from Aux Talks
Startup advisor Anna Welland joins Aux Talks to explain how early-stage companies can leverage non-dilutive funding, build sustainable hiring strategies, and navigate the realities of startup growth without sacrificing equity.
Aux Talks: Danielle O’Neill on Why Fundraising for Life Sciences Startups Is So Difficult in 2026
Danielle O’Neill, Senior Vice President of Life Sciences at Banc of California, joined Aux Talks to discuss the challenging fundraising climate facing early-stage biotech startups, the realities of venture capital expectations, and how founders can improve their chances of securing investment.
RECENT STORIES
MBI and Auxilium Launch Life Sciences Accelerator Cohort in Worcester
Zak Dutton of Auxilium and Jon Weaver of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives discuss their new partnership launching a life sciences accelerator cohort in Worcester designed to support early-stage startups with capital, mentorship, and business development resources.
Priya Yadav of Mass Ventures on Deep Tech Investing and Massachusetts’ Startup Advantage
Priya Yadav, Vice President of Investments at Mass Ventures, joins Zak Dutton to explain how Massachusetts’ uniquely connected deep tech ecosystem helps founders move innovations from lab to market—and what early-stage investors really look for.
Auxilium’s Zak Dutton Talks Startup Legal Strategy with Peter Cifichiello
Bowditch & Dewey partner Peter Cifichiello joined Auxilium Executive Director Zak Dutton to share practical legal guidance for startup founders, including equity decisions, advisor agreements, and protecting company intellectual property early.
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