Karun Naga earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1998. As a member of the Spartan Founders Club, Karun is actively mentoring student entrepreneurs, hosting networking events, and promoting more entrepreneurship across the Spartan community. Over the last 20 years, Karun has served as a serial entrepreneur co-founding several companies with the goals of pioneering new therapies to treat disease and extend life. Today, Karun is a partner of The Foundry which is a team of entrepreneurs committed to inventing technologies and building companies that redefine the standard of care and transform patients’ lives.
“Growing up in the Lansing area I was raised in a family that put a high emphasis on science and technical education. Naturally, this led me to studying mechanical engineering at Michigan State University, where every application of my education related to the auto industry. While this aligned well with my roots, as my father was a local entrepreneur who designed and supplied parts to the auto industry, I had a lot of soul searching to do before I would find my calling. I wanted to broaden my horizons, so I decided to go to law school at that other school in Ann Arbor—much to the chagrin of my engineering professors and father. Law school challenged me socially, politically, and academically, while opening my eyes to a range of possibilities. What I found engaging was patent law, where I saw the potential to help inventors protect their innovations and transform them into successful ventures. Since then, I’ve worked as a serial entrepreneur, co-founding multiple companies with the aim of developing innovative therapies to treat diseases and improve quality of life. I’ve been a partner at The Foundry since 2018, where we specialize in identifying critical clinical needs and building companies around groundbreaking technologies to address them. By collaborating closely with physicians and leveraging their clinical insights alongside our expertise, we take innovative medical technologies from concept to market, with the goal of transforming patient care.
One of the biggest challenges I've faced throughout my career is being spread too thin across too many projects and commitments. I’ve come to call this “self-destructive ambition,” and it’s something I see all too often with young entrepreneurs. The reality is, we never have enough resources—whether it’s time, money, or manpower—to do everything we want to do. I’ve learned that I’m most effective and happiest when I focus my energy on two key things: the ability to have a real impact, and the quality of the people I’m working with. Building strong, lasting relationships with the right team can make all the difference. My advice to young aspiring Spartan entrepreneurs is: don’t try to do everything. Prioritize what truly matters and what will help you build something meaningful, with people who share your vision and can support you in achieving it.
To honor my dad’s legacy of supporting and nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs, I established the Manohar Naga Memorial Endowed Scholarship at the College of Engineering at MSU ten years ago. This scholarship is awarded to a high-achieving engineering student who demonstrates exceptional potential for entrepreneurship. Scouting entrepreneurial talent reminds me of Spartan Football during the Dantonio era. We’re looking for individuals who may not stand out immediately, but have immense potential and a grit to succeed. While universities excel at identifying students bound for traditional corporate paths it’s harder to spot those who will ultimately reshape industries. These individuals are often overlooked, marginalized, or even discouraged during their college years, which is why it’s so important to recognize their potential and show them there’s a place for their bold ideas. The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation plays a crucial role in fostering these students’ success, providing the support and resources they need to thrive as entrepreneurs and innovators.
I was thrilled to become acquainted with the Burgess Institute, realizing that their objectives aligned closely with my own. I’ve been actively engaged with the Burgess Institute in mentoring student founded companies, hosting networking events for students and alumni while promoting more entrepreneurship across the Spartan community. Joining Spartan Founders Club (SFC) was a no-brainer since it aligned much of the work I had already been doing with the Institute. It’s truly an honor to be one of the first members to access a network of Spartans that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. I’m excited about using SFC as a platform for connecting with Spartan alumni and entrepreneurs and seeing what we can achieve together in support of MSU’s entrepreneurship program.”
The Spartan Founders Club (SFC) is a philanthropic consortium of MSU alumni and friends willing to stand together to support students and grow MSU’s campus-wide nationally ranked entrepreneurship education program. SFC members agree to an initial financial donation for three consecutive years as part of their commitment. If you're interested in joining or want to learn more, visit https://entrepreneurship.msu.edu/Spartan-Founders-Club.