As a graduate student in genetics, I had an idea about genetically engineering algae to make renewable energy. Over the course of the next few years I refined the concept, enrolled a friend to become my business partner, gained a business credential, and took a deep breath, preparing to quit the highest paying job I had ever had. We then launched a company in our garage, and over the next 7 years built it from a set of concepts to a company traded on NASDAQ that built the world's largest aerobic fermentation factory. Along the way we powered an aircraft carrier fleet around Hawaii with our fuel, launched a skin care brand that is in 3,000 Sephora stores, and commercialized the world's healthiest cooking oil, all from the same technology platform.