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The first BuildINC Business podcast episode features Chantz Yanagida, founder of STRACT Corporation, who shares how his company began, the challenges of early-stage innovation, and why he chose the Chattanooga INCubator to support his growth.
Yanagida launched STRACT Corporation after graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and gaining experience with major manufacturers such as Mars and Nissan. Through that work, he identified gaps smaller companies face in product development and tooling.
He said STRACT helps inventors and entrepreneurs bring new products to market by supporting every stage of design. The company produces working prototypes and offers low-volume manufacturing for proof of concept, then connects clients with partner manufacturers in Tennessee for full-scale production.
Yanagida also highlighted STRACT’s reverse-engineering services for manufacturers with aging or worn machining parts, noting the company’s specialization in replicating complex, organic shapes.
Throughout the episode, he credited the Chattanooga INCubator for providing mentorship, equipment and a community of founders that has helped him refine STRACT’s direction and maintain the curiosity and persistence needed to build a company from the ground up.
