A University of Toledo alumnus and inventor will share his story of entrepreneurial success at the College of Engineering on Friday, Sept. 5.
Tom Burden is the inventor of Grypmat, a flexible, non-slip mat that’s beloved by mechanics for keeping tools secure even at extreme angles. Burden will present a free, public lecture titled “From Basement to Billionaires: The Grypmat Story” at 1 p.m. in Nitschke Hall’s SSOE Seminary Room (Room 1027).
Tom Burden, who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering technology in 2014, successfully pitched his invention, Grypmat, on the ABC reality show “Shark Tank” in 2017.
“I’ve wanted to be an inventor ever since I was a kid,” Burden said. “Now I’m grateful to be in a position to support the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs and to encourage them to take advantage of many of the same opportunities that I had as a student at UToledo.”
Burden developed his non-slip tool mat while studying mechanical engineering technology at UToledo, and he won the UToledo Business Incubator’s Pitch & Pour Competition, now the Tech419 Pitch Competition, before he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2014.
Burden and Grypmat went on to secure an investment deal through an appearance on the ABC reality TV show “Shark Tank” in 2017.
Today Grypmat is used by the military, NASA and NASCAR, among others.
Burden has been recognized on Forbes’ “30 under 30,” and his invention has been featured on the cover of Time magazine. Burden also received the UToledo Alumni Association’s Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award in 2021.
“From Basement to Billionaires” is the first of several presentations the alumnus will host at the College of Engineering in September.
Burden also will participate in an alumni panel during the Mechanical Engineering Alumni Network of Experts and Scholars (MEANES) program at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, in the Brady Center and discuss academic and professional opportunities with first-year students on Monday, Sept. 15.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming back Tom Burden,” said Dr. Hossein Sojoudi, chair of the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. “Our 2030 strategic vision is built on innovation, entrepreneurship and strong industry integration in education. What better way to bring that vision to life than by engaging with our alumni and community? Engineering and entrepreneurship go hand in hand, and we hope our students will be inspired by Tom’s story of success that began right here where they are now.”
