On this fascinating episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with global entrepreneur Andrew Bliss, founder and CEO of EcoShell, a company transforming agricultural waste into sustainable materials used in plastics. 

Andrew’s journey is anything but ordinary, from teaching abroad in Asia, to launching multiple companies in Taiwan, to discovering an innovative eggshell-based technology that brought him back home to Cincinnati. With humor, humility, and candor, he shares how cultural immersion, language learning, and early failures sharpened his entrepreneurial instincts.

EcoShell’s patented technology is already making waves around the world, replacing a significant portion of traditional plastics with repurposed eggshells—reducing environmental impact without compromising performance.

Andrew talks about what it takes to build trust overseas, why he returned to Cincinnati to launch EcoShell, and how accelerators like Flywheel helped him translate a breakthrough material into a viable business.

💡 Listen to hear more about:

• How a “life reset” launched Andrew into global entrepreneurship and shaped the creation of EcoShell
• Why eggshells are a powerful agricultural waste with massive sustainability potential
• What makes EcoShell’s patented material different from typical fillers
• How major brands are exploring EcoShell’s eggshell-based innovation
• How Flywheel’s Sustainability Accelerator helped refine Andrew’s pitch, financial story, and U.S. market strategy
• Why Andrew believes connections—not ideas—are the most powerful fuel for entrepreneurs

🗓️Since the Podcast EcoShell has skyrocketed forward. Andrew and his team have:

• Joined the competitive MassChallenge accelerator in Switzerland, building global partnerships and expanding EcoShell’s international reach
• Launched a collaboration with a leading plastics manufacturer to create sustainable films and trays designed to extend product shelf life
• Entered large-scale trials with a major global footwear brand using EcoShell’s material innovations
• Spoken on a Startup Cincy Week panel about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the new entrepreneurial landscape

EcoShell is quickly becoming an international force in sustainable material innovation, and Flywheel is proudly part of its origin story. You can learn more and connect with EcoShell at EcoShell.eco or on their LinkedIn. 

📣 Call to Action:
 At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in entrepreneurs building for both profit and purpose. Explore how we support founders, invest in big ideas, and strengthen Cincinnati’s innovation ecosystem: flywheelcincinnati.org

On The Fly! is sponsored by First Financial Bank
Learn More at bankatfirst.com