For Gregg Scheller, BS ME ’79, inspiration often strikes in the middle of the night — leaving his bathroom mirror covered in sticky notes by morning. That’s life for an inventor who’s made innovation both his career and his calling.
By combining his engineering background with an entrepreneurial mindset, Scheller has built a prolific career improving surgical procedures through advanced medical technology — and he’s demonstrated the power of having both technical and business skills. Over the years, he’s founded four companies and earned more than 375 patents and inventions, along with honors such as the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Inventor of the Year award.
Scheller’s process is as unconventional as it is effective. He spends his days observing surgeons in the operating room, then replays those procedures mentally at night — often brainstorming ideas that might make surgery safer or more efficient. While many of those late-night thoughts end up discarded, a few become the foundation for transformative innovations.
“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Scheller said with a laugh. “I haven’t slept well for 40 years. But a lot of great things have come out of me not sleeping.”
Inventing Through Trial and Tenacity
Scheller’s entrepreneurial journey hasn’t been without challenges. His first startup was, in his words, “slaughtered by cash flow.” From that experience, he learned the importance of building a team with complementary strengths — especially in business and finance.
“The business part to me is actually the hardest part,” Scheller said. “Throughout my career I learned that the science of business is a real thing, and it’s not always easy.”
With subsequent ventures, Scheller surrounded himself with strong financial minds and empowered his sales and marketing teams. It paid off.
“Once we had the sales and marketing machine … we could outsell everyone,” he said.
Despite his success, Scheller discovered that taking a company public pulled him away from what he enjoyed most — inventing. That realization eventually brought him back to where it all began: Mizzou.
Gregg Scheller
Giving Back Through Collaboration
Now retired, Scheller has encouraged the University of Missouri to guide the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. Scheller—whose wife, Donna, is an alum of the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business — saw great potential in collaborations among the College of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the Trulaske College of Business. Now, he draws on his own experiences to encourage students to think beyond their disciplines.
“Gregg’s success truly reflects the importance of encouraging students to network and build relationships across campus,” said Balaji Rajagopalan, Dean of the Trulaske College of Business. "Behind every successful entrepreneur is a mindset that transcends a narrow domain."
Scheller believes cross-campus collaboration holds the key to truly novel ideas.
“I think the engineering students are a mystery to the business students,” he said. “But maybe if I can make a friend over there, and I have this idea, we can get together and start something.”
He encourages students to join clubs, visit other departments, and share knowledge — connecting the dots between technical expertise and business acumen.
An Innovator’s Mindset
Scheller remains passionate about helping young entrepreneurs navigate an increasingly complex world of higher costs and tighter regulations.
“I have confidence that a smart young person can persevere if they continue to look for solutions,” he said.
His best advice? Innovation should come before profit.
“If you become an entrepreneur to get rich, you’re likely to fail,” he said. “Innovate because something needs to be done.”
And for Scheller, there’s always more to do. His latest pursuit? Revolutionizing ear surgery — another challenge that keeps him up at night, surrounded by sticky notes and ideas waiting to become breakthroughs.
“I’m looking at an opportunity to change the future of ear surgery,” he said. “Because it’s something that needs to be done.”
Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business prepares students for success as global citizens, business leaders, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to transformative technologies, offering experience-centered learning opportunities and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.