Meet the Speakers

Leadership Remarks

  • Anthony Pugliese, Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization and the Chief Commercialization Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Featured Keynote

  • Megan O’Connor, Co-Founder and CEO, Nth Cycle; Innovation Crossroads Cohort 2018 Graduate

Cohort 2024 Fellows

Next-Generation Manufacturing

  • Mert Akin, EELI Technology
    Cyclotron Road (LBNL)
    Unlocking untapped lithium sources. Cheaper. Faster. Electrified.
  • Katy Bradford, Cassette Construction
    Innovation Crossroads (ORNL)
    Cassette Construction is developing a building component manufacturing system that will help homebuilders deliver more affordable housing.
  • Vinit Chaudhary, Elemental Composites
    Innovation Crossroads (ORNL)
    Elemental Composites is building scalable natural fiber materials for advanced composite applications.
  • Rushin Contractor, TopoLight
    Cyclotron Road (LBNL)
    Developing the next generation of semiconductor lasers.
  • Nosa Edoimioya, Reforge Robotics
    Cyclotron Road (LBNL)
    Reforge Robotics builds control software to increase the accuracy and speed of industrial robots.
  • Brian Iezzi, Fibarcode
    Innovation Crossroads (ORNL)
    Woven-in intelligence for authentication, traceability, and lifecycle insight in every garment.
  • John Slack, Rhoic
    Cyclotron Road (LBNL)
    Rhoic’s field-induced reactor technology enables high-efficiency chemical production without extreme heat or pressure.
  • Reamonn Soto, Sensatek Propulsion Technology
    West Gate (NLR)
    Pioneering passive RF sensing technology for rotating turbomachinery applications.
  • Scott Svadlenak, Renewcat
    Chain Reaction Innovations (ANL)
    Renewcat Inc. is transforming waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into value-added hydrocarbon products through a novel catalytic process.

Quantum and Advanced Sensing Systems

  • Sonia Dagan, Kytyra
    New Mexico LEEP (LANL)
    Kytyra builds low-latency drone detection and classification systems for counter-UAS applications that perform reliably in challenging operational environments.
  • Angela Feldhaus, Rarefied
    Chain Reaction Innovations (ANL)
    Rarefied is developing near-space platforms for persistent sensing and communications in the upper atmosphere.
  • Kevin Roccapriore, AtomQ
    Innovation Crossroads (ORNL)
    Building quantum hardware: atom by atom.

        Advanced Materials and Bio-Based Technologies

        • Jordan Cannon, Circular Biosciences
          Innovation Crossroads (ORNL)
          Circular Biosciences is developing engineered enzymes to break down bioplastics like PLLA into reusable building blocks, enabling true biodegradability.
        • Advait Holkar, Praio
          Cyclotron Road (LBNL)
          Low-cost, intensified biomanufacturing with artificial protocells.
        • Hitesh Manglani, Supercarb
          Cyclotron Road (LBNL)
          Price competitive, breakthrough performance fibers from seaweed and agricultural waste feedstock.
        • Jhana Porter, frakktal
          Chain Reaction Innovations (ANL)
          frakktal is developing durable, biobased polymers from plant overages as alternatives to traditional polymers, beginning with built environment applications.

            Energy Storage Technologies

            • Haining Gao, HaloGen Power
              Chain Reaction Innovations (ANL)
              HaloGen Power, an MIT spinout, is developing a high-energy, non-rechargeable battery for medical and IoT devices.
            • Heather Platt, Mana Battery
              West Gate (NLR)
              Sodium battery electrolytes and cells with best-in-class performance, safety, and cost.
            • Tim Vosburgh, Coulomb Technology
              Innovation Crossroads (ORNL)
              Safer, smarter, sodium-ion energy storage—built to outperform lithium-ion in any climate.
            • Nate Weger, Calectra
              Cyclotron Road (LBNL)
              Calectra is bringing in the new era of industrial heating that is lower cost, electric, and resilient.

                  Grid and Energy Systems

                  • Simon Julien, Latimer Controls
                    West Gate (NLR)
                    AI software solutions to enable grid-flexibility and grid-stability via solar power.
                  • Carla Pinzon, Expand Power
                    Cyclotron Road (LBNL)
                    Expand Power Technologies uses high-frequency power electronics to create PowerGuard, an ultra-compact, smart transformer with increased controllability and safety monitoring.
                  • Michael Solomentsev, Palanquin Power
                    West Gate (NLR)
                    Building the world’s most efficient data center power supplies.