The new generation of innovators creating next-generation energy

Tucked in the hills of Berkeley, California, a cluster of nascent entrepreneurs is collectively hanging out their shingles. And while ensconced in Silicon Valley’s dynamic startup culture and technological marketplace, these new business owners are focused exclusively on clean energy, electronics and manufacturing innovations.

Welcome to Cyclotron Road, a fellowship for entrepreneurial scientists based at the world-renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and supported by partners like ExxonMobil.

Established in 2015 with its first cohort of entrepreneurs, the program has created a physical hub that bridges the figurative landscape between scientific theory and investable, market-tested technology solutions.

The science varies, as do the backgrounds of those applying it. While one project looks to reinvent the air conditioner in tropical climates, another is engineering biology applications to reduce energy consumption in manufacturing.

Over the last four years, Cyclotron Road has supported nearly 30 such projects in various stages of development. For an inside look, Energy Factor sat down with three Cyclotron Road fellows to talk about their missions and what’s at stake for our energy future.

Our video highlights Tom McDonald of Mosaic Materials, which is developing crystalline solids that capture gases; David Bierman of Marigold Power, a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) platform company; and Richard Wang of Cuberg, a developer of energy-dense, ultra-safe batteries that can withstand volatile environments.