The Techne Connect

Behind the wheel: Ricardo Garcia, Software Manager at Continental Automotive (soon to be AUMOVIO) In this episode of The Techne Connect, Ricardo Garcia, a seasoned engineering leader at Continental, shares his 18-year journey through the automotive industry. From starting as a technical engineer to leading software development and managing cross-functional teams, Ricardo offers a candid look into...

Behind the Power: Sebastian Moitzheim, CTO of Powall In this episode of The Techne Connect, Sebastian Moitzheim, CTO of Powall, shares his journey from academic research to leading a cutting-edge battery technology startup. With a background in life sciences and nanotechnology, Sebastian reflects on the transition from theory to application, the role of AI in accelerating research, and the importa...

Behind the Power: Prateek Mehta, Acceleration Lead at Mitra Chem In this episode of The Techne Connect, Prateek shares his journey from studying chemical engineering in India to leading a cutting-edge team at MitraChem, a battery materials startup in California. We dive into his path from academia to industry, exploring the leadership challenges and opportunities that come with building in the fas...

Behind the Power: Richard LeCain, CTO at UKBIC In this episode of The Techne Connect, we sit down with Richard LeCain, CTO of the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), to explore the dynamic world of battery technology, industrialization, and team leadership. From his early days in chemical engineering to pioneering lithium iron phosphate commercialization at A123 Systems, Richard shares a...

Behind the Power: Andre Gronke, Head of Global Engineering at Farasis Energy In this episode of The Techne Connect, we sit down with André Gronke, Head of Engineering Project Management and Technical Acquisition at Farasis Energy Europe. With over a decade of experience in battery technology, from his early days at Mercedes to leadership roles at A123 Systems and now Farasis, André shares his jour...

Behind the Yoke: Jason Coon, Founder & Principal Consultant and Former VP of Systems, Software and Intergration at Archer In this episode of The Techne Connect , aerospace engineer Jason Coon takes us through his career journey; from early interests to leadership in the fast-evolving eVTOL sector. Jason shares his perspective on how teamwork, diversity, and innovation fuel progress in aerospac...

Behind the Wheel: Gorazd Gotovac, CTO of Elaphe In this episode of The Techne Connect , we speak with Gorazd Gotovac, CTO of Elaphe, about his journey from mathematical physics to leading innovations in in-wheel motor technology. Gorazd shares insights on building from a vision, aligning teams for breakthrough results, and why mobility’s future will be shaped by both engineering excellence and hum...

Behind the Vision: Yateendra Deshpande, Co-Founder at Conifer In this episode of The Techne Connect , Conifer's Yateendra Deshpande shares the leap from high-pressure engineering roles into founding a startup pioneering sustainable ferrite-magnet motors. We explore his early influences, lessons from Apple and Lucid, the risks of entrepreneurship, and why staying true to your mission matters. The T...

Behind the Power: Dennis Yu, Director of Hardware & Systems Engineering at Liminal Insights Inc. In this episode of The Techne Connect , we talk to Dennis Yu , Director of Hardware & Systems Engineering at Liminal , a startup using ultrasound to transform battery quality inspection. Dennis shares his unconventional path from trade school to UC Berkeley to helping deploy novel metrology too...

Behind the Power: Daniel Evans, Former Senior Manager of Research and Development In this episode of The Techne Connect , we talk with Dan Evans , Former Senior Manager of Research and Development at Alsym Energy , about what it takes to lead battery R&D in a high-stakes, high-growth environment. Dan shares his unconventional path from zeolite synthesis to aqueous battery innovation, and why m...

Behind the Power: Ninni Hed, Senior Manager, Software & Electronics at BorgWarner Inc. In this episode of The Techne Connect , we sit down with Ninni Hed , Chief Engineer at BorgWarner, whose career journey spans mobile tech, IT infrastructure, and now electrification. Ninni shares how she navigated major transitions; from coaching rival tech teams to leading global battery system strategy, al...

Behind the Power: Aamir Iqbal Waidha, Head of Research & Development at theion In this episode of The Techne Connect , we meet Dr. Aamir Iqbal Waidha, Head of R&D at Thion and a passionate material scientist reshaping the future of energy storage. From growing up in India to leading cutting-edge battery innovation in Berlin, Aamir walks us through his academic path in nanotechnology and so...

Behind the Power: Xavier Kohll, CTO & Co-Founder at Circu Li-ion In this episode of The Techne Connect, we speak with Xavier Kohll, CTO and co-founder of Circu Li-ion, whose journey from Swiss research labs to robotic battery dismantling is driving real impact in the clean tech revolution. Xavier shares: 🔬 How soft robotics and academic research led to a real-world startup solution ⚡ Why Eur...

Behind the Power: Tom Maull, Technical Strategy Manager at Elysia Battery Intelligence In this episode of Behind the Power , we sit down with Tom Maull , Technical Strategy Manager at Elysia Battery Intelligence , whose unconventional career path has taken him from US courtrooms to UK racetracks, and everywhere in between. Tom shares: ⚙️ How a career in litigation consulting shaped his systems-thi...

Behind the Wheel: Dan Whittaker, Director of WBE Consulting Ltd. In this episode of The Techne Connect Podcast , we sit down with Dan Whittaker, a seasoned automotive engineer with over 30 years of experience across iconic brands like Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin. Dan shares his journey from aspiring architect to leading electrical and software integration teams in luxury automotive. We...

Behind the Wheel: Paolo Bargiacchi, Director of Electrification at Motion Applied (formerly McLaren Applied) In this episode of The Techne Connect, Paolo Bargiacchi shares his journey through the automotive industry; from his early days at Jaguar Land Rover and Bentley to his current role at Motion (McLaren) Applied. With a passion for electrification and product management, Paolo offers insights...

Behind the Power: Thomas Blazak, Chief Engineer at Proterra In this episode of The Techne Connect, Thomas Blazak, Chief Engineer at Proterra, shares his inspiring journey from childhood curiosity to leading battery development for electric buses. With a deep passion for clean technology, mentorship, and cycling, Thomas offers a compelling look into the future of engineering and the collaborative c...

Had the pleasure of speaking with Niclas Lehnert , co-founder of PULSETRAIN , on the latest episode of the Techne Connect: Behind the Entrepreneur series. We covered: How PulseTrain is extending EV battery life by up to 80%, the powerful combination of hardware + software in battery innovation, the near-bankruptcy moment that almost shut it all down, why mobility is more than just movement - it’s...

We're thrilled to welcome Neeta Khare , Director of Battery & Fuel Cell, to the latest episode of Techne Connect: Behind the Power . With 25+ years of experience across academia, R&D, and industry, Neeta is a true pioneer in battery intelligence long before it became a buzzword. In this conversation, she shares her remarkable journey from India to the US Navy to leading innovation in...

Today we're joined by Tim O’Sullivan, Head of Development at Petalite, a rising force in EV charging.  Tim walks us through his journey from pioneering electric traction systems to leading roles in ADAS, battery innovation and now charging infrastructure.  We explore lessons from Formula 1, the evolution of control systems, and the importance of collaboration and mentorship in engineering.  A...

Today we’re joined by Adam Schulz, Senior Manager of Engineering at Clearway Energy .  Adam shares his journey through his Phd in electrochemical energy storage, to his first job at NEC energy to joining clearway. We dive into his views on the design of experiments and his career advice for anyone entering the industry  A powerful episode for anyone passionate about renewable energy, battery techn...

Today we’re joined by Didier Manning, CTO at Rheinmetall’s Power Systems division.  Didier shares his international journey through automotive engineering, from Bosch and ZF to leading innovation at Rheinmetall.  We dive into his views on authentic leadership, building cultures that foster innovation, and why Europe's future in mobility depends on empowering its engineers.  A powerful episode...

Today we’re joined by Jan Richter, co-founder and CEO of Batemo. A pioneering battery modelling company, rooted in academia and driven by purpose. Jan shares his journey from working as a paramedic in Germany, to studying electrical engineering and completing a PhD in motor control, before co-founding Batemo with his long-time friend, Michael. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of building...

Today we’re joined by Ben Gully, Chief Technologist at SPOC a company applying its deep expertise in power systems to enable next-generation battery and microgrid solutions. Ben shares his journey from academic research to hybrid vehicle controls, battery testing at DNV, a CTO role in lithium-metal tech and now leading innovation at SPOC. We discuss his shift from R&D to strategy, lessons in l...

We’re joined by Vance Strader, former CTO at Live Wire and long-time Harley-Davidson engineering leader, to talk all things electric mobility, leadership and innovation. Vance shares his journey from designing fighter jet components to building Harley’s first electric motorcycle and scaling Live Wire into a standalone EV brand. He reflects on the leadership lessons that shaped him, his passion for...