About us
Similar to an accelerator/incubator, but with internally developed ideas, we nurture projects through the initial R&D phase, to forming internal entities, and eventually fundraising and spinning out into independently operating companies.
Over the past 10 years, we’ve raised over $70M in research and design contracts, amassed $100M in follow-on capital and spun-out 12 companies.
Currently, we help government agencies and Fortune 500 companies understand energy infrastructure and build transformational technologies that bring us closer to 100% decarbonization.
careers
Otherlab is a group of inventors, engineers, scientists, and businesspeople striving to impact the energy, robotics, manufacturing, and education sectors. Our research lab is a place where ideas are seeded, grow, and develop into startups. We are always looking for talented and passionate people to join our team.
Team
Saul Griffith
Founder, Chief Scientist
James McBride
Co-founder, CTO
Diana Mitchell
VP of Finance and Operations
Adrien Benusiglio
Principal Research Scientist
Ashley Haylett
Operations Manager
Jake Lacore
Shop Manager
Patti Lord
Director of Marketing
Pete Lynn
Disruptive Technology Engineer
Keith Pasko
Software and Design Lead
Brenton Piercy
Lead Design Engineer
HANS VON CLEMM
Mechanical Engineer
Skyscrape team
Brent Ridley
CEO and Founder
Leah Bryson
Advanced Materials Designer
Breeze Automation team
Gui Cavalcanti
CEO and Co-founder
Karen Robinson
COO and Co-founder
Kimly Do
Mechanical Engineer
Timothy Duggan
Software and Controls Engineer
Dan Pederson
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Levi Rupert
Senior Controls Engineer
current projects
Focused on energy, automation, and robotics in service of decarbonization.
Floating Offshore Wind Power
With funding support from ARPA-e ATLANTIS Program, Otherlab is developing new architecture for wind systems based on compliant materials, energy-generating structural surfaces, and advanced control systems that overcome the need for stiff, expensive materials by actively controlling how the system interacts with the environment.
Isothermal Compressor
Isothermal compression saves 40% - 50% of energy compared to standard adiabatic compression. We’re applying Otherlab IP on polymer membrane heat exchangers and compliant polymer bladders to transform existing isothermal compression toward greater efficiency. The resulting innovation is focused on the $25bn global industrial compressor market and an improved efficiency target of 5%.
Ocean Farming hydrofoil
With funding support from ARPA-e’s MARINER program, Otherlab is working with Trophic and UNH to develop a modular, immensely scalable kelp farm that self-fertilizes by using currents and waves to create an upwelling of nutrient-rich seawater from the ocean’s depths.
Passive Thermo-Adaptive Textiles
Developing thermally adaptive fabrics that literally change thickness and insulation value in response to temperature change, allowing the creation of garments that passively respond to variations in temperature. The material change is a physical response, with no wires or sensors and no input from the wearer or any control system. Adaptive garments will enable the wearing of fewer layers of clothing for comfort over a broader temperature range, effectively lowering the heating and cooling requirements for buildings. Project website: http://materialcomforts.com/
Fluidic Robotics
Creating inexpensive, mass-manufacturable robots made of textiles and plastic instead of metal. Using inflatable actuators and non-contact sensors to create smooth, sensitive motion with no moving seals. Utilizing fluid pressure to create the lightest, highest power-to-weight actuation available. Funding support from the US NAVY and NASA.
Infectious disease isolation units
Creating rapidly configurable and deployable emergency isolation units with past funding from The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation grant and current funding from Center for Disease Control and National Science Foundation and in partnership with University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Residential Thermal Storage
Decarbonizing residential heat with grid scale storage.
Spinoff Companies
Past Projects
Welding Robots
Internal Project
Telecopter
Partner: Industry
Sankey diagram of us energy use
Project partners
Nasa
University of California, Berkeley
General Electric
EXELON
US Department of Energy
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Stanford University
Yamaha MOtor Company
United States Navy
Ford Motor Company
CONTACT
General Inquiries info@otherlab.com
Press & Speaking Inquiries press@otherlab.com
Business & Investment Inquiries partner@otherlab.com
Tours
Workshop tours are offered on the first Tuesday of each month, are limited to 10 guests and require an RSVP.
Learn more about the tour, see available tour dates and secure your spot today.
We live in the old Schoenstein Organ Factory building in the heart of San Francisco's Mission district.