Thought Papers

Nuclear Fusion

While nuclear fission (what we refer to as nuclear power today) is a carbon-free source of baseload power that is well established, there are several reasons that fusion would be even better. The fuel used by nuclear fission plants, Uranium-235, can be enriched to make bombs, leading to nuclear weapons proliferation concerns. Traditional nuclear plants also generate some radioactive waste, and there is the low probability of an accident leading to release.

Webinar

Founder Panel – Breakthrough Science Conference

Speakers: Blake Scholl | Founder & CEO at Boom Supersonic, Greg Wyler | Founder & Chairman at OneWeb, Maureen Hillenmeyer | Founder & CEO at Hexagon Bio, and Bill Gross | Founder & CEO at Heliogen, Founder & Chairman at Idealab Studio

Webinar

Investor Panel – Breakthrough Science Conference

Speakers: Shaun Maguire | Partner at Sequoia Capital, Maryanna Saenko | Co-founder & Partner at Future Ventures, Eric Migicovsky | Partner at Y Combinator, Founder at Pebble Technology, and Ian Rountree | Founder & General Partner at Cantos Ventures

Webinar

Peter Diamandis Keynote – Breakthrough Science Conference

Keynote Speaker: Peter Diamandis | Founder & Executive Chairman at XPRIZE, Co-founder & Executive Chairman at Singularity University, and Co-founder & Vice Chairman at COVAXX

Webinar

Cell-Based Meat Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in cell-based meat. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Anton Brevde and Caleb Bell, and features Brian Spears, Niya Gupta, and Ryan Bethencourt.

Webinar

Large-Scale Energy Storage Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in large-scale energy storage. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Anton Brevde and Dan Slomski, and features Stephen Harper, economist and the 22nd prime minister of Canada, Ramez Naam, award winning author and professor and co-chair for Energy and Environment at Singularity University, and Rob Piconi, co-founder and CEO of Energy Vault.

Thought Papers

Automation of Essential Services

In this overview, we discussed why we need more fully automated systems to make our supply chains more robust in the face of labor disruptions; and we outlined some of the concepts that will be helpful for exploring automation across various sectors; the present and future role of automation in our labs and hospitals, along with some insights I have gained from working in this field as a systems engineer and hardware designer.

Webinar

Longevity Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in human longevity. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Brandon Simmons and Carly Anderson, and features the following founders and industry experts: Mark Allen, co-founder and CEO of Elevian, David Sinclair, Professor in the Department of Genetics and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School, and Aubrey de Grey, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of the SENS Research Foundation.

Webinar

Precision Agriculture Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in precision agriculture. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Suzanne Fletcher and Dan Slomski, and features the following founders and industry experts: Michael Norcia, CEO and co-founder of Pyka, Shely Aronov, CEO and co-founder of InnerPlant, and Kyle Cobb, CFO and co-founder of advanced.farm.

Thought Papers

Agricultural Automation and Food Processing

The advent of agriculture in ancient times may have been the fundamental enabler for all known civilizations to flourish. And ready access to food remains a cornerstone to society even today. We all need to eat, and there are more of us every day. Advances in farming technology have been enabling increased crop yields since time immemorial; and nowhere is this more visible than in the last hundred years with the widespread adoption and expansion of agricultural automation.

Webinar

Portable Battery Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in the portable battery industry. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Anton Brevde and Dan Slomski. Panelists include Richard Wang, Founder and CEO of Cuberg, James Kaschmitter, Founder and CEO of SpectraPower, and Christine Ho, Founder and CEO of Imprint Energy.

Webinar

Fusion Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in nuclear fusion. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Dakin Sloss and Carly Anderson. Panelists include Michael Delage, CTO at General Fusion, Malcolm Handley, Former Managing Partner at Strong Atomics, Mary Woollen, Energy and Risk Management Consultant, and Bob Mumgaard, CEO at Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

Webinar

Space Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in the space industry. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Anton Brevde and Dan Slomski. Panelists include Col. Chris Hadfield, Former Astronaut & Commander of the ISS, Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Momentus, and Bulent Altan, CEO of Mynaric and Former VP of Avionics at SpaceX.

Thought Papers

Graphene and Carbon NanoTubes

In this overview, we introduce graphene and other advanced forms of carbon, describing what is amazing about this material and also what is holding it back in the marketplace. We also discuss how graphene is made today, and the companies that are incorporating it into the products of tomorrow.

Blog

Founders Are Our Customers: How We Serve Prime Movers

Although most investors tout a founder-friendly approach, few follow through on this lofty ambition. This post explains how we at Prime Movers Lab partner with Prime Movers, the creators of breakthrough scientific inventions, to commercialize their technologies and transform billions of lives. Most importantly, we view and treat the founders of our current and potential portfolio companies as customers.

Blog

Breakthrough Scientific Startups: Energy, Transportation, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Human Augmentation, and Computing

In part one of this piece, we introduced the notion of a breakthrough scientific startup and why now is the time to invest. Below is an overview of the most promising areas (transportation, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, human augmentation, and computing) to find breakthrough scientific startups and some theses we at Prime Movers Lab anticipate driving value creation in the coming years of inventing the future.

Thought Papers

Carbon Capture

In this overview, we discuss the conditions that would make carbon capture economically attractive, the status and cost of carbon capture technologies today, and how they are likely to progress. Irrespective of one’s political views, there is likely a substantial investment opportunity in the area of carbon capture.

Webinar

Microbiome Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in the microbiome industry. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Carly Anderson and Gabrielle Sloss. The webinar will feature the following founders and industry experts: Jason Green, CEO and co-founder of Upward Farms, Dan Tomso, Chief Business Officer at AgBiome, and Stephane Culler, CEO and co-founder of Persephone Biosciences.

Webinar

Carbon Capture Webinar

Learn about the top trends and technologies in the carbon capture industry. Hosted by Prime Movers Lab partners Suzanne Fletcher and Carly Anderson. Panelists include: Bill Gross, Founder of Idealab and portfolio companies Heliogen, Carbon Capture, and Flowing Energy, Professor Volker Sick: Director at Global CO₂ Initiative, and Matt Lucas, Managing Director of BD at New Energy Risk.

Thought Papers

Lithium Batteries

There is an ever-growing need for portable energy storage solutions ranging from cell-phone batteries to electric vehicle batteries, and from microbatteries for tiny disposable sensors to lightweight powerpacks for flying cars. This is an overview of the current state of the lithium battery industry. We explore the future of portable battery technology, and how to evaluate new battery technologies for applications ranging from electric aviation, autonomous vehicles, medical implants, to portable electronics.

Blog

Breakthrough Scientific Startups: Inventing the Future

Software has already eaten the world. Now, the opportunity to invent the future is in the hands of breakthrough scientific startups that are commercializing inventions that can transform billions of lives.