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Ever meet someone and stand in awe of their genius?
Well, have we got a show for you!
This week’s episode features Michael Burz, CEO and Co-Founder of Enzinc, a green energy startup developing a revolutionary type of battery based on zinc. While most stories illustrate a slow and steady upward journey toward success, Michael’s story is one mind-blowing achievement after another. Get this: He’s pretty much a rocket scientist. Graduated with a masters in aerospace engineering and before becoming an entrepreneur, he designed cruise missiles, was part of Nissan’s Design Studio in the United States, where he worked on an eco-car for the Tokyo Auto Show and was program manager for Nissan’s all-carbon composite Group C car to race at Le Mans. He led the team that took a racecar from a blank page to the track in record time and under budget.
And that’s not all. Michael Burz is still at it. At present, he’s using his brilliance within the CleanTech industry to revolutionize energy storage through zinc anode batteries. We talked about his present work with Enzinc and the path that led him there, with key insights including:
— How big transitions can sprout from small moments (as he shares the story of how a candid comment made towards him over dinner prompted his return back into designing and creating.)
— The how and why of the evolution of his entrepreneurial endeavor from electric vehicles to batteries (and how entrepreneurs can know when to pivot projects)
— His ideology on building a highly efficient team (hint: invest more in people than technology)
There’s honestly so much to share it feels impossible to condense it all here. But I can tell you this: you will not walk away from this episode the same. So tune in, or miss out!
Michael Burz the early days (3:45)
Start in aerospace engineering (10:23)
The artist engineer (13:43)
Leaving General Dynamics to Work for Nissan (18:02)
The start in clean energy (28:39)
Introduction to Zinc (34:57)
The pivot from electric car to battery (38:50)
Doing storage in a different way (42:31)
Conclusion to the alternative to Lithium (45:38)
The product market fit process (49:30)
Enzinc’s elevator pitch (53:02)
Zinc air (56:54)
Specific energy meaning (58:11)
Funding Enzinc (1:04:47)
Michael Burz meets Deborah Knuckey (1:07:23)
VC roadblocks (1:15:05)
Selecting the Enzinc team (1:20:31)
What would Michael’s Ted Talk be about? (1:29:22)
Life lessons & takeaways (1:34:02)
What’s holding back the clean energy industry (1:35:45)
Thoughts on blockchain technology (1:40:36)
Recommended books (1:45:25)
How Michael structures his day (1:49:47)
Connect with Michael (1:54:02)
Bold prediction (1:55:05)
BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:
“Batteries have been part of our lives and part of company’s critical mission component for decades.”
“Those batteries, sit there very quietly, doing a very, very important mission, they’re mission critical, and therefore it better work 99.999% of the time under all environments.”
“My job is not to make you an engineer because you’re already, I think a good engineer. My job is to make you a great engineer.”
Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!
To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.
ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:
Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.
Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 15-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.
You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.
If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 20 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.