Austin Innovator - Joe Pinkerton
The Magnetic Pull of Innovation
When I asked my friend Tito Beveridge to name the innovators in Austin he admires the most, he responded without hesitation, Joe Pinkerton. Joe is the founder and CEO of Brane Audio and Clean Energy Labs, and the original founder and CEO of Active Power. Thanks to Tito’s introduction, I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Joe at the Headliners Club in Austin for our Austin Innovators program. Joe's journey from a physics student fascinated by magnets to a serial entrepreneur with over 100 patents offers valuable insights into the intersection of innovation, business leadership, and the unique ecosystem that makes Austin a hub for technological advancement.
The Seeds of Innovation
Joe Pinkerton's story begins with a childhood allure that many of us can relate to – the mysterious force of magnets: "Magnets are fun. And for me, magnets were really fun. Too fun, weirdly fun." This early interest, combined with inspiration from inventors like Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, set the stage for a lifelong pursuit of innovation.
Joe's early academic career took him from Albion College to Columbia University, where he studied physics. This scientific foundation would prove crucial in his future endeavors. In 1991, shortly after getting married and moving to Austin (a six-month stay that has now lasted 33 years), Joe filed his first patent for an air core generator.
Joe’s transition from scientist to entrepreneur began with the founding of his first company, originally called Magnetic Bearing Technologies and later renamed Active Power, which grew out of a collaboration with the University of Texas. Active Power would eventually go public in 2000 as a pioneering manufacturer of flywheel-based uninterruptible power supply systems that provided a battery-free alternative for data centers and industrial applications. Today, Active Power operates as a subsidiary of Piller Power Systems, continuing to produce flywheel-based UPS systems that have delivered more than 1 gigawatt of critical backup power to customers in over 50 countries.
The Double-Edged Sword of Venture Capital
One of the most intriguing aspects of Joe's experience has been with venture capital funding. The early days of Active Power saw a series of successful funding rounds, with increasing valuations that seemed to validate the company's potential. However, the post-IPO reality brought new challenges: "The moment I remember is when I made what I thought was a good decision... And the board is like, yeah, no, and it was the right decision. Then I got overruled, and then I was on the hook for that bad decision." This experience left a lasting impression, influencing his approach to future ventures.
The contrast between Joe's experience with Active Power and his current ventures, Clean Energy Labs and Brane Audio, is stark. For these newer companies, he chose a different path: "I worked for free for over 10 years and invested millions for the right to control it." This trade-off – slower growth for greater control – highlights a crucial decision that many entrepreneurs face.
However, maintaining control comes with its own set of challenges. By opting for a slower growth trajectory, Joe's companies may face hurdles in terms of market penetration and scaling up. The ability to attract top talent and compete with well-funded rivals could also be impacted. Nonetheless, Joe's commitment to his vision and willingness to make personal sacrifices demonstrate the depth of his conviction in his innovations.
Revolutionizing Audio with the Repel-Attract Driver
Joe's innovative spirit led him from the world of energy to the realm of audio technology. His work with Clean Energy Labs focused on graphene, an extraordinary material which is a single atomic layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Discovered in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at the University of Manchester, graphene earned its inventors the Nobel Prize in Physics for isolating this remarkable substance. When Joe Pinkerton began exploring graphene at the University of Texas nanotech lab in 2007, he was captivated by its extraordinary properties: it's the thinnest known material, incredibly strong, and boasts exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity.
At Clean Energy Labs, Joe initially sought to leverage graphene's potential for creating ultra-efficient energy switches, with graphene being 1000 times more electrically conductive than silicon. While his original energy conversion research didn't yield a commercial breakthrough, it led to an unexpected discovery - graphene membranes could efficiently produce sound. This finding ultimately became the foundation for Brane Audio's Repel-Attract Driver (RAD) technology, a potential game-changer in the world of portable audio.
Traditional speakers face limitations in producing deep, powerful bass due to the air pressure changes within the speaker enclosure. Brane Audio's solution involves using a combination of moving and stationary magnets to create a force that counteracts this air pressure by negating the impact of the "air spring" effect. RAD allows for the use of a larger woofer in a compact enclosure, resulting in an unprecedented level of bass performance for a portable speaker.
Brane X, the company's flagship product, boasts an impressive array of drivers: two 0.75-inch tweeters, two 2-inch mid-range drivers, and a 6.5 by 9-inch woofer. This unique configuration, powered by the RAD technology, enables the Brane X to deliver a staggering 10X increase in sub-bass compared to other speakers in its size class. The result is a portable speaker that can produce the kind of deep, immersive sound typically associated with much larger systems.
Moving from concept to commercial product was not without its challenges. Joe described the process of realizing the product as "three years of manufacturing hell," as the team navigated the complexities of bringing an entirely new technology to market. Despite these hurdles, Brane X has garnered significant acclaim, with the New York Times naming it the number one product at CES 2023. Just last week Time named Brane X one of “The Best Inventions of 2024.”
The Potential of Graphene
While Brane Audio has been making waves in the consumer audio market, Joe's work with Clean Energy Labs continues to push the boundaries of energy technology. Graphene's unique characteristics – including its high electrical and thermal conductivity, strength, and flexibility – make it a promising material for a wide range of energy applications. Joe and his team at Clean Energy Labs are investigating the potential of graphene-based devices for energy storage, solar cells, thermoelectricity, and fuel cells.
One particularly exciting avenue of research involves the development of a graphene-based switch for highly efficient energy conversion. While this project is still in the early stages, Joe believes that, if successful, it could have a significant impact on global energy challenges. The ability to convert waste heat or ambient temperature differences into usable electricity could revolutionize the way we think about energy generation and consumption.
Joe's ongoing work with graphene underscores his commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible. By exploring the potential of this wonder material, he and his team at Clean Energy Labs are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and efficient energy future.
Leadership and Team Building
Joe's approach to leadership and team building offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. When I asked about his leadership style, he described it as "lacking," but his ability to retain key team members across multiple ventures suggests otherwise. His emphasis on intellectual respect and creative problem-solving has fostered a highly effective, albeit unconventional, management style. With his teams he offers "very little management…I work hard and they respect me intellectually and creatively." This approach has allowed Joe to build a small, highly skilled team that operates with minimal oversight. It's a testament to the power of shared vision and mutual respect in driving innovation and business success.
Austin: A Crucible for Innovation
Austin's unique ecosystem has positively influenced Joe's innovations. He contrasted the supportive environment of Austin with other regions, noting, "In Detroit, you say, hey, I want to found this company that makes this super-efficient generator. And they're like, never work, yeah, you know, just don't do that. And you come to Austin, people are like, that sounds like a great idea, yeah, you know, can I invest, can I work with you?". This supportive atmosphere, combined with the city's energy and diversity of activities, has created fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. It's a reminder of the importance of ecosystem in fostering technological advancement and business success.
The Ongoing Journey of Innovation
Joe Pinkerton's story is more than just a tale of entrepreneurial success. It's a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, and adaptability in the face of technological and business challenges. From his early fascination with magnets to his current work on cutting-edge audio technology and potential breakthroughs in energy conversion, Joe embodies the spirit of continuous innovation.
As we navigate our complex technological landscape, Joe's insights remind us that at the heart of every groundbreaking technology is a person driven by curiosity and a desire to solve problems. The story of Joe and Brane Audio serves as an inspiring example of how passion, persistence, and the supportive Austin ecosystem can come together to create truly innovative solutions. As we look to the future, it's clear that the magnetic pull of innovation will continue to shape our world in exciting and unexpected ways.
