Christine C. Ho of Imprint Energy
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Christine C. Ho, the co-founder and CEO of Imprint Energy, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of Imprint Energy – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
I started thinking about how to make better batteries back when I was working towards my PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at UC Berkeley. Most batteries, as useful as they are for us in our watches, laptops, and electric vehicles, have well-known problems. Many are not safe, some are not sustainably produced, some can leak, and some can catch fire. If you are a product designer, you have to design around the size and shape of common batteries, and that’s a problem too, as batteries now can take up more than 40% of the size and weight of cellphones and other gadgets.
So I developed a new way to make batteries, using safer ingredients, and I called the chemistry ZincPoly™. A special advantage of this batch of ingredients is that you can “print” batteries, much like how T-shirts, labels, and some electronics (like the touch panels on your clothes washer) are made today. We can thus use regular commercial printing techniques to make batteries that are thin, flexible, safe, in any size/shape, and at very high volume, without a giant and expensive factory.
We envision powering a new generation of products that are no longer constrained by the battery, including flexible smart temperature bandaids for infants, smart drug delivery pens that remind people managing their diabetes to take the correct dose of insulin, or better ways to track packages of vaccines/food to make sure they arrive in good condition. When people talk about the Internet of Things, where you can have always-connected sensors embedded into all kinds of everyday things, then ZincPoly-based batteries are a perfect match.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
I became pregnant with my first child while leading the company. This added a lot of anxiety, as leading a startup is tough enough. I’m humbled by the support and encouragement I got from so many working parents that were willing to tell me their personal stories and share tips.
What does the future hold for Imprint Energy?
A lot of excitement, success and growth, I hope! Imprint is at a really exciting point in our history. We’re moving to major field trials of our batteries in some very cool products, some of which have really important value to society. We’re figuring out how to make huge numbers of batteries and bring down the costs so they can become super-common. I see a future where any product designer can imagine a cool device or application, big or small, and will have the option to choose our battery – a safer, greener, and more flexible power solution.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Alameda?
Alameda is a great place to grow a startup. It’s a beautiful city with great Bay Area views, and there’s a vibrant community of restaurants and shops with genuine and caring owners. Not only is it an easy place to attract talent, the city is extremely supportive of its businesses, and the other startups in Alameda are incredibly friendly and encouraging too.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
There’s no playbook to leading a startup, so reach out and find other entrepreneurs and peers, and surround yourself with them for support, advice, and fun!