doing either personally or professionally. We’ve been doing this for a few months now and have found that it not only stimulates new ideas that benefit mobius, but it is also a fun way to build team morale. 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM The rest of my day is comprised of a combination between phone calls and deep work. The three biggest challenges we face as entrepreneurs at a renewable energy company are as follows: 1. Science is very slow. We have to wait a long time to see if what we’re doing works. For example, testing the biodegradability of materials in the soil can take up to two years. We conduct lots of tests and it can take a lot of time to collect the data we need. 2. Finding partners for field tests. Once we get these products tested, it can be challenging to find partners who are open to helping us pilot them. Growers face their own set of challenges, and we understand that helping us test out our products in their fields isn’t at the top of their list. We’ve quickly learned that being a part of innovation networks, such as the ones S2G and WG offer, can help us identify those partners so we are thrilled about this collaboration. 3. Changes cannot be made quickly. Because so much science is involved in our technology, the planning stages are much more complex and extensive. If we were building software products or developing an app, we could quickly change the code. Rather, we are dealing with atoms and molecules so the development process is not as fluid as we’d like it to be. With that being said, much of my afternoon phone calls revolve around solving these challenges. I am constantly on the phone with university partners who can help us with R&D and explore methods to help expedite science experiments without compromising the data. I’m calling commercial partners that could be interested in that R&D to hopefully get more pilots in the field. We also collaborate with various stakeholders throughout the supply chain, such as product manufacturers and growers, to learn about their challenges and needs. Most recently, we were able to connect with Kroger who provided us a grant to develop a new technology that can covert cooking waste oil from the food industry into other biodegradable materials and
chemicals. There’s a lot of “deep work” that goes into this project including extensive research and development, as well as engaging in numerous strategy planning sessions and meetings with our team. 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM The early evening is dedicated to catching up with my fiancée, Dr. Mallory Ladd, who now lives in the Washington, D.C metro area after landing a job in Virginia as a research analyst for the Navy. Mallory also has a PhD in Energy Science and Engineering and is a great partner that supports my entrepreneurial ambitions and is one of the best advisors a CEO can have. She gives me great feedback to plan for meetings and pitches, and also helps me make sure I take breaks from work to talk about what else is happening in the world! After our phone call, it’s back to work for me! I’m finishing up my PhD in Energy Science and Engineering (with a focus on polymers, material science and chemistry) so much of my night is filled with research and writing. My plan is to wrap up in the spring or early summer, so I plan to use my new-found extra time to focus on building out three areas for mobius: 1. Creating biodegradable containers. We’re hoping to perfect our current technology so we can offer
biodegradable seed trays and growing propagation containers to the agriculture, horticulture and forestry industries. 2. Replacing plastic mulch film. We’re looking for manufacturing partners to see if they can use our materials to make sustainable plastic mulch films. Currently, farmers use plastic film made from polyethylene—which does not have the ability to till into the ground after use. We want to create a product that can be biodegradable in the soil AND have the same effect (if not better) on the growth rate of the crop. 3. Inventing biodegradable seed and fertilizer coatings. The current coating on seeds uses a polymer that does not biodegrade, and therefore, accumulates into the soil. We want to develop technology that creates a better and more sustainable coatings. As a scientist, engineer and entrepreneur, my days are long but incredibly rewarding. The challenges that we face in the field are not just obstacles, but they are opportunities. Having the ability to be an entrepreneur is a privilege, and I’m excited to start this journey in such an honorable industry such as agriculture.
AgSharks 2019 CompetitionWinner mobius pbc and AgShark Judges
44 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020
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