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Episode 16: Spinning Out of Google X with Ramya Swaminathan


Episode 16: Spinning Out of Google X with Ramya Swaminathan


Episode 16: Spinning Out of Google X with Ramya Swaminathan

Ramya Swaminathan led Malta Inc. as founding CEO after spinning the company out of Alphabet's Moonshot Factory, raising $120M+ to commercialize grid-scale thermal energy storage. She shares 30+ years of lessons on pivots, hard tech commercialization, and the transformative moment facing the electricity grid.

Highlights

- Pivot Sooner - Why founders resist change even when they know it's necessary
- Beyond the Technology - What actually determines whether good tech gets commercialized
- Grid at an Inflection Point - The twin crisis of reliability and affordability creating opportunity
- Non-Traditional Advantage - How anthropology shaped 30+ years of infrastructure leadership

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What is EIR Live?

What is EIR Live?

What is EIR Live?

EIR Live is a groundbreaking podcast that showcases the diverse journeys of Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) from various sectors. Hosted by industry veterans Terrance Orr and Ilya Tabakh, the podcast aims to provide valuable insights into the entrepreneurial world, featuring real stories, challenges, and successes of leading innovators.

EIR Live is a groundbreaking podcast that showcases the diverse journeys of Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) from various sectors. Hosted by industry veterans Terrance Orr and Ilya Tabakh, the podcast aims to provide valuable insights into the entrepreneurial world, featuring real stories, challenges, and successes of leading innovators.

EIR Live is a groundbreaking podcast that showcases the diverse journeys of Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) from various sectors. Hosted by industry veterans Terrance Orr and Ilya Tabakh, the podcast aims to provide valuable insights into the entrepreneurial world, featuring real stories, challenges, and successes of leading innovators.

Meet Your Hosts

Terrance Orr

A dynamic startup coach and advisor with a passion for mentoring, Terrance has played key roles in various venture firms,

accelerators, and as an EIR at SAP.iO. His experience spans from intrapreneurial ventures at Dell Technologies to being a venture partner, showcasing his broad expertise in driving entrepreneurial success.

Ilya Tabakh

A visionary at the convergence of computing, energy, and innovation, he translates AI's exponential ambitions into real physical infrastructure constraints, most recently as VP of Innovation at TensorWave. With five ventures, 5+ years as EIR at Black & Veatch, and two podcasts, Ilya brings clarity to the infrastructure and innovation challenges defining AI's future.

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