Adam Grant
Wharton Organizational Psychologist | #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Think Again & Hidden Potential | Top TED Speaker | Host of Re:Thinking
JB Straubel
Co-Founder & Former CTO of Tesla | Founder & CEO of Redwood Materials | Tesla Board Director | Battery, Clean Energy & Innovation Pioneer
Few people have done more to make electric transportation and clean energy a reality than JB Straubel. As Tesla's co-founder and former CTO, he engineered the batteries and built the first Gigafactory behind its rise. Today, as founder and CEO of Redwood Materials, he is building the circular battery supply chain and the large-scale storage powering the AI era. Audiences gain a rare view of how breakthrough technology scales, and how to keep innovating.
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JB Straubel biography
Innovation speaker JB Straubel is one of the most influential engineers and entrepreneurs in clean energy, best known as a co-founder and the former Chief Technology Officer of Tesla and as the founder and CEO of Redwood Materials. Across two decades, he has helped build the technologies and supply chains behind the global shift to electric transportation and renewable energy.
Straubel joined Tesla as its fifth employee in 2004 and served as CTO until 2019. He led battery cell design, powertrain engineering, and supply chain strategy, and conceived the original Gigafactory model that scaled production of the Roadster, Model S, and Model 3. That work made him one of the principal architects of Tesla’s rise from a Silicon Valley startup to the world’s most valuable automaker. Earlier, he co-founded the aerospace firm Volacom, where he co-invented a hybrid-electric propulsion concept later licensed to Boeing. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in energy engineering from Stanford University and was elected to Tesla’s board of directors in 2023.
Redwood Materials and the Circular Battery Economy
In 2017 Straubel founded Redwood Materials, now North America’s leading battery recycling and materials company, which processes roughly 90% of the lithium-ion batteries recycled on the continent and has raised more than $2 billion to build a closed-loop domestic supply chain. Through its Redwood Energy division, the company repurposes second-life EV batteries into large-scale storage, building the largest microgrid in North America to power AI data centers with partners such as Crusoe, and expanding into grid storage alongside GM and Rivian.
As a speaker, JB Straubel offers senior audiences a rare, first-hand view of how breakthrough technologies move from prototype to global scale. He speaks with clarity and conviction on innovation culture, sustainable energy, the future of transportation, and the circular economy, helping leaders understand where the energy transition is heading and how to build organizations that keep innovating faster than their competitors.
JB Straubel Speaking Videos
JB Straubel interviewed by Daniel Yergin
JB Straubel at 2016 WEEC Opening Session
JB Straubel Keynote Topics
Drawing on his work founding Redwood Materials and scaling Tesla, JB Straubel shows why closing the loop on materials, especially batteries, is one of the defining business and engineering challenges of our time. He explores how circular supply chains create value rather than cost, and how organizations can turn sustainability from an obligation into a genuine competitive advantage. Audiences leave with a clear, grounded picture of where the clean-energy economy is heading.
What does it take to keep innovating faster than the competition, year after year? As the engineer behind many of Tesla's biggest breakthroughs, JB Straubel reveals the mindset, team-building principles, and decision-making habits that let an organization disrupt entire industries. He offers practical lessons leaders can apply to build cultures where ambitious ideas move quickly from concept to reality.
JB Straubel takes audiences inside the origins of Tesla, from his first meeting with Elon Musk in 2003 to the company's improbable rise to global dominance. In a keynote or moderated fireside chat, he shares candid lessons on entrepreneurship, risk, perseverance, and what it truly takes to turn a bold vision into an industry-defining company.
Energy demand is surging as AI, electrification, and data centers reshape the grid. JB Straubel explains how advances in battery technology and second-life energy storage, including the record-setting microgrids Redwood is building to power AI infrastructure, are transforming how the world generates, stores, and uses power. A forward-looking session on the technologies that will define the next era of energy.
This talk delves into the cutting-edge realm of energy technologies with JB Straubel, former CTO and co-founder of Tesla. As an expert and pioneer in the field, Straubel navigates the intricate complexities of modern energy storage systems, particularly focusing on the role of batteries. Through his lens, explore how advancements in this sector are revolutionizing our energy landscape and driving us towards a sustainable future. With insights drawn from his work at Tesla and Redwood Materials, this talk offers a compelling and comprehensive look at the future of energy, marked by efficiency, sustainability, and innovation.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking JB Straubel
Why JB Straubel?
Booking JB Straubel gives your audience direct access to one of the people who actually built the modern electric-vehicle and clean-energy industries. As Tesla's co-founder and former CTO, he turned battery and powertrain breakthroughs into mass-market reality, and as founder and CEO of Redwood Materials he is now creating the circular battery supply chain and the large-scale storage that will power the AI era. He pairs deep engineering credibility with a clear, inspiring vision for sustainability and innovation, making him an ideal keynote choice for events focused on technology, energy, the future of transportation, and building cultures that innovate relentlessly. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you bring JB Straubel to your next event.
Is JB Straubel a co-founder of Tesla?
Yes. JB Straubel is recognized as one of Tesla's co-founders and joined the company as its fifth employee in 2004. He served as Chief Technology Officer until 2019, leading battery cell design, powertrain engineering, and the original Gigafactory concept, and he was elected to Tesla's board of directors in 2023.
What is Redwood Materials and what does JB Straubel do there?
JB Straubel founded Redwood Materials in 2017 and serves as its CEO. The Nevada-based company is North America's leading battery recycler, recovering lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other materials from used batteries to build a closed-loop, domestic battery supply chain. Its Redwood Energy division repurposes second-life EV batteries into large-scale energy storage, including the largest microgrid in North America, which supplies power to AI data centers.
What topics does JB Straubel cover in his keynotes?
JB Straubel speaks on sustainable energy, battery technology and storage, the circular economy, the future of transportation, and how to build and sustain a culture of innovation. Drawing on his experience scaling Tesla and Redwood Materials, he tailors talks for corporate leadership events, technology and energy conferences, and innovation summits. To check his availability and book him, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book JB Straubel as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book JB Straubel as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about JB Straubel's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for JB Straubel or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is JB Straubel speaking fee?
JB Straubel speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire JB Straubel to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book JB Straubel.
How can I contact JB Straubel?
We only work with JB Straubel on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking JB Straubel and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having JB Straubel speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact JB Straubel for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book JB Straubel for a virtual keynote?
Yes, JB Straubel is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book JB Straubel for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
