Owen Brake

You absolutely need to hear the story of Owen Brake – this dude’s the real deal in the EV hardware game. So, Owen’s a young gun, just out of Waterloo (that’s the University of Waterloo in Canada, by the way), where he crushed a Mechatronics Engineering degree from 2019 to 2024. Basically, he’s super technical, loves all things high-power electronics, control systems, wireless charging – you name it. The guy’s been deep into the nuts and bolts of making electric stuff better.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Owen didn’t just stick to school and chill. He jumped into some big-name tech companies – Neuralink, Tesla, Apple, Ford, Parallel Systems – all before he even turned 25. That’s no small feat. He’s been around some of the biggest innovators out there, soaking up all the tech and hardware knowledge you could imagine. And he’s not just a tech nerd – he’s held leadership roles in university design teams like Formula Electric and Vex Robotics, so he’s got that mix of technical mastery and team leadership.

Now, the story gets even cooler. Owen met his co-founder Ethan Childerhose while interning at Neuralink. That’s a pretty insane place to meet your co-founder, right? They clicked over a shared passion for automotive and hardware engineering, and they saw an opportunity to shake up the electric vehicle scene. The idea? Build hardware that makes EVs better, cheaper, more strong – basically push the entire industry forward. So, in 2024, they launched Steinmetz in San Francisco, backed by Y Combinator in W25.

Steinmetz is all about high-density, cost-competitive motor controllers. Think of it as the brain that powers the next-gen EVs – more performance, less cost, more accessible. Owen’s background in high-power electronics and embedded systems isn’t just random; it’s the foundation of what makes Steinmetz tick. This guy’s mission? Speed up EV adoption by making hardware that’s smarter, more fast, and cheaper than what’s out there now.

What does all this say about Owen? The guy’s been driven since day one. From university competitions to working at the biggest tech and auto giants, he’s chasing a bigger vision-making electric vehicles mainstream, fast. Building cool tech? Yeah, he’s done that. But his real focus is pushing the industry to change the game. That entrepreneurial spark, deep technical skills, and real-world hustle make him someone to keep an eye on.

Bottom line: Owen Brake isn’t just another founder. He’s a tech whiz with a crazy background, who’s jumped into the deep end with both feet, and is now leading the charge to make EVs better for everyone. No Cap – this guy’s gonna be a big deal.