Josef Rokusek

Spotlight on the one and only Josef Rokusek – the dude’s the real deal in the startup world. He’s a YC S23 alum, which means he crushed it in one of the most competitive accelerators out there. But what really sets him apart is what he’s building with HyLight. This guy is all-in on the future of clean tech, especially hydrogen-powered drones, and he’s making waves with some wild tech.

So here’s the scoop – Josef’s got a solid background in mechanical engineering from INSA Lyon, plus he studied renewable energies in Canada at UQAR. Basically, he’s been nerding out on how to make stuff that’s both super fast and good for the planet. That blend of hardware smarts and green tech passion? That’s what led him to co-found HyLight in 2022, right in Paris.

HyLight’s mission is nuts – they’re building unmanned airships powered by hydrogen, used for inspecting massive infrastructure. Think bridges, pipelines, power lines – stuff that’s huge and hard to check. Instead of sending humans or using traditional drones that burn a ton of fuel, Josef’s tech flies over everything quietly and efficiently, collecting data over big distances without pumping out greenhouse gases. That’s some advanced stuff.

And get this – they secured €3.7M in funding from big players like Y Combinator, UC Berkeley SkyDeck, and some top venture funds. That’s no small feat. It just proves that Josef’s vision hits home, that people see the possible in what he’s building. Basically, he’s not just tinkering – he’s solving real-world problems with tech that’s sustainable and original.

What does this say about him? It’s pretty clear – Josef’s driven by a genuine desire to make a difference. He’s all about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in clean tech and aerospace. He’s not just in it for the startup fame – he genuinely cares about reducing emissions and making infrastructure inspections safer and smarter. His process shows he’s a builder, a thinker, a guy who sees the big picture and isn’t afraid to jump into the deep end to make it happen.

Long story short, Josef Rokusek is a tech innovator who’s combining his engineering chops and green energy passion to build the future. He’s not just chasing the future trend – he’s creating it. And honestly, if you ask me, he’s one of those guys who’s gonna change how we think about transportation and infrastructure forever. No cap.