Shiva Adireddy

Time to stan Shiva Adireddy. This guy is the real deal in the tech and energy world. He’s a YC alum from S17, so he’s been crushing it in startups for a minute now. But what really sets him apart is his background and how he’s been on a mission to change the game with batteries.

Shiva’s a straight-up science nerd turned entrepreneur. He’s got a Ph.D. in Nanomaterials Design and Fabrication from the University of New Orleans, dude’s been deep in the lab designing crazy advanced materials for over 15 years. He’s published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers and holds at least 10 US patents. That’s not some hobbyist, that’s someone who really understands the science behind energy storage. Plus, he’s been a Research Assistant Professor at Tulane, involved with their Advanced Materials Research Institute, so he’s been in the trenches of research and innovation.

But he didn’t stop there. He also grabbed an MBA from Tulane’s Freeman School of Business, smart move, showing he’s serious about turning science into real products that can make an impact. His process screams passion for pushing tech boundaries but also understanding what it takes to commercialize that tech. That’s why he jumped into Y Combinator’s Summer 2017 batch with Advano, a battery tech company he co-founded to make batteries better, more energy-dense, longer-lasting, and ready to support the clean energy transition. Under his leadership, Advano has raised over $42.5 million and signed deals with big players in EV and consumer electronics. The guy’s not just talking; he’s out here making moves.

And he’s more than just about his company. Shiva’s a member of the Forbes Technology Council, which says a lot about his influence and how he’s viewed in the tech space. He’s mentored startups, helped with tech commercialization, his whole vibe is about pushing innovation forward and guiding others along the way.

Bottom line: Shiva’s a perfect mix of scientist, entrepreneur, and leader. He’s someone who saw a problem, battery tech limitations, and dedicated his life to solving it. His story is about turning hardcore research into something that can actually change the world, especially in clean energy. No Cap, this dude’s got the brains, the hustle, and the vision to really shake things up.