Early Life and Education
Jeffrey Brian Straubel was born on December 20, 1975, in Des Moines, Iowa. From a young age, Straubel showed a strong interest in engineering and sustainability. He pursued this passion at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in energy systems engineering and a Master of Science in energy engineering. During his time at Stanford, he designed his own major and participated in the university's solar car team. Straubel also rebuilt a Porsche 944 into an electric vehicle, which earned a world EV racing record in 2000.
Rise to Success
Straubel joined Tesla as its fifth employee in 2004 and is considered a co-founder. He served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) from 2005 to 2019, leading the design of battery cells, supply chain management, and the concept and production ramp of the Model 3. Straubel was instrumental in Tesla's growth, overseeing research and development, team building, and operational expansion. He left the C-suite in 2019 but remains on the board. In 2023, he was elected to the Tesla Board of Directors.
Key Business Strategies
In 2017, Straubel founded Redwood Materials, Inc., a battery recycling and materials company. Redwood Materials aims to create a closed-loop system for lithium-ion batteries, recycling them and creating new materials. This strategy addresses the environmental impact of battery waste and the supply chain challenges for critical battery materials. Redwood Materials has raised significant funding, including investments from T. Rowe Price Associates, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and the U.S. Department of Energy. The company plans to produce enough cathode active material to build over 1.3 million EVs a year by 2028.
Philanthropy
In 2015, Straubel and his wife, Boryana Dineva, co-founded the Straubel Foundation, which focuses on environmental sustainability and education.
