Bara Cola, founder and CEO of Carbice, is the definition of a rock star scientist. Ph.D Professor. Inventor. Recognized by two US Presidents as a top National Scientist. So what does he do with all that horsepower? He runs a startup that cools things down.
In our podcast, Bara outlines the truly groundbreaking nature of the innovation developed at Carbice. As he points out, we are surrounded by a global infrastructure – from power plants and satellites to your Amazon Echo – that is powered by electronics. These chips, circuits, and devices all generate heat. If they kick out too much heat, well, then they shut down or at least slow down. Carbice’s magic material manages the heat better – so full performance can be realized.
The ubiquity of deivces all over the world means almost unlimited application for Carbice’s secret sauce techology. True to the massive scale of this opportunity, Bara makes the case that everything from Arab Spring to high end gaming is made possible by better thermal management.
Really!? Listen in to hear how and why.
Bara and Dan talked about the Carbice journey, and:
- fundraising via a neighborhood stroll
- the sometimes decades it can take to achieve real science
- Bara’s love for yellow
- Obama vs Trump: how each uniquely recognized Bara as top Scientist under 35 in US
- the ATL startup ecosystem – better than Silicon Valley?
Notable Carbice Interview Highlights
- (02:42) EVERYTHING that generates heat must regulate it
- (06:14) Carbice has invented the first new cooling material class in 100 years!
- (12:58) Bara connects thermal management to the Arab Spring
- (14:56) Bara talks Carbice’s current traction
- (19:44) Homebase: the choice between Atlanta and Silicon Valley
- (21:22) Closing a lead investor on a Sunday afternoon walk around the neighborhood
- (26:00) Growing up in Pensacola, Florida…AKA “lower Alabama”
- (31:28) Early entrepreneurial aspirations
- (32:35) Meeting President Obama at the White House
- (37:44) What Bara considers the most important skill
- (40:41) Bara gives advice to his 22-year-old self
- (42:31) Important mentors
- (44:02) props to TechSquare Labs – Paul Judge and Allen Nance
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