{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"EIR Live","title":"Episode 16 - Spinning Out of Google X with Ramya Swaminathan","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/7cd9e3e8\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":5101,"description":"Ramya Swaminathan brings 30+ years of electricity infrastructure experience to this conversation about spinning companies out of corporate environments, navigating strategic pivots, and the transformative moment facing the energy grid. From growing up with unreliable infrastructure in India and the Philippines to leading Malta Inc. out of Alphabet's Moonshot Factory (Google X), Ramya shares hard-won lessons about commercializing deep tech in capital-intensive industries. \nAn active supporter of the energy infrastructure innovation ecosystem, she previously served as Executive-in-Residence at Engine Ventures and currently sits on the boards of Vema Hydrogen and Resources for the Future. Her non-traditional path through anthropology, public policy, and investment banking provides a masterclass in translation between technical teams, policymakers, and institutional investors. Essential listening for founders in hard tech, climate, and infrastructure sectors seeking practical guidance on pivots, fundraising, and building conviction around emerging technologies.\nChapters:[00:00:00] Opening: The Power of Pivots \n[00:02:38] From CEO to Entrepreneur in Residence \n[00:06:06] Growing Up with Fragile Infrastructure \n[00:13:21] Anthropology, Policy, and Learning to Learn \n[00:18:02] Participant Observation in Business \n[00:31:45] The First Pivot: Hydrokinetics to Low-Head Hydro \n[00:40:21] When to Pivot and Why We Resist \n[00:46:00] Spinning Out of Google X \n[00:58:27] Raising Capital for Hard Tech \n[01:06:13] The Malta Pivot: 10MW to 100MW \n[01:14:06] The Future Grid and Innovation Urgency \n[01:19:13] Teaching Sunday School \n[01:21:59] Connect with Ramya\nKey Takeaways:Pivot sooner than comfortable. \"There is no pivot that I have made in a company that I shouldn't have made sooner.\" Founders often recognize the need for change but resist due to emotional attachment.Good technologies do not guarantee commercialization. Success requires understanding codes and standards,...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/5MURGcXX1P7dDzkekwm1VZi0Zwz_hJg_oda-k-ZZ8aY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84Njhj/ZGNiMjZlYjMyZjM1/ZTIzMzZkOGQzZjQx/NzAzZS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}