EO Pivot and Fail Fast: Most Valuable Lessons During Our 12-Year Journey to IPO | SES AI, Qichao Hu | EO
Aug 25, 2025
17:23
Pivot and Fail Fast: Most Valuable Lessons During Our 12Year Journey to IPO | SES AI, Qichao Hu
Meet Qichao Hu, Founder and CEO of SES AI, who shares his transformative journey from MIT researcher to public company leader. With a BS in Physics from MIT and a PhD in Applied Physics from Harvard, Dr. Hu made a few pivotal decisions including transition from academia to entrepreneurship and from traditional battery manufacturing to AIaccelerated material discovery, since founding SES AI to revolutionize the future of energy transition.
Under his leadership, SES AI has evolved from a researchfocused startup to a NYSElisted company pioneering lithiummetal battery development. Dr. Hu guided the company through critical strategic pivots, securing partnerships with global automotive leaders like General Motors, Hyundai, and Honda, and now using AI to accelerate material discovery and improve manufacturing safety. His unique approach combines scientific rigor with entrepreneurial agility, leading SES AI to the forefront of nextgeneration battery innovation and the broader energy transition space.
In this interview, he reveals the mindset that enabled him to build a public company, demonstrating how strategic pivots and unwavering focus on innovation can transform groundbreaking technology into market leadership.
For more information about SES AI's recent developments, please visit the link below.
2024 SES AI Battery World : https://bit.ly/3PdXmpq
Molecular Universe: https://bit.ly/41ShgOr
Website: https://www.ses.ai
01:51 From Robot Dreams to Battery Breakthroughs
02:29 The Fall of Giant: Hard Truths and lessons from a Competitor’s Downfall
07:22 The Essential Building Blocks of Company Building
09:52 The Fast Lane of Innovation: SES AI’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow
EO stands for Entrepreneurship & Opportunities. As we're looking to feature more inspiring stories of entrepreneurs all over the world, don't hesitate to contact us at partner@eoeoeo.net
Twitter | @EO__Global
LinkedIn | @EO STUDIO
Instagram | @eostudio.official EO stands for Entrepreneurship & Opportunities. Follow the podcast & turn on notifications for new episodes. EO Socials: Twitter twitter.com/eostudi0 LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/eostudio Official Website eostudio.io EO School welcome.eostudio.io Disclaimer: This fanmade podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by EO. All content rights and trademarks belong to EO. If you represent EO and have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Under his leadership, SES AI has evolved from a researchfocused startup to a NYSElisted company pioneering lithiummetal battery development. Dr. Hu guided the company through critical strategic pivots, securing partnerships with global automotive leaders like General Motors, Hyundai, and Honda, and now using AI to accelerate material discovery and improve manufacturing safety. His unique approach combines scientific rigor with entrepreneurial agility, leading SES AI to the forefront of nextgeneration battery innovation and the broader energy transition space.
In this interview, he reveals the mindset that enabled him to build a public company, demonstrating how strategic pivots and unwavering focus on innovation can transform groundbreaking technology into market leadership.
For more information about SES AI's recent developments, please visit the link below.
2024 SES AI Battery World : https://bit.ly/3PdXmpq
Molecular Universe: https://bit.ly/41ShgOr
Website: https://www.ses.ai
01:51 From Robot Dreams to Battery Breakthroughs
02:29 The Fall of Giant: Hard Truths and lessons from a Competitor’s Downfall
07:22 The Essential Building Blocks of Company Building
09:52 The Fast Lane of Innovation: SES AI’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow
EO stands for Entrepreneurship & Opportunities. As we're looking to feature more inspiring stories of entrepreneurs all over the world, don't hesitate to contact us at partner@eoeoeo.net
Twitter | @EO__Global
LinkedIn | @EO STUDIO
Instagram | @eostudio.official EO stands for Entrepreneurship & Opportunities. Follow the podcast & turn on notifications for new episodes. EO Socials: Twitter twitter.com/eostudi0 LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/eostudio Official Website eostudio.io EO School welcome.eostudio.io Disclaimer: This fanmade podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by EO. All content rights and trademarks belong to EO. If you represent EO and have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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