Climate CEOs: Scaling Startups

Rare-Earth-Free Electric Motors: $200B Markets Without Supply-Chain Risk | Ankit Somani, CEO of Conifer

Feb 2, 2026
Guest
Ankit Somani
Ankit Somani, CEO and co-founder of Conifer — a repeat entrepreneur who built AI products at AllyO and Google. He discusses Conifer’s rare-earth-free electric motors and modular powertrains. Topics: the strategic risk of rare-earth supply chains, why investors backed a $20M seed, performance and cost advantages over induction motors, market prioritization (two-wheelers first), and scaling hardware manufacturing.
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INSIGHT

Motors Are A Massive, Undervalued Lever

  • Motors are central to almost every growth area from data centers to robotics, creating a huge addressable market.
  • Replacing rare-earth dependence unlocks supply-chain resilience and massive economic opportunity.
INSIGHT

Rare-Earth Supply-Chain Risk

  • Rare-earth magnets dominate motor design but are sourced and processed mostly in China, creating concentration risk.
  • Removing that reliance requires new materials and processes but yields strategic and environmental benefits.
ADVICE

Choose High-Volume, Commonized Markets

  • Pick markets where you can reach high volumes fast and reduce capex inefficiency.
  • Prioritize part commonization so different products share manufacturing and cut unit costs quickly.
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