School of Hard Knocks Podcast Thomas Healy | World’s Youngest Billionaire on Dropping Out, Raising $700M, and Building an Empire Before 30
Oct 2, 2025
Thomas Healy, the youngest self-made billionaire and Carnegie Mellon dropout, shares his extraordinary journey from dorm-room startup to public company founder. He discusses raising $700M during the pandemic and the challenges of navigating market shifts. The bold pivot from EV trucks to distributed power generation showcases his adaptability. He offers insights on startup struggles, the power of mentorship, and the importance of bold decisions. Additionally, Healy emphasizes the need for founders to fully commit, aiming to change the future of electricity for decades.
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Bold Pivot From EVs To Power Generation
- Hylion bought a GE division and pivoted from EVs into distributed power generation.
- The pivot shut down EV work, caused layoffs, but preserved the company long-term.
Make Local Power Feel Like A Big Plant
- Distributed on-site power becomes viable when it matches utility-scale cost and efficiency.
- Their tech aims to deliver big-plant performance at local scale for resiliency and cost.
Navy Uses Generators For Unmanned Vessels
- The U.S. Navy will power unmanned vessels with Hylion's generators because they need ultra low-maintenance systems.
- Military testing included running on diesel contaminated by salt water to prove robustness.