Ankit Somani

Ankit Somani, co-founder of Conifer, delves into the revolutionary world of electric motors. Drawing from his entrepreneurial background, he discusses innovative efforts to create lighter, more efficient motors without rare-earth materials. The conversation highlights groundbreaking designs like axial flux motors and the potential of in-wheel technology for diverse vehicle applications. Ankit also addresses how modern manufacturing techniques can simplify production and enhance the adoption of electric motors, paving the way for a cleaner energy future.

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.

Ankit Somani, Co-founder of Conifer, specializes in developing powertrains utilizing ferrite magnets. Hemal Thakkar, Senior Practice Leader at Crisil Intelligence, provides insights into the economic implications of rare earths. They discuss India's struggle amidst rare earth shortages impacting the auto sector, largely due to China's dominance in exports. The conversation covers the urgent need for alternative sourcing strategies and the potential of innovative technologies to overcome production challenges while exploring India's future in electric mobility.