About Us
Committed to changing the world, led by a team of industrial and academic leaders in supercomputing, nanoscale heat transport and photonic engineering.
Pioneering a Revolutionary Leap Forward with MXL Photonic Cooling Technology
By leveraging advanced computational tools, materials science, and nanophotonics, MXL Labs’ patented photonic cooling solution efficiently transforms heat into light, delivering a transformative leap in cooling efficiency and performance.
As AI workloads rapidly grow, the need for unprecedented computing power is pushing current cooling technologies to their limits. Traditional methods like air, direct liquid, and immersion cooling, while effective over large surface areas, fail to address the extreme heat generated in the dense, power-packed regions deep within processors. This limitation has stalled advancements in clock speeds and single-thread performance for decades.
Our photonic cooling system overcomes these challenges by bypassing bulky, convection-based cooling methods. Our technology unlocks the potential for higher clock speeds and denser compute power – all without the mechanical failures or spatial constraints of traditional systems. By reducing energy consumption for cooling and boosting chip performance, we aim to enable the first-ever fully photonically cooled data center, paving the way for the next generation of sustainable and scalable HPC solutions.
MXL Executive Team
JACOB BALMA
Co-Founder & CEO
15+ years experience in developing scalable algorithms for high-performance computing (HPC) applications
Proven track record in optimizing machine learning workflows for efficiency and performance in large-scale systems at Cray
Deep knowledge of quantum computing and its implications for future advancements in HPC
Contributor to open-source projects in the HPC and AI communities, driving innovation and collaboration
ALEJANDRO RODRIGUEZ
Co-Founder & CTO
B.S., Ph.D. in Physics, MIT
Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University
Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Princeton University
Expertise in Condensed Matter Theory, Near-field Radiative heat transfer and Nanophotonics
Authored 110+ academic papers and 10,000 citations
MIKE KARPE
Co-Founder & CRO
20+ years experience in sales and business development
Expertise in sales strategy and
market penetration at scale
Pivotal role in the successful launch and development of multiple startups
Successful track record of sales growth
Experience leading and building
out national sales teams
MXL R&D Team
Committed to changing the world, led by a team of industrial and academic leaders in supercomputing, nanoscale heat transport and photonic engineering.
NORM TROULLIER
Director & Strategic Advisor
Ph.D. University of Minnesota
30 years in HPC & Scientific Computation
20 years spent at Cray as a Distinguished Technologist & Performance Engineer
Pivotal role supporting over 2,000 RFPs amounting to over $20 Billion in revenue
HENRY NEWMAN
HPC Thought Leader & Strategic Advisor
Bachelor’s degree in International & Global Studies
Over 40 years in HPC industry
Former CEO of Instrumental, Inc.
Former CTO of Seagate Government Solutions
RICCARDO MESSINA
Computational Modeling Expert
PhD. Mathematics & Computer Science
Expert in Near-field Radiative Heat Transfer
Expert in Thermophotovoltaic cells
Authored over 70 academic papers, over 2,500 citations
RAKTIM SARMA
Principal Scientist Sandia National Lab
PhD in Physics, Yale University
Project lead developing photonic systems
Nonlinear metasurfaces, optoelectronics, and silicon photonics
Extensive experience in nanofabricatino of silicon and III-systems, and optical characterization
107 publications
ALEXANDER ALBRIGHT
Optical Refrigeration & Photonics
Research Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico
Department Optical Science & Engineering, UNM
Ultrafast and nonlinear optics
Optical refrigeration and semiconductor photonics
150 published papers, 1700+ citations
PENGNING CHAO
Inverse-Design Modeling Expert
Ph.D. in Physics, Princeton University
Professor, Department of Mathematics MIT
Pioneer in photonic large-scale optimization
Performance bounds in photonics
285+ citations since 2018
TITO BUSANI
Nanofabrication Expert
PhD in Physics & Nanotechnology 2006;
BS+MS Nuclear Engineering 2002;
Department Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico
Fabrication and analysis of multi-layers thin films
130 published papers, 1600+ citations
JACKSON KOCK
Experimental Laser Cooling
PhD in Optical Science & Engineering, University of New Mexico
Research Assistant and Post Doctoral Candidate, UNM
15+ published papers, 50+ citations since 2020
Experimental characterization of laser cooling systems and optical refrigeration
JOE ZHANG
Computational Modeling Expert
PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Research Assistant at RPI and University of Delaware, Physical Sciences Intern at Los Alamos National Laboratory
10+ published papers, 50+ citations since 2020
Numerical modeling and multiscale simulations for thermal transport and material properties
MXL Board of Directors
Veteran leadership to help steward the company along its path to a $1T opportunity.
JACOB BALMA
Co-Founder & CEO
Maxwell Labs, Inc.
15+ years experience in developing scalable algorithms for high-performance computing (HPC) applications
Proven track record in optimizing machine learning workflows for efficiency and performance in large-scale systems at Cray
Deep knowledge of quantum computing and its implications for future advancements in HPC
Contributor to open-source projects in the HPC and AI communities, driving innovation and collaboration
GARY BURANDT
Advanced Manufacturing Expert
Former Emerson Executive
35+ years experience in advanced manufacturing, specializing in lean methodologies and strategic expansion of production capabilities. Demonstrated success in reducing cycle times, enhancing operational efficiency, and implementing cutting-edge manufacturing processes to drive volume, growth, and consistency across industries.
Served as VP of Power Generation for the Americas at Emerson for 20+ years post-acquisition from Caterpillar, with Fortune 500 experience leading teams in large-scale industries. Led initiatives for primary/backup power in high-stakes applications like data centers, earning Chairman’s Award for exceptional growth and metrics. Managed $500M+ annual portfolios for critical infrastructure (data centers, hospitals, oil wells/exploration, U.S. Navy/Air Force facilities), holding top security clearances and key military/political relationships.
Possesses significant military and government experience navigating complex engagements with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), ensuring compliance and alignment with stringent regulatory and operational requirements
Offers specialized expertise in power generation tailored for data centers, with a deep understanding of the technical and operational demands of high-reliability, high-capacity environments critical to Maxwell Labs’ strategic goals
Holds a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science from the University of Minnesota and an MBA in Marketing from St. Thomas University, providing a strong technical and business foundation to drive innovation and market-driven solutions
PETER CHIDYLLO
Managing Director
Arosa Capital Management
Managing Director of Private Investments at Arosa, bringing extensive expertise in overseeing strategic investment portfolios for Maxwell Labs
Served as a Partner at Encompass/PioneerPath Capital from 2008 to 2014, managing domestic and international Oil Service investments with a focus on growth and performance
Held the role of Senior Oilfield Services Analyst at Talek Investments from 2006 to 2008, leading coverage of the long/short Oil Services equity portfolio
Graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia in 2004 with a B.S. in Commerce, starting his career as an Analyst in the Restructuring Group at Houlihan Lokey, working on bankruptcies and solvency cases
NICK SWENSON
Chairman & CEO
Air T, Inc.
Seasoned investor and Chairman/CEO of Air T, Inc., overseeing a diverse portfolio of companies since 1980, with a proven track record in financial strategy and governance
Successfully managed credit and distressed focused funds at Whitebox Advisors and Varde Partners, earning recognition in Michael Lewis’ “The Big Short” for navigating the subprime trade market
Award-winning financial expert, honored by HFM Week in 2007, and a regular contributor to major financial publications, including Business Week, The New York Times, and Bloomberg
Holds an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago and a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in History from Middlebury College, bringing strategic insight to Maxwell Labs’ vision and growth
NORM TROULLIER, PhD
Photonics Expert
Over 30 years of experience in supercomputing and high-performance computing (HPC), with a focus on advancing cutting-edge solutions at Cray, Inc. as a Senior Principal Engineer
Instrumental in supporting over 2,000 RFPs at Cray, contributing to more than $20 billion in revenue through performance benchmarking and application optimization
Authored over 50 academic papers with more than 14,000 citations, showcasing significant contributions to chemistry, climate, physics, and defense applications in HPC
Holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Minnesota, bringing deep technical expertise to Maxwell Labs’ mission in photonic cooling technology
Our Team’s Advantages
World-Class Team
Pioneering expertise in photonics, nanofabrication and solid-state cooling
First-Mover Advantage
At the forefront of how how light can manage heat at the nanoscale with patented photonic cooling technology
Connected
Strong contacts in government, HPC and academia
Beyond the Reach
Pioneering groundbreaking alternatives to traditional cooling methods beyond the reach of industry competitors
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