Sam Kanner
Chief Executive Officer, Aikido Technologies
Sam Kanner joins Breakthrough Energy’s Innovator Fellows program from Aikido Technologies in San Francisco, California.He has been interested in ocean renewable energy since high school and has spent his career working in early-stage wind technology and innovation. At Aikido Technologies, Sam and his team are developing a self-erecting platform for floating, offshore wind turbines to overcome key barriers to increasing offshore wind energy production.
Aikido Technologies has designed a self-erecting platform for floating, offshore wind turbines. Their novel system integrates the platform and turbine into a fully assembled unit that can be transported horizontally and is narrow enough to access 80% of ports in the U.S. Once in place, a simple ballasting procedure upends the platform into operational configuration. Through the Fellows program, Aikido Technologies hopes to deploy their first open ocean pilot project.
Sam completed his Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Geology at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. He earned a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Q&A
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to hang out with my family (including a rambunctious toddler) and am training for an Ironman triathlon.
What is something you recently discovered?
I recently discovered being a CEO is extremely taxing and extremely rewarding. It is very similar to the ups-and-downs of parenting.
What is a fun fact about you?
I was previously a world champion ultimate frisbee player.
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