Bio
Middle school dropout. Eyes bigger than stomach. Lives in Berkeley.
Cofounder and chief scientist of LightSail Energy. We’re making inexpensive, efficient energy storage systems — the missing link in the plan to make the world’s electrical grid green.
Timeline:
January 16th 1987: Hammock not quite meant for two
October 30th 1987: Birth
Until 1992: Halcyon years of childhood
Life was simpler
Until 1999: The intermittent misery of compulsory schooling
September 1999: Kafka-esque Jr. High Education Commences
October 1999: Insanity overload
October 30th 1999: Dropped out
Until Summer 2000: Programming and 3D modeling; C++ lessons at Nova Scotia Community College, Horseback Riding Lessons
Riding 'Lucy' at Windgate Farms
September 2000 – May 2005: Dalhousie University, graduated with first class combined honors in Physics/Computer Science, with a university medal.
August 2005: Started PhD. program at Princeton’s Plasma Physics Lab
Diptych - The JET Tokamak Fusion Reactor / Filled with Plasma
Summer 2007: Realization dawns on me that fusion, if anything, is the power source of the far future, and it is the near future I worry about.
August 25th 2007: San Francisco Bay.
September 1st 2007: Berkeley.
The Internet here used to be my only network connection. I used Skype for my phone. they didn't turn it off at night, and it was warm enough during the summer that I would work outside until near dawn. Sometimes after!
September 2nd 2007: Realize I’d make a terrible employee.
September 3rd 2007: Realize that I’ll starve if I don’t take matters into my own hands and start my own thing;.
September 4th 2007: Realize that I might have a halfway decent chance at making a difference.
Until May 2008: Struggle to launch any of dozens of startup ideas, while working side jobs and supporting cofounders/friends.
June 2008: Start working feverishly on compressed air technology.
June – September 2008: Couchsurfing.
August 2008: LightSail Energy Founded
July 2009: Funded!
Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, has backed us since the early days!
November 2009: Our Firehouse Facility is operational.
LightSail's Firehouse Lab
September 2010: First spray — it works!
May 2011: Present our progress to Bill Gates
After Presenting to Bill Gates!
June 2011: Learn to surf!
July 2011: All technical goals for prototype reached — science phase complete.
August 2011: First visit to Burning Man. Mind blown.
Burning Man, 2011. I am not a virgin anymore.
December 2011: Named the Energy Standout in the Forbes 30 Under 30 for my work with LightSail
Danielle Fong, Energy Standout, Forbes 30 Under 30 (photo by Harry Benson)
January 2012: Elected as mentor at the Thiel Fellowship
Thiel Fellowship Class of 2011
Until the present: Saving the world… (or dying trying!)
—–
Mail: me at <my name>.com
or Dani.Fong at <google’s mail service>
FriendFeed: daniellefong
Twitter: daniellefong
Hacker News: DaniFong
I like Amory Lovins’s description of Einfall: “temporary lapses of stupidity”. I second the Polya recommendation
by Fortress, do you mean http://research.sun.com/projects/plrg/ ?!
its barely even a stable language implementation!
It’s not stable enough to build on substantially yet (we’re awaiting static steps for the compiler,) but it’s an excellent language. I’m involved in a semi-secret project to produce an interactive environment with Fortress as a base. Right now I’m using Mathematica as my native language.
Danielle,
I am very impressed with your profile and you blog on smart grid… I am a mgmt consultant/entrepreneur who just winded down his start-up to go back to mgmt consulting. And I like the way you have presented the issues related to selling to utilities. Good luck with your company…
It’s humbling to think that you were born just 13 months before me. What have I been doing? Hopefully, figures such as yourself will inspire me to do more with my life. Unfortunately formal education in the sciences is financially out of the question at this point, but there’s nothing but myself stopping me from opening a maths book.
incredibly impressive and insightful…
You probably don’t remember me. I am a cousin who resides outside of Toronto. My mother is your dad’s oldest sister. Her name is Jean. I met you briefly in the year 2000 (July) in Halifax for the Fong Family Renunion. After the reunion lunch, your grandmother took us to your home in Dartmouth where I spent a few hours chatting with your mom about her writing, while my spouse conversed with your dad. Needless to say, your mom is quite the lady – definitely the offspring have inherited her genes in the neurological sense!! (bright). And your father, is smart too.
I am acquainted with your parents. Most recently, I had been in communication with your dad regarding a family matter.
Both my husband and I are very impressed with your accomplishments. Since my husband is a retired electrical engineer, he took great interest in your current status with Light Sail.
Continued success in your ventures.
Sincerely,
Connie Fung
Dear Connie,
Wonderful to hear from you! My mind’s eye is squinting but I think I remember one charming woman named Connie in my deep recollections of half a lifetime ago! Thank you so much for reaching out. Your message brought a smile to my face.
Hi Danielle,
I made an error in my last message. I had a senior moment!! I intended to say that your grandfather, my Uncle Dow is my mom’s younger brother. Just thought I would correct this error which I noted after reading your reply.
Regards,
Connie
Just out of curiosity, if you dropped out of middle school, how come did you go to university?