Welcome To The Cool Companies Spotlight: Intrepid Automation
The Class of 2022 Cool Companies is absolutely stellar and we are excited to share them with you. This spotlight series provides the opportunity to learn more about each company from their founders, CEO’s, or Presidents. We will provide you a glimpse into the incredible innovation and talent being cultivated in San Diego.
The eighth spotlight in the series is dedicated to Intrepid Automation.
Intrepid Automation is a San Diego-based startup developing custom, industrial-scale additive manufacturing systems for high volume production: 3D printers, software, materials, automation, and quality control.
What’s the best entrepreneurial advice you’ve received?
“The CEO of a large tech company told me that ‘the world is not fair.’ Meaning, the final outcome of something shouldn’t be one’s main driver. Enjoying the journey and the challenges along the way is the important part.”
What inspired you to want to run this company?
After spending years in the “entrepreneurial” working group inside a large technology company, it became clear that convincing other people to run with our ideas wasn’t working. We wanted to test out the idea that we could build this technology, that people needed it and would use it. Luckily we were right on both counts!
What's the best entrepreneurial advice you've received?
The CEO of a large tech company told me that ‘the world is not fair.’ Meaning, the final outcome of something shouldn’t be one’s main driver. Enjoying the journey and the challenges along the way is the important part.
Who do you consider a role model?
Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Not only is he also a British engineer with a cool name, he designed things that no one else thought possible at the time.
Favorite Coffee Shop?
Jaunt Coffee in the Miralani Maker’s District. They made us an “Intrepid Blend” coffee!
Why is your company the best solution to the problem you're solving?
Our Secret Sauce is our team- all of whom are creative thinkers, makers, and “tinkerers”. 3D printing and additive manufacturing is at the forefront of the innovation economy, so creativity in our industry is so important. Every customer use case is different and requires a unique solution.
Most people didn’t think about manufacturing or the supply chain a few years ago, but now it’s obvious that localized, highly customizable manufacturing capabilities are critical to avoid the types of disruptions we’ve recently seen. Additive manufacturing is the next industrial revolution: it’s more sustainable, it allows for highly customized and design-optimized products, and it enables people to create things that have never been able to exist before. It’s very exciting!
What is the hardest thing about being an entrepreneur?
Rapidly gaining the skills to be able to pivot when it’s needed. Charles Darwin said that it’s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is most adaptable to change. Trying to build something from scratch requires a lot of creative adaptability!
If you could be any superhero which would it be and why?
Ironman, because he developed technology that enabled him to become a superhero.
Here at Connect our mission is to help San Diego’s incredible startup companies grow and succeed. We hope you enjoyed reading The Cool Company Spotlight. Stay tuned for more upcoming spotlights!