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Michael Markesbery

Co-Founder & CEO at Solarcore® and OROS Labs

Michael Markesbery is a deep-tech entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of OROS Labs, a material technology company focused on creating advanced thermal solutions.12 He is also the CEO of Solarcore®, described as "The Future of Insulation".14

Markesbery's journey began with a backpacking trip in the Swiss Alps, where he identified the need for better insulation in outdoor apparel.3 This experience led him to explore aerogel, a material used by NASA to insulate spacecraft. After a year of development, Markesbery and his co-founder Rithvik Venna created SolarCore, a flexible and durable aerogel composite.3

Key aspects of Michael Markesbery's career and achievements include:

  1. Education: He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Zoology/Animal Biology from Miami University (2011-2015).14

  2. Early research: As an undergraduate, he conducted studies on brown adipose tissue's potential to combat obesity, diabetes, and cancer.14

  3. Company foundation: Markesbery co-founded OROS Labs in 2015, which has since raised over $50 million in venture capital.24

  4. Awards: He was awarded the prestigious Astronaut Scholarship in 2014 and was named in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2017.4

  5. Company growth: Under his leadership, OROS Labs has expanded its focus from direct-to-consumer apparel to serving consumer, commercial, and government sectors.2

  6. Innovation: Markesbery's work has led to partnerships with entities such as Ad Astra and secured a multi-million dollar contract with the U.S. Department of Defense.2

Markesbery is known for his passion for building "napkin ideas into companies" and his expertise in early-stage startups.4 His LinkedIn username is michael-markesbery-32169088.4

Highlights

Jun 10 · linkedin

When Rithvik Venna & I started on the OROS Labs journey, we first assembled an advisory board of people who had far more experience and wisdom than we did. Many of those early advisors have since become close friends, board members and investors in the company, or insightful mentors to Rith and me. I doubt OROS Labs would be where it is today without these individuals. Thank you to Joe Flannery, Tim R. Holcomb Ph.D., John Burger, Hap Klopp, Bill Frank, Sara Buckley, Patrick O'Brien and the many others that continue to support us.

When we launched the company, we were fortunate to be featured in Forbes by Peter Lane Taylor. Peter Lane Taylor was one of the first to share news on OROS Labs - I am humbled that he continues to tell our story.

This is an article highlighting 5 standout entrepreneurs, and their advice for future entrepreneurs. Our advice: assemble a group around you of talented, experienced individuals who want to help you succeed.

Apr 11 · linkedin

I am beyond honored to have Pamela Danziger share the news of our Series B and the future of OROS Labs and Solarcore®! Pam is a Senior Contributor for Forbes and is internationally recognized for her expertise on the world’s most influential consumers.  Pam, who is also a speaker and author and market researcher, has shared the OROS Labs story since our founding. Thank you, Pam, for continuing to share our story- we appreciate you and your talent!

Related Questions

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Michael Markesbery
Michael Markesbery, photo 1
Michael Markesbery, photo 2
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Location

Portland, Oregon, United States