Drew Baglino, a long-time executive at Tesla, has embarked on a new venture following his departure from the company in April 2024 amidst significant layoffs.
Baglino, who spent 18 years at Tesla and was pivotal in the engineering of key products, has officially launched Heron Power. The startup aims to revolutionize the electric grid with solid-state transformers—an innovation that could facilitate the transition to renewable energy sources and enhance grid stability.
During his tenure at Tesla, Baglino played an instrumental role as the de facto senior engineering leader, overseeing the development of batteries, motors, drive units, and power electronics.
Drew Baglino Launches Heron Power After Leaving Tesla Amid Layoffs
His expertise is expected to serve him well as he leads Heron Power, which is currently seeking to raise between $30 million and $50 million in a Series A funding round led by Capricorn Investment Group.
Solid-state transformers represent a significant advancement over traditional transformers, which have undergone little change over the past century. These next-generation devices promise improved functionality by actively regulating voltage fluctuations from renewable sources like solar panels and wind turbines.
Additionally, they are designed to rapidly switch between different power sources, thus aiding in grid stability and efficiency. Given Baglino’s background in high-volume production of advanced power electronics at Tesla, Heron Power’s mission aligns closely with his expertise in the field.
While it remains unclear whether Baglino was let go or voluntarily resigned from Tesla, his departure is widely regarded as a considerable loss for the company, particularly following the rise of electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.
As Heron Power seeks to disrupt the status quo in energy infrastructure, all eyes will be on Baglino to see if he can replicate the innovation and success he contributed to at Tesla.