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CEO & Co-Founder, Form Energy
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Mateo Jaramillo is an American entrepreneur and business executive known for his pioneering work in the energy storage industry. He is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Form Energy, a company developing breakthrough long-duration energy storage technology designed to enable a fully renewable electric grid. Born in Salinas, California, an agricultural hub, Jaramillo developed an interest in energy systems early in his career. He pursued his higher education on the East Coast, earning an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University. He later expanded his academic focus by obtaining a Master’s degree in Theology from the Yale Divinity School. This combination of economic and theological study has been noted in various profiles as providing him with a unique perspective on the long-term societal challenges and the moral imperative of addressing climate change through sustainable energy. Jaramillo’s professional trajectory began in the software industry, where he worked as a product manager for Predictive Networks, an interactive television software provider. However, he soon shifted his focus toward the energy sector. He became a part of the founding team at Gaia Power Technologies, a distributed energy storage firm, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. This experience in the early days of distributed storage provided the foundational expertise he would later apply to larger-scale projects. In 2009, Jaramillo joined Tesla, which at the time was a significantly smaller company with approximately 300 employees. He was hired as the Director of Powertrain Business Development, serving as a commercial lead on high-value contracts for electric powertrain sales. Beyond his work in the automotive segment, Jaramillo is credited with initiating Tesla’s stationary energy storage efforts—a "skunkworks" project that would eventually evolve into Tesla Energy. During his tenure, which lasted until 2016, he rose to the role of Vice President of Products and Programs for Tesla Energy. In this capacity, he oversaw the development, product definition, and business model creation for the Powerwall and Powerpack, products that became integral to Tesla’s mission of accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy. After leaving Tesla, Jaramillo co-founded Form Energy in 2017. The company was established with the specific mission of creating low-cost, long-duration energy storage capable of discharging for multiple days—a significant technological leap beyond the shorter-duration capacity typical of lithium-ion batteries. Under Jaramillo’s leadership, Form Energy has focused on developing iron-air battery technology. In 2023, the company broke ground on a commercial-scale manufacturing facility in Weirton, West Virginia, on the site of a former steel mill, signaling a commitment to domestic manufacturing and the rejuvenation of industrial zones for the clean energy economy. Jaramillo is a prominent voice in the clean energy transition, frequently advocating for the necessity of long-duration storage to balance the variability of wind and solar power. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Clean Power Association. His work has garnered recognition across the energy and technology sectors, positioning him as a key figure in the development of grid-scale storage solutions essential for a decarbonized global economy.
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Co-founded Form Energy securing massive investments from Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy Ventures and TPG Rise Climate to commercialize multi-day grid storage
Successfully engineered the highly complex iron-air battery chemistry transitioning it from a theoretical laboratory concept into massive deployable utility-scale power blocks
The highly intensive massive scale and physical footprint of the iron-air battery enclosures frequently draw fierce zoning and aesthetic pushback from local municipalities resulting in delays for utility-scale deployment projects
Navigates intense pressure from the utility sector regarding the incredibly complex software and grid integration challenges required to seamlessly dispatch 100-hour duration batteries into legacy regional energy markets
In 2023, Form Energy and CEO Mateo Jaramillo faced public criticism from a state legislator regarding the company's past financial ties to Saudi Aramco. Jaramillo publicly addressed the concerns, stating that the company had ended its business relationship with the investor and maintained no ongoing affiliation.
Served as a founding member and Vice President of Tesla Energy completely architecting the product strategy for the Tesla Powerwall and massive global Megapack deployments
Constructed a massive state-of-the-art commercial battery manufacturing facility (Form Factory 1) in Weirton West Virginia successfully replacing lost legacy steel jobs with advanced clean-tech manufacturing
Served as a founding member and Chief Operating Officer of Gaia Power Technologies prior to 2009.
Joined Tesla in 2009 as Director of Powertrain Business Development, where he led commercial negotiations for over $100 million in development and $500 million in production contracts.
Founded and led Tesla's stationary energy storage program, later serving as Vice President of Products and Programs for Tesla Energy.
Left Tesla in 2016 after a seven-year tenure during which he established the company's energy storage division.
Co-founded Form Energy in 2017 with a mission to develop low-cost, multi-day energy storage systems.
Named one of Business Insider's 100 People Transforming Business in North America in 2020.
Included in the TIME100 Climate list in 2023 for his leadership in developing iron-air battery technology.
Broke ground on Form Energy's first commercial battery factory in West Virginia in 2023.
Recognized as one of the Top 25 Newsmakers by Engineering News-Record (ENR) in 2024.
Served as the keynote speaker at the West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC) commencement ceremony in 2025.
Serves as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the American Clean Power Association.
In 2024, Form Energy was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by a former employee, U.S. Army Reservist Major Dustin Whidden, who alleged he was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for his military service and the expression of political opinions. The lawsuit included claims of violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and California labor laws.
In 2025, Form Energy experienced a significant ransomware attack and data breach that exposed the sensitive personally identifiable information of current and former employees. The company subsequently notified the affected individuals and state authorities, initiating an investigation into the incident.