Critical Tech, Critical Time | The Pair Program Ep74
Critical Tech, Critical Time | The Pair Program Ep74
In this episode, hosts Tim Winkler and Mike Gruen explore how startups and strategic investors are strengthening America’s innovation infrastructure. Nicholas Myers of Phoenix Tailings and Dr. Yan Zheng of In-Q-Tel discuss the urgency of building resilient supply chains and re-imagining manufacturing for a new era of national security.
They dive into:
- How Phoenix Tailings turns toxic mining waste into rare-earth metals
- Why critical materials are the “new oil” of the modern economy
- In-Q-Tel’s model for aligning startups and national priorities
- Lessons on dual-use innovation and public-private collaboration
About Nicholas Myers: Nicholas is the CEO and Co-Founder of Phoenix Tailings. Before co-founding the company, he held executive roles at a genomics firm and an EV charging startup. He holds a B.S. in Physics from Saint Michael’s College and an MBA from Northeastern University.
About Dr. Yan Zheng: Dr. Yan is Chief of Staff at In-Q-Tel, where he aligns leadership priorities and oversees strategic investments in microelectronics, semiconductors, and quantum tech. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
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