Sumin Zhu is a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in both technology and business. He worked in leadership roles at several multinational companies, including Bruker, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Vesuvius. Before founding Ampcera, he co-founded and led the fast growth of MSE Supplies, which has become a well-known supplier of advanced materials and laboratory products with more than 30,000 customers worldwide. In 2017, Sumin and his co-founders started Ampcera with the mission to commercialize advanced solid electrolyte materials and accelerate the development of next-generation high-performance lithium batteries.

Sumin earned his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering (Ceramics) from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He also completed an MBA-level marketing strategy program from Cornell University and an executive business program from the Wharton School.

Sumin is passionate about creating winning products and services with commercial success and making our world smarter, healthier, and more sustainable.

Hui Du is the Co-founder and CTO of Ampcera, a company specializing in advanced solid-state electrolyte materials for solid-state batteries. Previously, he was the Co-founder and President of MSE Supplies, which provides high-quality materials, equipment, and analytical services for R&D and industrial applications. Before that, Hui managed the solid-state ionic materials department at Sion Power Corporation. He also served in leadership positions at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Shanghai Institute of Ceramics Chinese Academy of Sciences. With over 20 years of experience in clean energy R&D, manufacturing, and management, Hui has co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and holds over 40 energy-related patents and applications. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, respectively.

Eongyu Yi is the Director, Battery Technology at Ampcera, where he leads advancements in solid-state battery technology. Before joining Ampcera, he worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where his work on solid-state batteries earned the R&D100 award. Eongyu has co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and patent applications in solid electrolytes, solid-state batteries, and energy storage. He holds a BA in Materials Science and Engineering from Hanyang University (South Korea) and a PhD in the same field from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Dawei Liu has worked in a variety of roles since 2011. Dawei began as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brown University in 2011. From 2012 to 2016, he was a Visiting Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, where he supervised 2 PhD students and 1 master student in their research of nanostructured functional materials, taught 8 undergraduate and graduate classes, and advised 30+ students in their undergraduate studies. In 2016, he was a Research Assistant at Harvard Business School. Dawei has held several summer associate roles at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati from 2016 to 2017, and at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in 2017. In 2018, he was a Corporate Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. In 2017, Dawei co-founded Ampcera and has been the Director Of Legal at Ampcera Inc. and, since 2021, he has been the Senior Legal Counsel at Humane™.

Dawei Liu attended Nanjing University from 2000 to 2004, earning a BS with honors in Physics. Dawei continued his education at the University of Washington from 2006 to 2010, earning a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. Finally, he attended Harvard Law School from 2015 to 2018, earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.). Additionally, he obtained a Registered Patent Agent certification from the USPTO in March 2014.

Seasoned and accomplished general management and investment executive providing advisory, consulting, board director, and leadership services to startups, established companies, and their investors.

Experienced CEO and transformational leader with career spanning startup to Fortune 500 companies, military, and academia. Former President & CEO of ZPower LLC, Inc Magazine’s 82nd Fastest Growing Private US Company in 2018, senior executive at Fortune 500 company Emerson Electric, and Air Force officer. Throughout career have led two technology start-ups, taking one public, and raising $250M; Been a senior operations and strategy executive at a major public company; Have extensive general management experience in batteries, energy, manufacturing, and industrial segments; Performed research and taught undergraduate chemistry at the Air Force Academy; Experienced working with private equity, venture capital, and investment banking firms; Possess transformational leadership characteristics developed in commercial and military environments; and Air Force Academy graduate with advanced degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Oxford University and Stanford University and MBA from the University of Colorado.

Co-founder of 2 companies. Sun Hydrogen and WaferGen Biosystems. Took WaferGen Biosystems public (NASDAQ: WGBS) and held CFO and COO positions from beginning till after public. WaferGen was later acquired by Takara Biosystems. Over 20 years of experience in finance, operations, technology, consulting, engineering and project management.

Worked for Big 4 (KPMG and PwC), Nortel Networks and Kraft Foods. Co-inventor of novel exciting technologies in biotech. Hold 9 patents.

As an accomplished R&D Technology Leader, I specialize in driving innovation to enhance energy efficiency through advanced technologies in battery systems and clean energy solutions. With over 20 years of experience, I have led large, diverse teams of Ph.D. researchers and managed multi-million-dollar budgets, successfully developing cutting-edge technologies for next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage solutions.At General Motors, I played a pivotal role in establishing the Battery R&D team and facility, advancing technologies such as Li metal, solid-state, and sodium-based batteries. I also spearheaded strategic partnerships with universities, national labs, and startups, accelerating R&D cycles and technology deployment.

My leadership has consistently focused on cross-functional collaboration, guiding projects from early-stage research through to implementation, while securing significant government funding and revenue streams. I am passionate about creating high-performance, cost-effective systems that meet the demands of the evolving automotive and energy sectors.Passionate about clean energy and sustainability, I am committed to solving complex challenges with forward-thinking vision, strategic collaboration, and a relentless drive for results. Let's connect to discuss how we can innovate for a sustainable future together.

As an Executive Vice President in battery and energy consulting at SNE, I am dedicated to advancing energy storage solutions and driving impactful innovations. With a background in scientific knowledge and extensive industry experience, I have built my career around pioneering battery technologies for electric vehicles (EVs) and sustainable energy initiatives.

Professional Highlights:

SNE Consulting: Recently joined SNE as Executive Vice President, where I now lead consulting services in battery and energy sectors, focusing on strategic development, innovative solutions, and industry-leading expertise in energy storage.LG Energy Solution (2016-2023): Spearheaded open innovation strategies, identified and invested in promising startups, and managed joint development projects, technology licensing, and verification processes. Built a foundation of collaborative research and development that has significantly impacted the industry.Samsung(2009-2016): Played a key role in developing quick-charging batteries and systems, including ultra-fast charging and high-voltage wireless charging technologies. Made substantial contributions to next-gen lithium-ion materials for EVs and ESS.