DATE: 9.12.24
TIME: 4:00pm
LOCATION: 31-270
SPEAKER: Sebastien Mannai, PhD, Founder and CEO Amplified Industries
TOPIC: From MIT Laboratory Research to Commercialization: the Technical and Business Challenges of Creating a Disruptive Energy Technology Startup
ABSTRACT:
In this presentation, Sebastien Mannai, co-founder of Amplified Industries, delves into the complex process of commercializing research-based technology. Initially developed within MIT’s innovation ecosystem, Amplified’s AI-driven sensors monitor oilfield operations in real-time, helping to prevent methane leaks and spills. Mannai elaborates on the early stages of research, where the primary challenge was adapting labolatory-scale technology to meet the rugged demands of industrial environments. He highlights the importance of identifying market needs early, engaging with potential customers, and securing both public and private funding to scale the technology.
Some of the technical problems tackled will also be presented, some of them requiring physical modeling of fluid and acoustic phenomenon, other problems requiring a data-science based approach using various inference models.
Additionally, Mannai touches on the strategic importance of networking within MIT’s ecosystem, leveraging access to entrepreneurial mentors, industry experts, and potential investors. With the support of MIT resources, the company was able to position itself as a leader in addressing methane regulations and environmental sustainability in oil fields. Throughout the presentation, Mannai emphasizes that the commercialization process extends beyond technology—it’s about bridging the gap between innovation and industry adoption, which requires strategic planning, partnerships, and a clear understanding of market dynamics.
BIO:
Dr. Sebastien Mannai graduated with a SM & Ph.D. from the Gas Turbine Laboratory in the AeroAstro department in 2018 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also completed post-doctoral research work in machine learning and artificial intelligence at MIT under a Siemens Futuremakers Grant and a Deshpande fellowship. Before MIT, Sebastien received an MS in mechanical engineering from Ecole Centrale Paris and an MS in quantum physics from Paris XI in France. During his studies, Sebastien conducted research for Schlumberger and Siemens Energy.
Sebastien is founder and CEO of Amplified Industries. Based in Boston, Amplified Industries gathers a team sharing a simple vision: our goal is to build the next generation of industrial systems that will automate and optimize industrial processes at scale. The company focuses on the upstream oil and gas sector and builds connected devices, data systems and algorithms to eliminate spills and optimize production.