The journey of Jagdeep Singh started from New Delhi and currently is at a notable milestone of being a global technology leader. He co-founded revolutionary electric vehicle (EV) startup QuantumScape and paved the path of solid-state batteries in the industry. The batteries promise better performance and said to redefine the way we think about EVs.

Singh was born into a diplomat’s family in New Delhi and moved to the United States as a teenager. He was enrolled at the University of Maryland at the age of 15 and five years later he was working at Hewlett-Packard. His early exposure to the rapidly growing field of telecommunications set the stage for his entrepreneurial ventures. Singh launched his first startup AirSoft In the early 1990s and he sold it for $65 million. He founded Lightera Networks a few years later and it was later acquired for $500 million.

Singh also co-founded Infinera Corporation before QuantumScape. He played a key role in developing photonic integrated circuits in the company. His track record also includes leading telecommunications carrier OnFiber that was acquired by Qwest Communications.

The academic background of Singh is equally remarkable equipped with degrees from the University of Maryland, Stanford University and UC Berkeley. He even contributed to the tech space through his advisory roles at institutions like the Standord.

Singh stepped down as QuantumScape’s chairman at the age of 56 in 2024. His work has pushed the boundaries of EV battery technology and also has inspired countless others to think big. He was recognized by Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and Light Reading’s Person of the Year.