Micah Ulrich
FLUX HYBRIDS – SEED Fall 2021
Published May 11, 2022
As part of our ‘Meet Our Founders’ series today, we introduce Micah Ulrich, CEO of Flux Hybrids based in Troutman, NC. Flux Hybrids has developed a system that can convert any vehicle to a plug-in hybrid at a price point that pays for itself in savings within the remaining life of the vehicle.
Q: Michah, What problem are you trying to solve and what influenced you to start your company?
A: My co-founders and I all grew up loving cars. But it gets a whole lot harder to keep loving cars when you see the numbers on how much damage their emissions cause. So we could have stuck our heads in the sand and ignored the inconvenient aspects for the sake of keeping our hobby around, or we could find a way to fix the problem. That’s what brought all of us into sustainable transportation and makes every day so exciting. We now get to pay ourselves to wake up every day and work on making the thing we love better for all of us.
Q: When did you know you wanted to take an entrepreneurial path?
A: When I was a kid I was always coming up with inventions. I’d always sketch them to some point and maybe even do some math, and then finally go ask my Dad for money to build a prototype. Instead of just saying no, he would have me make a proposal laying out the cost to build the prototype and what ROI he could expect on it. If it made sense, he would fund me. Now in practice, I almost never got to the point of him giving me the funds, but going through the process over and over made me realize that this was what makes me come alive.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about starting your own company?
A: The freedom and responsibility. Especially as a recent graduate, most of my peers are working at entry-level positions with minimal autonomy. Whereas every day we get to make decisions that could make or break the future of the company. That’s definitely a little terrifying, but it’s also exhilarating and so satisfying to know that in the scope of your company, your role matters.
While visiting Troutman, Micah recommends:
- Visiting Lake Norman State Park and Burritos & Ribs is a killer place for dinner afterwards.
Support Micah and Flux Hybrids by:
- Introducing the company to connections with fleets interested in piloting its technology on their vehicles. Additionally, we’re outfitting a new automotive shop for R&D and are on the lookout for used tools and equipment.
