Danielle Fong
Danielle Fong
Founder, inventor and CEO — lightcell energy. Entrepreneur and physicist focused on high-density energy storage and novel heat-to-light-to-work photonic engines.
Projects
Ideas brought to life. A look at the products, companies, and creative works built from the ground up.
lightcell energy
Hard‑tech startup building high‑density photonic/heat engines and energy storage systems intended to enable low‑cost, high‑efficiency grid storage.
LightSail Energy
Cofounded LightSail Energy (AA‑CAES/compressed‑air energy storage). Led scientific and product development; company raised VC backing and pursued near‑isothermal compressed‑air storage using water injection; company operations wound down circa 2018–2019.
Compressed air energy storage research & inventions
Developed and published/implemented approaches to near‑isothermal compressed air energy storage (water‑injection compression/expansion methods) and related hardware; associated patents and prototypes were part of LightSail's IP portfolio.
In the Spotlight
A collection of articles, interviews, and viral content where achievements have been shared.
Recognitions
Formal validation from the top. A showcase of official awards, grants, and government acknowledgements.
MIT Technology Review — Innovators Under 35
2012Named on the TR35 list for innovation in energy storage.
Forbes — 30 Under 30 (Energy)
featured (circa 2011–2014)Featured in Forbes’ list/articles covering young energy entrepreneurs.
TIME — 30 Under 30 / World Changers
2013Included in TIME’s curated list of under‑30 people changing the world for contributions to energy technology.
Thiel Fellowship (mentor / association)
2011–2012Associated with the Thiel Fellowship community; cited as elected mentor in personal bio and publicly listed involvement with the program.
Work Experience
Key roles that defined the journey.
Founder, Inventor & CEO
Leading development of novel photonic heat‑to‑work engines and energy storage systems; built a hard‑tech team and IP around high photon‑density thermophotovoltaic/heat‑recapture concepts.
Co‑founder & Chief Scientist
Co‑founded and led scientific and product efforts on near‑isothermal compressed air energy storage (AA‑CAES). Company raised venture funding, developed prototypes, and pursued grid‑scale storage products before winding down operations.
Graduate researcher / PhD candidate (left program)
Research in plasma physics at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory prior to shifting focus to applied clean‑energy entrepreneurship.
Membership
Affiliations and memberships in prestigious organizations and communities.
Elected mentor and involved with the Thiel Fellowship network (personal site lists Thiel association).
Listed on advisory/biographical pages (Lifeboat) as part of public bios and speaking circuits.
Speaker at Women 2.0 PITCH, TEDxCERN and other industry events; cited in conference program pages.
Education
Academic foundation and learning journey.
B.Sc. Physics & Computer Science
Entered university at age 12; graduated with first‑class honors and university recognition in computer science and physics.
Graduate researcher / PhD program (Plasma Physics)
Graduate research in plasma physics at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory; left program to pursue startup work.
Socials
Connect and explore.