I grew up in San Jose, California and earned a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from San Jose State University. My father owned a sheet metal shop and I learned most of my manufacturing and design knowledge by working with him and making sheet metal parts for customers. Most of my experience after college has been in the semiconductor industry designing parts for silicon wafer deposition and etch machines. After being laid off in 2009, I got rid of my car to save money. The difficulties of transitioning from a car to a bicycle led me to start Solarcycle and design a USB solar charger called Solarpad that keeps smart phones alive. I’ve even launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to produce a USB rechargeable soldering iron called Solderdoodle. What started me on the journey to search for 100% off-grid solar living was becoming homeless after being laid-off from my job and realizing that there were not many alternative living options that could provide shelter and despite the high-tech innovations everywhere. I then vowed to use my engineering skills to find a way to make 100% solar off-grid living an option for those who couldn’t afford the mainstream costs of living during an economic crisis.