Jesse Thornburg

Jesse Thornburg is a seasoned CEO with a background in developing data platforms, energy modeling, and SaaS products aimed at reducing electricity costs for food stores and power grids.

Before his current role as CEO of Grid Fruit, Jesse co-founded the solar water purification startup KOPO, where he served as CEO from 2014 to 2018.

Jesse's academic journey includes a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Robotics, Control, and Instrumentation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he maintained an impressive GPA of 4.6 out of 5.

He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Media Studies with a Minor in Literature from MIT and pursued further studies with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

Additionally, Jesse Thornburg earned a Master of Science (MS) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and completed a non-degree option in Computer Science at Stanford University through the Center for Professional Development (SCPD) Graduate Student program.

Throughout his career, Jesse has held various significant roles including Chief Executive Officer, COO, and CTO at Grid Fruit, as well as positions such as Instructor, Research Assistant, and Lead Engineer at different organizations like Carnegie Mellon University, Amahoro Energy, SA, and World Relief.

Jesse Thornburg has also gained practical experience working as a Hydroelectric Power Engineer at World Relief, an Associate Mechanical Engineer at iRobot, as well as fulfilling roles as a Vehicle Engineering Intern at WMATA and an Undergraduate Research Assistant at MIT.