About

Our Mission and Vision

Potenco envisions a world powered by Everyone. Our mission is to make clean power universally accessible and immediately useful.

As a first step in fulfilling our mission, Potenco developed the PCG, a new approach to human power generation expected to initially spread across the developing world.

Now, Potenco is working with select partners in developing and industrialized countries to bring additional solutions to market. Just imagine the possibilities as we pursue our mission…

  • Millions of children in developing countries engaged in a new form of learning
  • Two-billion people switching on a light for the first time
  • A world without disposable batteries
  • The expansion of cell phone accessibility in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
  • A 1% drop in green house gas emissions
  • A 1% bump in bottom-of-the-pyramid GDP
  • A healthier, greener, more productive world – powered by you.

Potenco is ‘Powering Endless Possibilities’

Mike Frandsen, CEO

has an extensive background in general management with an emphasis on supply chain management. Mike has over 25 years of experience working with companies in the U.S, U.K. and Canada. Prior to joining Potenco, Mike was the CEO of TradePoint Solutions (now part of DemandTec). From 1995 – 2002 he was responsible for the Supply Chain Management Division at PeopleSoft. Mike began his career with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) with a focus on installing systems for small to medium manufacturing and distribution companies. Mike has a B.S. in Finance/Information Systems from the University of Colorado – Boulder. He is also certified in Inventory Management (CPIM) and in Resource Management (CIRM) from the American Production and Inventory Control Society.

Colin Bulthaup, CTO/Founder

is an electrical engineer with a strong background in robotics, manufacturing, and nanotech. In 2003 he co-founded Squid Labs, a Venture Technology firm which developed in-house technologies which were then spun-off as separate companies.  The spun-off companies included Instructables, Makani Power, OptiOpia, Howtoons, and Potenco.  Prior to Squid Labs, Colin founded Kovio, Inc. a Silicon Valley company that uses very high-resolution printing techniques to create low-cost circuits. Colin earned his Masters degree from MIT and was awarded the Collegiate Inventors Award by the US Patent Office. He has also won numerous electrical and mechanical engineering competitions, including the International Design Competition. Colin was recognized by Technology Review Magazine as one of the top 100 innovators under the age of 35.

Brian Warshawsky, VP of Operations

is an engineer and operations manager with experience in fast growth high volume consumer electronics manufacturing. Brian was an early member of the Apple iPod operations team, and was the operations lead for the development and introduction of the iPod mini. Brian went on to manage the introduction of a number of iPod products and manufacturing processes, and was responsible for evaluating and bringing up new production facilities in Taiwan, China, and Europe. Brian earned a M.S. from MIT in Materials Engineering, and worked at startups in Boston and San Francisco prior to joining Apple.