Orbis Electric- the Future where Energy Works Harder and More Efficiently
Orbis Electric’s mission is to deliver advanced Axial Flux MGPs (motors, generators, pumps) that are lighter, smarter, and cheaper—providing more efficient power, mobility, and cooling solutions that reduce costs, enhance performance, and accelerate the global shift toward electrification.
“I’ve been fortunate to assemble a team of the world’s finest engineers and entrepreneurs who thrive on solving problems that others thought unsolvable — challenges of weight, torque, efficiency and scale. At first, I believed we were solving for individual markets. But those hard-won breakthroughs turned out to be something bigger: a single core technology that now powers automobiles, electrifies refrigerated trucking, and is on a fast track to cool the world’s fastest-growing data centers.”
-Marcus Hayes, Founder
TEAM
Orbis Electric was founded by people with extensive experience and obsessive interest in design innovation, energy efficiency, and real-world solutions.
Marcus Hays Founder, CEO + CTO
Marcus is a visionary EV pioneer whose record-setting EVs and groundbreaking designs have helped shape the future of clean mobility. Marcus is an electric vehicle veteran, dating back to the early days of the influential CALSTART Advanced Transportation Hatchery in Burbank, CA. He holds multiple patents in electric vehicle powertrains, related automotive components, and clean-power technologies. Marcus designed and built the first electric motorcycle to set two land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats (2006 & 2007) and races electric cars in his spare time. He was educated as a Transportation Design Major at the Pasadena Art Center and is a veteran of the US Navy. Linked-in
Chance Claxton Co-Founder, COO + CMO
Chance is a trailblazing entrepreneur who helped scale Design Within Reach to a public company and later founded U-Konserve, a pioneer in sustainable packaging. She brings decades of expertise in brand building, marketing, product innovation, and strategic growth. Linked-in
Brad Knop Chief Data Officer
Brad is a seasoned operator with 35+ years scaling startups and optimizing growth. As COO at liveBooks, Xtracycle, and Starmedia Broadband, and a founding partner at Propeller Industries, he’s helped over 75 early-stage companies streamline operations and drive profitability.
Allen Parrott Chief Financial Officer
Allen is a global finance and logistics executive with deep manufacturing expertise. With leadership roles at Hewlett Packard and Crane Worldwide Logistics, he specializes in financial strategy, operational efficiency, and driving scalable growth across complex industries.
Scott Streeter Co-Founder, Manufacturing Manager
Scott turns breakthrough ideas into reality through advanced manufacturing and precision engineering. A specialist in additive manufacturing, CNC, and casting, he’s a driving force behind Orbis Electric’s patented technologies and product innovation. Linked-in
Ethan Daniel Co-Director of Engineering
Ethan is a mechanical engineer specializing in in-wheel motors and axial flux powertrains. A co-author of 22 pending Orbis patents, he drives the development of next-generation electric mobility solutions through advanced design and system integration.
Scott Carr Co-Director of Engineering
Scott is a visionary mechanical engineer with deep electrical expertise, specializing in electric, hybrid, and axial flux powertrains. A co-author of 22 pending patents, he leads innovation at Orbis Electric, advancing high-efficiency, next-generation propulsion systems.
ADVISORY BOARD
Larry Brilliant
Larry is a renowned epidemiologist, technologist, and philanthropist, credited for leading the global eradication of smallpox and polio with the World Health Organization. He co-founded the Seva foundation treating blindness, led Google’s worldwide philanthropy efforts, serves as a CNN Medical Analyst, and was named to TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People 2008. Larry is currently Senior Counselor for The Skoll Foundation, which catalyzes transformational change by investing in, connecting, and championing social innovators to advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.
Mark Cunningham
Mark is an active investor, operator, and developer of major U.S. real estate properties, including ground-up renovation and build-to-suit projects for clients including Jiffy Lube, Camping World, Rite Aid, and Planet Fitness. Mark brokered more than $2 billion worth of transactions in his career as real-estate broker and has been an active investor in early-stage bio science and technology companies. An avid philanthropist, Mark has served as an advisor or board member for several non-profit organizations.
Susan Gladwin
Susan is a business executive and entrepreneur with unique collective expertise in technology, market strategy, and climatetech. Her work spans leadership roles at large brands, including Apple and Autodesk, and advising early stage climatetech companies including renewable energy financer 10Power, and electric vehicle incentivizer EVLife. A frequent speaker, published author, and former faculty member at the CCA MBA in Design Strategy, Susan is currently a Senior Consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy, Loan Programs Office.
Dr. Detlev Mohr
Detlev brings international experience and professional expertise from the automotive industry, developing strategies and designing broad transformation and performance improvement programs for leading OEMs . A resident of Stuttgart, Germany, Detlev is the former Global Leader of McKinsey’s Transportation, Logistics & Infrastructure Practice, and previously led McKinsey’s European Automotive & Assembly Practice. He is currently a c-level executive advisor and has published several thought leadership pieces on future mobility and transportation trends.
Clifford Samuel
Clifford Samuel, Principal at PCMS1 Consulting, advises large caps, start-ups, and NGOs on issues surrounding the access and distribution of life-saving medicines in emerging markets and low- and middle-income countries. He offers 30+ years of commercial leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with more than two decades at Gilead Sciences in leadership roles across sales, managed markets, and global commercial operations. Clifford brings a deep understanding of the global regulatory, distribution, and licensing landscape to his role with Orbis Electric.