Danielle Fong
A physics prodigy who co-founded a company aiming to revolutionize energy storage by compressing air in water.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Canadian scientist and entrepreneur·Birthday: October 30·Millennials
Biography
Danielle Fong's trajectory was anything but conventional. Entering university at just 12, she eventually left a PhD program at Princeton to dive into the urgent problem of renewable energy storage. In 2009, she co-founded LightSail Energy, championing a novel concept: storing energy by compressing air in the presence of water mist, a method intended to be more efficient and scalable than batteries. While LightSail's commercial journey faced hurdles, Fong's vision cemented her as a bold thinker in cleantech. Her work continues at LightCell Energy, pursuing next-generation solutions for a carbon-free grid, driven by a belief that physics and entrepreneurship must collide to solve climate change.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Danielle was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Danielle Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Danielle's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded LightSail Energy, a company that developed compressed air energy storage technology.
- Became one of the youngest individuals to attend university in Canada, starting at age 12.
- Named to the Forbes '30 Under 30' list in Energy in 2011 for her innovative work.
- Authored key patents in the field of isothermal compressed air energy storage systems.
Did You Know?
She was a semifinalist in the Intel Science Talent Search while still in high school.
Fong briefly worked as a video game programmer before focusing on energy.
She gave a popular TED talk about the future of energy storage in 2015.
Her doctoral studies at Princeton were in nuclear fusion, before she pivoted to energy storage.
“The most important thing is to be working on a problem that matters.”
