Conifer co-founder Ankit Somani left Google to build something with more heart — and fewer rare-earth magnets.

‍

Backed by a $20M seed round, Conifer is making electric motors that are clean, compact, and don’t rely on China-controlled materials. In this conversation, Ankit talks about the problem they’re solving, what it’s like building real hardware in a software-driven world, and why he’s telling his kids not to go to college.

‍

We also get into the mindset side of entrepreneurship: parenting in the age of AI, staying grounded through spiritual practice, hiring for “high agency,” and handling the daily chaos of startup life.

‍

This isn’t a pitch deck. It’s the real conversation founders actually want to hear.

‍

‍Inside This Episode:

‍

• From Google to hardware: Why Ankit left Big Tech to build with heart

‍

• What Conifer is doing differently with rare-earth-free electric motors

‍

• The overlooked environmental impact of small gas engines

‍

• Why Ankit tells his kids they’re not going to college — and what he wants them to learn instead

‍

• Hiring high-agency people: What actually stands out (hint: not your GPA)

‍

• The fundraising surprises: How a cold pitch turned into a $20M seed round

‍

• How he stays grounded through the chaos of startup life

‍

• What parenting looks like in the age of AI (and Alexa bedtime routines)

‍

• Building real company culture — especially when hardware teams need to be in person

‍

• Is the Bay Area still worth it? Ankit pushes back on the media doom narrative