Meet the Man: In our conversation with Jinqiang Ning, we learned about his path to foundership and how he’s leveraged Massachusetts resources along the way.
Jinqiang Ning identified a gap in electric vehicle (EV) battery pack inspection technology. Armed with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and extensive experience as a system reliability engineer at both Apple and Tesla, he decided it was time to improve diagnostic technology for EV battery packs.
Now, Ning is the Founder and CEO at EVident Battery, Inc., a startup that offers unique vibration-based technology for monitoring and inspecting EV battery packs and beyond. By combining mechanical vibration with advanced AI analysis, their diagnostic technology can identify mechanical and integrity issues in two minutes. Powered by adaptive learning, their vibration sensors detect underside impacts from everyday driving (think road debris and curb strikes) on EV battery packs. This not only provides insight into battery health but also improves vehicle safety.
EVident Battery was founded in Connecticut while Ning was earning his MBA at Yale, and later moved to Westford, MA. Though the company was advised by industry experts to relocate to the West Coast, they decided to stay in Massachusetts, believing that the battery ecosystem, talent pool, and community support would provide the best path to scale. Also, Ning was already familiar with the state from having worked in the Boston area, and from the four years he spent earning a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
In choosing Massachusetts, the startup also gained access to valuable support and resources. Greentown Labs, for example, supported EVident Battery with industry connections and information for founders. The company received a capital infusion through a $350,000 InnovateMass grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. And its participation in MassChallenge helped build networks. The startup also gained recognition after being named a MassEcon 2025 Honoree. Recently, the company has established connections with the Berkshire Innovation Center and Forge for manufacturing support.
Founder to Founder: Here are three things Jinqiang Ning wants every new founder to know.
- Start with a problem, not a solution: Rather than beginning by commercializing, it’s best to really listen to customers and develop a product that will meet their needs.
- Build trust in your brand: Credibility is crucial every step of the way. A team must have trust in their founder and leaders, and companies must earn customers’ confidence in the products they deliver.
- Take advantage of the resources around you: If you’re starting a company at school, leverage available resources there – including incubator programs, small grants, and networking events like conferences. Always connect with other experienced founders around you. If you’re not starting at an academic institution, you can build your networks through work experiences, while focusing on identifying a problem. Massachusetts also has a lot of resources for founders, from startup programs to the Small Business Initiative.
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