2026 Summer Workshop
PowerAmerica's 2026 Summer Workshop will take place Aug. 11-13 at NC State University's McKimmon Conference Center. The workshop will feature engaging panel discussions and presentations on the latest in the technology and business of SiC and GaN power semiconductors and applications. Registration details for this year's workshop will be released soon.
Workshop Details
This year’s workshop will include:
- New MIP and IIP Presentations
- Industry Keynote
- WBG Small Business Panel
- Technology Roadmap Development
- GaN Pilot Line Progress
- Engaging Tutorial Presentations
Keynote Speaker
Gene Sheridan
Entrepreneur, Investor, CEO
Bio
Gene Sheridan is a serial entrepreneur that has created and led six highly successful technology businesses throughout his 35+ year career. After his BSEE degree from Clarkson University, he joined International Rectifier (IRF) in 1988 where he built a strong foundation in all aspects of IR’s semiconductor business across R&D, operations, sales and marketing.
He went on to create and lead three different businesses, each targeting different markets from consumer, computing and enterprise / data center segments, and each achieving extraordinary growth and market leadership. After IR in 2006, Mr. Sheridan became CEO of small European start-up BridgeCo to scale the business globally. After re-focusing the company on multi-media streaming and forming an exclusive partnership with Apple to develop Airplay music streaming, the company rapidly achieved over 90% market share leadership in the consumer audio space, leading to impressive revenue growth and a successful sale to SMSC. In 2014, Mr. Sheridan co-founded as CEO two power semiconductor start-ups, Navitas Semi and Empower Semi. Navitas went on to achieve GaN leadership in creating the GaN mobile charger market and a $1B IPO under his leadership and is currently valued at over $5B. Concurrently, Empower established a leadership position with Integrated Voltage Regulators (IVRs) powering AI processors for some of the largest hyperscalers in the world and, in June of this year, it was announced that ADI would acquire Empower for $1.5B in an all-cash deal. Currently, Mr. Sheridan is nurturing multiple promising start-ups, coaching the next generation of technology entrepreneurs and managing investments for his own portfolio and other venture capital funds.
Talk Title: Creating Next-Generation Start-Ups in the Age of AI
Mr. Sheridan will share his experiences as a highly successful serial entrepreneur in the technology sector. He will define the success factors that have been critical to each of his 6+ new businesses. Using each of these new businesses as case studies, he will explain the winning formula related to building extraordinary teams, identifying problems worth solving, nurturing innovation, defining MVPs (Minimum Value Propositions), and making the right priority choices at each stage of development to create and execute a successful start-up. In this new age of AI, Mr. Sheridan will discuss the significant challenges and opportunities that AI presents for technology start-ups and how start-ups need to adapt for success with AI.
Tutorial Speakers
Primit Parikh
Strategic Advisor, Navitas Semiconductor
Bio
Dr. Primit Parikh is a seasoned entrepreneur and an experienced semiconductor executive with over 25 years of progressive leadership roles (Nitres, Cree/Wolfspeed, Transphorm, Renesas). He is passionate about creating value from the intersection of business and technology. His background includes capital raises and financial strategy, international markets and strategic partnerships (Taiwan, China, Japan, EU, US, India), key customer relationships, products and technology, operations and manufacturing, IP, and Government contracting.
Dr. Parikh is currently Strategic Advisor to the CEO of Navitas Semiconductor, serves on the Board of Directors of PowerICs, an India-based startup and advises startups as well as VCs on fundraising and diligence. Most recently, he was the VP and GM of the GAN business division at Renesas, following the acquisition of Transphorm Inc., where he was the Co-founder, President, and CEO. Primit led Transphorm, a pioneer in GaN Power Semiconductors, growing it from inception through its public company listing (Nasdaq: TGAN, >$300M market cap, 2024), partnering with its phenomenal team. Before that, he led GaN electronics and Government business P&L at Nitres Inc. through its acquisition by Cree (now Wolfspeed).
Primit received his B.Tech. in EE from IIT, Mumbai and his MS and Ph.D. in ECE from UCSB. He has 50+ patents awarded, co-authored 75+ publications, presentations, and trade articles and has delivered numerous technology, business, and financial presentations, including media appearances on national networks. He resides in the amazing Santa Barbara area with his wonderful family.
Talk Title: Commercializing Innovation and Engineering the Future Through Entrepreneurship – Journey (and Pitfalls) from Startup to Exit
Rob Weber
Managing Director, Antiphony Partners
Bio
Rob Weber is currently Managing Director of Antiphony Partners, LLC, a strategic consulting firm focused on innovation and strategic marketing. Prior to Antiphony, Rob served as Senior Business Development Director for Navitas Semiconductor, where he focused on high-power/high-voltage SiC power devices.
From 2019-2023, Rob was Product Line Director for the DGD (AgileSwitch) business unit of Microchip Technology Inc. Previously, Rob served as CEO of AgileSwitch, LLC, a power electronics firm he co-founded in 2010 that developed and produced innovative electronic component technologies (gate drivers) used in renewable energy and e-transportation applications.
From 2007 to 2009 Rob was CEO of Intellifit Corporation where he led the 3D body scanner company through development of new business models to an acquisition by competitor.
From 1997 through 2007, Rob worked as both an innovation strategy consultant for Antiphony Partners, LLC and as Senior Fellow for the Fisher Program in Management and Technology of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. Also during this period, he co-founded Robin Hood Ventures and the Mid Atlantic Angel Group Fund, which collectively invested over $15M in over 40 emerging growth enterprises.
Rob turned around and sold a Venture Capital (VC) backed electronic component company, Elastomeric Technologies, for a 10X return, between 1990 and 1997. From 1988 to 1990, he served in a business development role for Knoa Inc., a VC-backed multimedia and e-learning software company, where he raised over $5M in investment capital. Prior to Knoa, Rob was a co-founder and Director of Marketing for ENSONIQ Corp, where he led product marketing for this VC-backed consumer digital audio products company that sold for over $80M, representing a 100X return to investors.
He started his career with Howard, Lawson, a boutique investment banking firm, where he worked from 1988 to 1990 developing strategic plans and raising seed funding for startup companies. He received a BAS from the Engineering School and a BSE from the Wharton School through the dual degree Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rob is an avid skier and cyclist. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Talk Title: From Lab to Launch to Acquisition: Entrepreneurship in Wide-Bandgap Power Electronics