Drew Baglino has launched a new heat pump startup, adding another chapter to his post-Tesla career and signaling a fresh push into hardware aimed at the energy transition.
Reports indicate the company is called Sadi Thermal Machines, and it marks Baglino’s second startup since leaving Tesla in 2024. The move stands out because Baglino built his reputation in electrification and energy systems, and heat pumps sit at the center of a growing effort to cut building emissions and lower energy use.
Baglino’s latest move suggests the next battleground in clean tech may run through the machines that heat and cool buildings.
The limited details now available leave major questions unanswered, including the startup’s product focus, target market, and funding plans. Still, the choice of sector matters. Heat pumps have drawn rising attention from investors, policymakers, and homeowners as countries look for practical ways to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel heating without waiting for breakthrough technology.
Key Facts
- Drew Baglino has founded a startup called Sadi Thermal Machines.
- The company focuses on heat pump technology, according to reports.
- This is Baglino’s second startup since leaving Tesla in 2024.
- Baglino also leads Heron Power, based on the source report.
Baglino’s involvement alone will put Sadi Thermal Machines on the industry’s radar. Former Tesla leaders often attract outsized scrutiny because they carry deep experience in scaling hard technology, building supply chains, and turning niche products into mass-market systems. That does not guarantee success, but it does raise expectations.
What comes next will determine whether Sadi Thermal Machines becomes a serious player or simply an intriguing bet by a high-profile founder. Watch for details on the company’s technology, early hires, and any funding or pilot deployments. Those signals will show whether Baglino sees heat pumps as a side bet — or as one of the next major fronts in electrification.