Founders

Prior to co-founding Enovix, Ashok was senior director of engineering at FormFactor, a leader in the design and production of patented 3D MEMS contact technology for semiconductor wafer testing. At FormFactor, he led an engineering organization that increased the yield of complex 3D electromechanical devices on silicon substrates from low single-digits to over 90%, while scaling to large arrays capable of massively parallel wafer testing.

Over a 20-year period, from 1983 to 2003, Ashok advanced through roles of increasing engineering and management responsibility in the IBM hard disk-drive division. He led research groups developing precision ceramic machining, development and introduction of the first giant magneto-resistive (GMR) head, and, ultimately, the new product and technology transfer organizations for thin-film disk drive heads. Ashok earned a B.S. with honors in chemical engineering from U.C. Berkeley. He has authored or co-authored over 20 patents or patent applications in battery technology, 3D architecture, electrochemistry, and precision machining.

Prior to co-founding Enovix, Murali was involved in the development of new materials and structures at FormFactor, a leader in the design and production of patented 3D MEMS contact technology for semiconductor wafer testing. This included the invention of metal deposition processes and chemistries for high-aspect ratio electromechanical deposition, electroless deposition, and etching.

Previously, at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center and Storage Systems Division, Murali was responsible for research, development, and implementation of novel high-moment magnetic materials essential to achieving a 10X increase in the areal density of hard-disk drives. Murali earned a B.S. in chemical and electrochemical engineering from the Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) in Karaikudi, India and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in chemical engineering. He has been cited as an inventor on over 30 patents or patent applications in electromechanical materials, processes, and architectures.

Prior to co-founding Enovix, Harrold was vice president of operations at FormFactor, a leader in the design and production of patented 3D MEMS contact technology for semiconductor wafer testing. During his 5-year tenure, he led operations from research and development through pilot production to high-volume manufacturing. This helped set the stage for a successful IPO in 2003 and contributed to an 370% increase in annual revenue, from $79M in 2002 to $369M in 2006.

Before FormFactor, Harrold spent 17 years in operations management at the IBM thin-film disk-drive head operations in San Jose, CA. He led an organization of 250 engineering and manufacturing personnel that continually met production goals while reducing cost-per-wafer by 50%. He also assumed financial plan responsibility for IBM’s global disk-drive head operations in Asia, Central America, and Europe. Harrold earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from U.C. Davis and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.