UCF electrical engineering alum Joe Sleppy 麻豆精品 S�18 started his first company in high school 麻豆精品 S� an adaptative equipment for exercising, inspired by his mother 麻豆精品 S檚 bout with carpal tunnel. When it came time to decide on where to further his education, he wanted to be where the action was.
麻豆精品 S�There 麻豆精品 S檚 a lot of places that say, 麻豆精品 S楬ey, look at all the things we 麻豆精品 S檝e done. 麻豆精品 S� And then there 麻豆精品 S檚 UCF that says, 麻豆精品 S楲ook at all the things we 麻豆精品 S檙e doing, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Sleppy says. 麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to be part of building the future. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to be part of building the future. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Joe Sleppy
In his first year, he landed undergraduate research opportunities thanks to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 , which offers students opportunities for career exploration and experiential learning in STEM the first two years of their college career.
In UCF Professor of Nanotechnology Jayan Thomas 麻豆精品 S� lab, the two partnered on the idea that would eventually become Capacitech Energy, where Sleppy has served as CEO since its inception in 2016 during his sophomore year.
Future-Proofing the Power Grid
Capacitech is a rapid response energy storage leader building high-power and space-conscious energy storage systems for an increasingly complex grid. Essentially, Sleppy and his team turn supercapacitor components into modular, plug-and-play systems that harden power infrastructure against power demand spikes, outages and equipment damage.
Sleppy explains traditional power infrastructure, such as generators and batteries, are like a marathon runner whereas supercapacitors are more like a sprinter. Modern facilities 麻豆精品 S� like data centers that power AI 麻豆精品 S� demand power 24/7 but also demand even more power than normal for just a few seconds. Ideally, both a sprinter and marathon runner are required. So, Capacitech 麻豆精品 S檚 products make it practical to form relay teams between the traditional infrastructure (marathon runners) and supercapacitors (sprinters).
麻豆精品 S淚f we can use supercapacitors to complement batteries, generators, fuel cells and the broader grid to serve this demand profile that 麻豆精品 S檚 coming from manufacturing facilities and data centers, then we 麻豆精品 S檙e making the world a better place 麻豆精品 S� economically, but also in terms of power sustainability and security. And I think that that 麻豆精品 S檚 very important, 麻豆精品 S� Sleppy says.
They made their first commercial sale in 2022 to Red Bull and have been running full force ever since.
Built by UCF
The company was bolstered by many resources at UCF on its way to raising the $2.5 million it has so far through investors and federal research and development programs. To this day, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 continues to house Capacitech 麻豆精品 S檚 operations with adaptable leasing structures, physical space, mentoring programs and community that have adapted to their needs as they 麻豆精品 S檝e grown. This year, they 麻豆精品 S檒l expand into new warehouse in research park, adjacent to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 campus.
麻豆精品 S淭he world is watching. Let 麻豆精品 S檚 use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Joe Sleppy
麻豆精品 S淯CF encouraged me to think outside of the box, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淯CF is an innovative university because they 麻豆精品 S檒l ask, 麻豆精品 S榃hy not? 麻豆精品 S� I think I share the same philosophy with running Capacitech. Let 麻豆精品 S檚 try it. The world is watching. Let 麻豆精品 S檚 use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better. 麻豆精品 S�
In 2026 Sleppy expects Capacitech to announce new partnerships and pilot programs in industry. And they 麻豆精品 S檙e already engaged in mentoring the next generation of Knights with internship opportunities for students.
麻豆精品 S淓ntrepreneurship is how the world gets better 麻豆精品 S� whether it 麻豆精品 S檚 a nonprofit or a tech startup like ours, 麻豆精品 S� Sleppy says. 麻豆精品 S淏y reducing strain on the grid and extending the life of critical infrastructure like batteries and microgrids, we 麻豆精品 S檙e making energy systems more resilient and accessible. That means fewer vulnerable communities at risk and more room for innovation to grow. It 麻豆精品 S檚 hard not to get excited when your work genuinely makes the world better. 麻豆精品 S�
Joe Sleppy was recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Energy & Green Tech list in 2026.
