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Erin Sawyer

Venture Partner at VoLo Earth Ventures

Greater Phoenix Area

Overview 

Erin Sawyer is a Venture Capitalist specializing in disruptive technologies within the automotive industry, particularly in electric vehicle technology. With a background in global supply chain management, she has held leadership roles at notable companies like Tesla Motors and Wrightspeed, showcasing expertise in cross-functional team leadership and process improvement. Erin has successfully transitioned from roles as a Mechanical Engineer at Ford Motor Co. and Cummins Inc. to Vice President of Supply Chain at Wrightspeed and Group Manager at Tesla Motors, where she played a key role in developing and implementing innovative supply chain strategies for electric vehicle technology.

Work Experience 

  • Board Observer

    2024 - Current

Developing a fundamentally new architecture for electric energy storage

  • Board of Advisors

    2023

HEVO provides a seamless, safe, and universal wireless charging solution for electric vehicles.

Raised $780,000.00 from Obsidian Investment Partners and Pario Ventures.

  • Venture Partner

    2022

    Invests in early-stage climate tech companies such as electricity, mobility, construction, and embodied carbon. Advises portfolio companies to help scale their business in the areas of supply chain and manufacturing.

VoLo Earth Ventures is an early Stage investor invests in pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds.

  • Mom

    2018 - 2022

    Designer of two human lives.

  • Vice President of Supply Chain

    2016 - 2018

    Responsible for developing a global supply chain that supports Wrightspeed's mission to provide the world’s most efficient range-extended electric vehicle powertrain for the next-generation of commercial fleets. Established domestic and international supply chain partnerships that ensure stable supply and effective costs. Built and managed a high performance supply chain team that evaluates, selects, develops and qualifies suppliers for electrical, mechanical parts and sub-assemblies. Reported directly to CEO.

  • Group Manager, Global Supply - Core Technologies

    2014 - 2015

    Responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies in a large scale manufacturing environment. Identified and evaluated new / increased sources of global supply that support capacity expansions, new manufacturing plans, new product launches, and sustainability objectives. Managed and coached a team of 25 buyers, commodity managers, and purchasing managers to utilize advanced negotiation and purchasing techniques to deliver aggressive cost reduction objectives. Reported directly to VP of Supply Chain.

Tesla Motors is an electric vehicle and clean energy company that provides electric cars, solar, and renewable energy solutions.

Raised $19,374,213,101.00 from European Union, PennDOT, Australian Renewable Energy Agency and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

  • Manager

    2013 - 2014

    Led major profit improvement initiatives and projects in strategic sourcing, process improvement, and organizational transformation for Fortune 500 clients across multiple industries including specialty apparel retail, large multi-brand CPG, and global manufacturing.

  • Associate

    2010 - 2012

  • New Product Launch Lead Buyer, US Light Truck/SUV

    2006 - 2009

    Performed strategic sourcing of turbocharger products in a high volume, automotive manufacturing environment. Negotiated aggressive supplier cost reductions and met production quality and capacity targets for 50+ global suppliers across N. America, Europe, and Asia.

  • Program Manager, GM/Isuzu Team

    2004 - 2006

    Managed new product launches of turbochargers for large OEM automotive customers. Led a cross-functional team of engineering, manufacturing, and sales representatives to develop new products to meet customer quality, schedule, and cost requirements.

Honeywell Hometown is a not-for-profit organization that deploys the efforts of Honeywell India towards social responsibility interventions.

  • Mechanical Engineer

    2001 - 2003

    Various roles in Engineering R&D organization, designing and testing turbocharged diesel engines for Light and Medium-Duty truck applications.

Cummins is a manufacturing industry that designs, manufactures, and sells powertrain components and diesel engines for commercial trucks.

Raised $80,262,500.00 from US Department of Energy, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office and NYSERDA.

  • Mechanical Engineer

    1999 - 1999

    Designed and tested new automatic transmissions for Light-Duty truck and SUV applications.

The Lincoln Motor Company that sells luxury vehicles under the Lincoln brand.

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