About Us

Rutger van Raalten is the co-inventor and co-founder of CarbonX and serves as CEO. He was part of the Delft University of Technology team that first developed CarbonX’s 3D carbon network material in 2007, work that formed the basis for the company’s patented technology.
With an MSc in Chemical Process Engineering and 15+ years as a deep-tech entrepreneur, Rutger has led CarbonX from lab discovery to commercial scale, including major scale-ups in existing carbon-black plants across the US and China.

Under his leadership, CarbonX has grown from a university spin-off into a recognized strategic material supplier for global EV mobility and energy storage. He continues his mission to bridge breakthrough science with industrial reality, forging strategic partnerships and accelerating the adoption of sustainable technologies.

Looking ahead, Rutger’s vision is clear: shaping a new reality, where advanced carbon technology underpins cleaner energy and smarter mobility. His leadership is focused on not just following industry trends, but setting them.

Daniela Sordi is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of CarbonX, where she drives the scientific and technical vision behind the company’s carbon-based anode materials. With a PhD in Chemistry and more than 15 years of expertise in carbon nanomaterials for the automotive sector, she was instrumental in developing CarbonX’s core 3D porous carbon technology—engineered as a high-performance, fast-charging, and low-impact anode active material.

Daniela drives the company’s R&D strategy, IP portfolio, and lab infrastructure. She is currently expanding a state-of-the-art R&D facility to support industrial partnerships and accelerate material qualification.

In parallel, Daniela is committed to building a collaborative culture that values equity, diversity and openness. She is actively working on improving gender representation in science and engineering.

Under her leadership, CarbonX has grown from a university spin-off into a leading deep-tech company, now undergoing qualification with several global battery manufacturers. Daniela continues to bridge the gap between lab and industry, shaping a more sustainable, resilient battery supply chain through material innovation and inclusive leadership.

Steen McCollin is Chief Commercial Officer at CarbonX and a professional engineer with more than two decades of experience in automotive engineering, electrification, and advanced materials. At CarbonX, he leads the global commercial strategy, building partnerships and expanding markets for next-generation anode materials that accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.

Steen’s career began at Jaguar Land Rover, where he spent 18 years in product creation and development under BMW, Ford, and Tata ownership. He revitalised the Lighting Department through advanced technologies and innovative business strategies that boosted both revenue and profitability. His OEM background, strengthened by an MBA, gave him deep expertise in product development, quality systems, and commercial leadership.

After leaving JLR, Steen joined a UK-based automotive lighting start-up, helping transform it into a successful international design and manufacturing company with strong presence in Europe and the USA. He later became CCO at Nexeon, a leader in silicon anode technology for lithium-ion batteries, where he was instrumental in scaling innovation for the electric vehicle market.
Today, Steen brings this experience to CarbonX, where he is committed to delivering innovative, commercially viable alternatives to graphite in battery anodes and securing a strong role for CarbonX in the global EV supply chain.

Jan Geschiere is the Chief Financial Officer of CarbonX. As our CFO, he drives financial strategy, operations and fundraising. Together with the management team, he oversees our strategic planning and growth initiatives.

What brought him to CarbonX is his excitement about our company mission as well as our technology platform, offering a scalable solution to an urgent need.  Together with the team, Jan will focus on successfully scaling CarbonX in the years ahead. His dream? Doing his part to drive electrification through a more independent, cost-effective and clean battery supply chain.

Before joining CarbonX, Jan was the CFO at Solynta, a biotech scale-up based in Wageningen, the Netherlands. During his tenure at Solynta, he helped to steer the company through a period of significant development including multiple financing rounds.

Prior to that, Jan worked as a consultant at Bain & Company, specializing in Private Equity, M&A and industrial companies. As a consultant, he advised companies on matters such as commercial due diligence, growth strategy and post-merger integration. Jan holds a Master’s degree in financial economics from the University of Groningen and an Executive Master in Finance & Control (RC) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.c