Resonant Link

# Resonant Link: Wireless Charging Pioneer

High-Level Overview

Resonant Link develops high-efficiency wireless charging technology for mission-critical applications across medical devices, industrial fleets, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics.[1][2] The company solves a fundamental problem in electrification: the need to eliminate charging cables while maintaining near-wired charging speeds and efficiency. Founded in 2017, Resonant Link has achieved significant traction with six Fortune 500 companies as customers, seven medical partners designing its technology into implantable devices, and 13 industrial fleets committed to deployment.[3]

The company's core innovation—a multi-layer self-resonant structure (MSRS)—enables wireless chargers that operate up to 10 times faster than conventional systems while maintaining thermal efficiency suitable for implanted medical devices.[2][3] This positions Resonant Link at the intersection of two massive trends: the electrification of transportation and the advancement of implantable medical technology that eliminates the need for invasive drivelines and repeated surgeries.

Origin Story

Resonant Link emerged from academic research at Dartmouth College and Stanford University.[4] The company was founded in 2017 by Grayson Zulauf (CEO, PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford), Aaron Stein (CTO, PhD in Power Electronics from University of Michigan), Phyo Aung Kyaw (CSO, PhD in Electrical Engineering from Dartmouth), and Professor Charlie Sullivan of Dartmouth.[3] The founding team included veterans from Tesla, Apple, Motiv, and Dynapower, blending academic rigor with industry experience.

The idea originated when Professor Sullivan was tasked in 2012 with building a wireless power system for heating magnetic nanoparticles as a cancer treatment—a problem that sparked years of research into practical wireless charging.[4] The breakthrough came when the team realized they could replace traditional thick conductors with thin foils (similar to aluminum foil) to achieve near-wired charging performance at a distance, unlocking applications previously thought impossible.[4] This technical insight, combined with Zulauf's entrepreneurial vision, crystallized into Resonant Link's founding mission: to eliminate drivelines and battery replacement surgeries in medical devices while accelerating fleet electrification.

Core Differentiators

• Superior charging speed: Wireless charging at 5x to 10x faster than conventional systems, approaching wired charging performance.[1][2]

• Thermal efficiency: MSRS technology enables charging at greater distances with smaller footprints and reduced heat emission—critical for FDA-compliant implantable devices.[4]

• Parking flexibility: 8x larger parking area tolerance than competing wireless chargers, eliminating the need for perfect vehicle alignment or disabling autonomous safety systems.[2]

• Multi-sector applicability: Proven across implantable medical devices, industrial material handling, electric vehicles, and robotics—demonstrating technology versatility.[1][3]

• Interoperability: Fully hands-free, automated charging that works across different battery types and vehicle platforms from a single system.[2]

• Intellectual property strength: 11 filed patents covering electromagnetism, analog circuits, and capacitor technology.[1]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Resonant Link operates at a critical inflection point in two transformative industries. The wireless EV charging market is poised for rapid growth, driven by advantages in dynamic charging, grid load management, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced contactless capabilities.[1] In March 2024, the company launched a groundbreaking wireless EV charging solution for industrial vehicles, signaling its pivot toward fleet electrification at scale.[1]

Simultaneously, the company addresses a profound medical challenge: implantable devices currently require drivelines (external power cables) that significantly degrade patient quality of life and are a leading source of infection.[4] Wireless power eliminates this constraint, enabling fully implanted devices that can function for a patient's lifetime without surgical replacement—a paradigm shift in cardiac and neurological treatment.

The timing is critical. Fleet electrification is accelerating globally, and regulatory bodies are increasingly focused on reducing surgical burden in healthcare. Resonant Link's technology bridges both domains, positioning it as infrastructure for the electrified, wirelessly-powered future.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Resonant Link's trajectory suggests a company at an inflection point. The company has raised $14.67M to date, with its most recent funding occurring three years ago.[1] However, recent developments—including partnerships with Advanced Charging Technologies (ACT) to integrate wireless charging into fleet operations and the launch of industrial EV charging solutions—indicate accelerating commercialization.[1][2]

The critical question ahead is execution at scale. Medical applications offer high margins and defensible IP moats but move slowly through FDA approval. Industrial fleet charging offers faster deployment but faces competition from wired fast-charging infrastructure. The company's ability to simultaneously penetrate both markets while managing capital efficiently will determine whether it becomes a foundational infrastructure player or remains a niche specialist.

Note: As of the latest available information, Resonant Link Inc. transitioned its medical business to a separate entity, Resonant Link Medical, while continuing to manage its patent portfolio and pursue non-medical wireless power applications.[5] This structural shift suggests a strategic focus on scaling industrial and automotive applications while licensing medical IP—a pragmatic approach to capital efficiency in a capital-intensive hardware business.