Ella Leon and Diego Selem, two ambitious freshmen at the University of Miami, are diving into their entrepreneurial journey with great enthusiasm just days into their first semester.
The duo co-founded Diselca, a startup focused on advancing electric vehicle battery technology to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Ella, serving as the CEO, hails from Israel, where she mastered a diverse range of languages including English, Spanish, Hebrew, Russian, and French.
Her educational path led her to study business law at UM, laying a strong foundation for her future in entrepreneurship.
Diego, the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering.
He brings valuable experience from his previous startup, GumGauge, which he initiated during high school.
Diselca’s mission is straightforward yet ambitious: they aim to reduce battery flammability, enhance mileage, and improve overall battery safety without incurring prohibitive costs.
Leon explained, “We want to bring the benefits of solid-state technology right now, but without the price tag.”
The innovative idea for Diselca blossomed during a five-month summer break after their early high school graduation, during which Selem took the opportunity to question how to best utilize his time.
Faced with challenges in securing a job permit for his residency application in the U.S., he decided to launch an engineering startup.
This pivotal decision led him to approach Ella with his vision.
“He had an idea, and we sat down to figure out how it could develop over the next few years,” Ella reflected.
As they brainstormed and strategized, Diselca began to take life.
The name itself, Diselca, is a creative blend of their first names, serving as a reminder of their collaborative foundation.
With Diego concentrating on the technical engineering aspects, particularly related to battery technology, Ella played a crucial role in developing their wider vision and strategic plan.
Based on discussions with fire department professionals across the U.S., they have identified a significant problem: vehicle flammability poses immense risks, leading to costly billion-dollar recalls.
Leon noted, “We’ve come to the conclusion that there is a really big issue with vehicle flammability.”
Selem supported her insights by discussing the challenges of transitioning to solid-state batteries, which, despite being hailed as the future of energy storage, remain a distant goal due to massive production costs and the need for factory overhauls.
Currently, Diselca’s batteries are not yet in production, but the team is optimistic about the potential for collaboration with their university.
Leon shared, “We’ve had a lot of positive support from professors, and it’s been amazing to even discuss having some of our batteries made and tested here at UM.”
Their involvement with Diselca balances well with their academic pursuits, and Leon appreciates not having to choose between her studies and her startup.
The initial financial support for Diselca has come from individual investors, including a family of Tesla owners who resonate with the concerns Diselca addresses.
While the technical challenges are daunting, both Leon and Selem emphasize the critical role of resilience in their entrepreneurial path.
Diego acknowledged that they have already confronted numerous “roadblocks,” yet he believes their mindset is crucial for overcoming these obstacles.
In Leon’s words, “As long as you have the mindset to persevere, you always will.”
image source from：themiamihurricane
