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Instacart's Founder Took Three Weeks Off. Then Started Exploring Climate, Space, and Robots.

By Apoorva Mehta · Marketing · 1 min read

Apoorva Mehta recruited a SpaceX engineer, started a carbon removal company, then handed it to the co-founder because the best ideas weren't coming from him.

Key Points

After Instacart, Mehta explored carbon removal, planetary Wi-Fi, robotics, and more
He recruited a SpaceX engineer for a carbon capture startup, then realized the engineer should lead it
The right idea takes time -- Instacart took 20 tries the first time around

All the best ideas were not coming from me. They were coming from my co-founder Glenn, who was the SpaceX engineer. So it made sense for him to be running the company.

Three Weeks Off. The Longest Break Since Instacart.

Mehta: I took three weeks off. To be honest, that's the longest time I've taken off since I started Instacart. And then I started exploring areas that have been fascinating to me for some time.

Three weeks off. The longest time I've taken off since I started Instacart.

He Built a Carbon Removal Company and Gave It Away

Mehta: The first category of ideas I started to explore was in climate. One of the coolest things happening in climate right now is carbon removal. That seemed like an area where technical and product innovation could really change its trajectory.

Mehta: I recruited a former SpaceX engineer and a postgrad from Berkeley, and we started a modular direct air capture company. While doing that, I realized that all the best ideas were not coming from me. They were coming from my co-founder Glenn, who was the SpaceX engineer. So it made sense for him to be running the company. He's running that company today. They're doing incredibly well.

All the best ideas were not coming from me. They were coming from Glenn. So it made sense for him to be running the company.

Planetary Wi-Fi, Humanoid Robots, Teleoperated Cars

Mehta: After that, I started exploring space. The cost of getting to orbit was going down pretty dramatically as a result of the reusable rockets from SpaceX. The idea I explored was planetary Wi-Fi. Today on Earth, less than 5% of the surface actually has any connectivity. How could you create a constellation that would allow for the world to have Wi-Fi everywhere?

Mehta: I explored that one. I was not the right founder for that, for multiple reasons. I looked at robotics and humanoid robots, teleoperated cars. A variety of diverse areas. Either they were not the right fit for me as a founder, or they were just not good business ideas.

Less than 5% of Earth's surface has any connectivity. How could you create a constellation for Wi-Fi everywhere?

Twenty Ideas Is Normal

Mehta: I decided not to pursue them. I think that might take some time. With Instacart, it took me 20 ideas to get to the right one.

With Instacart, it took me 20 ideas to get to the right one.