FOUNDER OF THE MONTH
ANGEL MELCHOR
INN > CHRG
BY Russell Nichols
Three years ago , Angel Melchor was planning to go to law school , then run for office . He spent 15 years working in political campaigns and government , advocating for environmental issues and social justice . But after a trip to Israel , where Melchor visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation , he redirected his energy .
“ I felt my greatest impact was not going to be running for office ,” he says , “ but creating a business that would be meaningful to achieve and promote sustainability .”
Now Melchor is the CEO and cofounder of INN > CHRG , a Davis-based startup that aims to help eliminate range anxiety for electric vehicle drivers . His company is developing an app that connects private property owners ( residential , business , etc .) with electricity available to potentially become charging locations for EV drivers .
As the youngest of seven children , Melchor was raised by a single mother who had no tolerance for wasting electricity . A dollar more spent on electricity was a dollar less to provide for her kids , he says . Melchor also grew up with a strong fear of the greenhouse effect and its impact on the world of tomorrow . All of these factors fueled the creation of INN > CHRG , which has won four awards , including $ 10,000 from the UC Davis Big Bang ! Competition . The startup is in its early stages , but the concept to utilize existing charging stations for EV drivers ( similar to the Airbnb model ) has gotten traction , and Melchor seeks to enhance the entire experience of driving and owning an EV .
“ Sababa .” Means My backup name for the startup was ................................
cool ( in Hebrew slang ). It was the first word that .......................................................................................... came to mind when the idea came to me . .............................................................................................
If I could have any other job , I ’ d be an ...................................... archaeologist .
The book that best represents my approach to business would be ..... ...................................................................................................... “ The Alchemist .”
a responsibility to the future . I believe life is ..................................................................................
don ’ t wait on If I could give my younger self advice , it would be .................................. the world to change , build the change now . ............................................................................................................
DO YOU OWN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ? “ I was going to buy one , but I decided to spend the money for business school . Also , I have two kids , which makes it more difficult .”
WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF INN > CHRG ? “ Our goal is to democratize and decentralize the future of EV charging for anyone to participate in the enhancement of the charging network .”
122 comstocksmag . com | December 2021
For more on INN > CHRG , read Russell Nichols ’ Startup of the Month column at comstocksmag . com .