EPISODE · Apr 3, 2026 · 32 MIN
#115 Joseph Kao Predictive Maintenance for Power Infrastructure with Magnetic Sensing and Edge AI
from PreVetted Podcast · host Federico Ramallo
Joseph Kao is the CEO and co founder of Magnefy, a Stanford spin out building predictive monitoring for critical power assets like transformers, inverters, and power cables. He explains how Magnefy uses high frequency magnetic sensing, similar to an ECG for electrical equipment, to listen to the “heartbeat” of the grid and detect early anomalies months in advance. Joseph shares why this matters now: millions of transformers are aging, replacement lead times are stretching into years, and operators need earlier, more reliable signals to prevent costly outages and catastrophic events.In the conversation, Joseph breaks down what the sensor measures, how current flow creates magnetic fields, and how the platform converts high fidelity waveform data into actionable insights. He also explains the role of AI in separating noise from real faults, classifying failure types, reducing false positives, and fusing multiple data sources like temperature and gas samples into a dynamic health score and fleet ranking.Joseph traces his founder story back to growing up in Taiwan recycling with his grandparents, his UC Berkeley PhD in materials science, and his work at Apple and Meta on advanced materials for AR and VR. He shares how those experiences shaped his approach to de risking hard technical problems, building strong teams, and translating user needs into engineering requirements. He also discusses his angel investing through Kalford One, what he looks for in early deep tech founders, and the energy trends he is watching, including behind the meter power, storage, and new generation options. He closes with advice to be bolder earlier and pursue higher impact paths.About Joseph Kao:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephkao-sfbay/About Federico Ramallo ✨👨💻🌎🚀 Software Engineering Manager | 🛠 Founder of DensityLabs.io & PreVetted.ai | 🤝 Connecting 🇺🇸 U.S. teams with top nearshore 🌎 LATAM engineers- 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/framallo/- 🌐 https://densitylabs.io- ✅ https://prevetted.ai🎙 PreVetted Podcast 🎧📡- 🎯 https://prevetted.ai/podcast- 🐦 https://x.com/PrevettedPod- 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/prevetted-podcast00:00 Introduction to Magnify and Joseph Kao01:20 Understanding Predictive Maintenance in Power Infrastructure04:17 Joseph's Journey: From Material Science to Magnify09:52 The Role of AI in Predictive Monitoring15:11 Challenges and Innovations in Sensor Technology19:13 Leadership Lessons from Big Tech to Startups24:58 Investing in the Future: Supporting Deep Tech Founders28:32 The Future of Energy: Alternative Sources and Resilience32:04 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement for Entrepreneurs
What this episode covers
Joseph Kao is the CEO and co founder of Magnefy, a Stanford spin out building predictive monitoring for critical power assets like transformers, inverters, and power cables. He explains how Magnefy uses high frequency magnetic sensing, similar to an ECG for electrical equipment, to listen to the “heartbeat” of the grid and detect early anomalies months in advance. Joseph shares why this matters now: millions of transformers are aging, replacement lead times are stretching into years, and operators need earlier, more reliable signals to prevent costly outages and catastrophic events.In the conversation, Joseph breaks down what the sensor measures, how current flow creates magnetic fields, and how the platform converts high fidelity waveform data into actionable insights. He also explains the role of AI in separating noise from real faults, classifying failure types, reducing false positives, and fusing multiple data sources like temperature and gas samples into a dynamic health score and fleet ranking.Joseph traces his founder story back to growing up in Taiwan recycling with his grandparents, his UC Berkeley PhD in materials science, and his work at Apple and Meta on advanced materials for AR and VR. He shares how those experiences shaped his approach to de risking hard technical problems, building strong teams, and translating user needs into engineering requirements. He also discusses his angel investing through Kalford One, what he looks for in early deep tech founders, and the energy trends he is watching, including behind the meter power, storage, and new generation options. He closes with advice to be bolder earlier and pursue higher impact paths.About Joseph Kao:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephkao-sfbay/About Federico Ramallo ✨👨💻🌎🚀 Software Engineering Manager | 🛠 Founder of DensityLabs.io & PreVetted.ai | 🤝 Connecting 🇺🇸 U.S. teams with top nearshore 🌎 LATAM engineers- 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/framallo/- 🌐 https://densitylabs.io- ✅ https://prevetted.ai🎙 PreVetted Podcast 🎧📡- 🎯 https://prevetted.ai/podcast- 🐦 https://x.com/PrevettedPod- 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/prevetted-podcast00:00 Introduction to Magnify and Joseph Kao01:20 Understanding Predictive Maintenance in Power Infrastructure04:17 Joseph's Journey: From Material Science to Magnify09:52 The Role of AI in Predictive Monitoring15:11 Challenges and Innovations in Sensor Technology19:13 Leadership Lessons from Big Tech to Startups24:58 Investing in the Future: Supporting Deep Tech Founders28:32 The Future of Energy: Alternative Sources and Resilience32:04 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement for Entrepreneurs
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#115 Joseph Kao Predictive Maintenance for Power Infrastructure with Magnetic Sensing and Edge AI
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