Lawrence Williams
Founder, Merlin Mobility and President of Merlin Mobility Foundation
Lawrence is a technology entrepreneur who has dedicated his career to developing solutions for some of the world’s most intractable problems. He was an early executive at SpaceX, Zipline, and Teledesic; he served as an advisor for Tesla Motors, Palantir and Icon Aircraft, and he possesses a unique combination of corporate and government experience in technology regulation, strategy, and business.
In 2020, Lawrence started Merlin Mobility and the Merlin Mobility Foundation to develop advanced technology solutions to make driving easier, safer, and more accessible for all. Before Merlin, Lawrence led market expansion for Zipline International, a Silicon Valley-based logistics company that designs, manufactures, and operates the world’s first and largest commercial drone-based delivery service.
Prior to Zipline, Lawrence assisted serial entrepreneur Elon Musk in growing Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) into the leading provider of space launch services, with over $4B in contracts, including NASA’s domestic commercial crew and cargo program to replace the Space Shuttle.
His government experience includes having served as a special assistant to the administrator of the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a member of the Presidential transition team for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and a legislative assistant to U.S. Representative Ray Thornton on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Lawrence received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with honors from Georgetown University. He is a three-time Ironman triathlete who is passionate about health, nutrition, and exercise. He is also the co-founder and board member of Eat REAL, which is a nonprofit focused on improving transparency and health.