# Eric Wilhelm

> Eric J. Wilhelm is a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Instructables, the project-sharing community acquired by Autodesk in 2011. An MIT graduate with SB, SM and Ph.D. degrees, he co-founded Squid Labs, held Autodesk leadership roles, led SafeConnect Solar and helped found battery-equipped appliance company Copper in 2022. His published projects range from a nautilus bookshelf to a LEGO table with a parts bin.

- **Role:** Co-founder at Copper
- **Organizations:** Instructables, Squid Labs, Autodesk, SafeConnect Solar, Copper, Makani Power, Potenco
- **Education:** SB, SM and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Co-founded Instructables, acquired by Autodesk in 2011., Recognized among MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 in 2008., Received a National Inventors Hall of Fame Collegiate Inventors Award for nanoparticle printing research.

## Career timeline

- **2004** — Co-founded Squid Labs with Colin Bulthaup, Dan Goldwater and Saul Griffith.
- **2005** — Co-founded Instructables, which grew from documenting experimental kite-surfing projects.
- **2008** — Named to MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35.
- **2011** — Autodesk acquired Instructables; Wilhelm went on to lead hardware and communities.
- **2013** — Instructables introduced an iPhone app; Wilhelm had published 142 projects at the time.
- **2016** — Became vice president of Fusion 360 at Autodesk.
- **2018** — Began leading SafeConnect Solar.
- **2019** — Discussed creative communities and solar installation at MakerBay in Hong Kong.
- **2022** — Helped found Channing Street Copper Company, known as Copper.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Instructables, acquired by Autodesk in 2011.
- Recognized among MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 in 2008.
- Received a National Inventors Hall of Fame Collegiate Inventors Award for nanoparticle printing research.
- Co-founded Squid Labs and participated in spin-offs including Makani Power and Potenco.

## Latest updates

- **2025-08** — Copper, which Wilhelm helped found, announced $28 million in financing; coverage identified Sam Calisch as CEO.

## Links

- Website: https://www.instructables.com/member/ewilhelm/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjwilhelm
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ericwilhelm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewilhelm

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/eric-wilhelm
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24