# Russ Wilcox

> Russ Wilcox is a co-founder and former CEO of E Ink Corporation, which commercialized MIT electronic paper technology used in reading devices including the Amazon Kindle. He joined Pillar in 2017 and is now listed as a venture partner and CEO of Trellis Air, a Harvard spinout developing membrane-based dehumidification. His career combines laboratory commercialization, manufacturing, investing, and entrepreneurship teaching.

- **Role:** CEO at Trellis Air; Venture Partner at Pillar VC
- **Organizations:** E Ink Corporation, Trellis Air, Pillar VC, Harvard University, Harvard Business School, PureSpeech, Transatomic Power
- **Education:** A.B., Applied Mathematics, Harvard College, MBA, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Co-founded E Ink and helped commercialize MIT electronic paper for devices including Amazon Kindle and Sony readers., Helped E Ink establish manufacturing and ship displays at commercial scale., E Ink reached approximately $200 million in revenue/run rate in retrospective company and founder biographies.

## Career timeline

- **1989** — Graduated from Harvard College in applied mathematics.
- **1995** — Earned a Harvard Business School MBA and joined PureSpeech, as recalled by Jamie Goldstein.
- **1997** — Joined the electronic paper founding team in March; co-founded E Ink and helped arrange its initial $1.7 million investment.
- **2003** — Chose the electronic reader opportunity over watch business, according to his 2018 interview.
- **2009** — Was president and CEO when Prime View International announced its acquisition of E Ink; initial announced consideration was approximately $215 million, with revised share terms later that year.
- **2010** — Left E Ink after approximately 13 years, as described retrospectively in interviews.
- **2012** — Was leading Transatomic Power, working with MIT nuclear researchers Leslie Dewan and Mark Massie.
- **2017** — Joined Pillar as an investing partner.
- **2019** — Named to Harvard’s Experts-in-Residence program.
- **2024** — Began building Trellis Air while continuing with Pillar in an operating partner role.
- **2025** — Harvard described him as Trellis Air CEO as the company pursued commercialization of membrane-based dehumidification.

## Achievements

- Co-founded E Ink and helped commercialize MIT electronic paper for devices including Amazon Kindle and Sony readers.
- Helped E Ink establish manufacturing and ship displays at commercial scale.
- E Ink reached approximately $200 million in revenue/run rate in retrospective company and founder biographies.
- Led E Ink through its 2009 acquisition by Prime View International.
- Joined Pillar as an investor in 2017 and advised university founders through Harvard’s Experts-in-Residence program.

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — Harvard described Trellis Air’s commercialization plans and prototype field tests in Miami and at HouseZero, with Wilcox serving as CEO.
- **2025-03** — Trellis Air filed a Form D; Wilcox signed as president and was identified as an executive officer and director.
- **2024-12** — Publicly discussed his new Trellis Air company and sought conversations with HVAC design engineers.

## Links

- Website: https://www.pillar.vc/team/russ-wilcox/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-wilcox-2005
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/russ_wilcox
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/russwilcox.bsky.social

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/russ-wilcox
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23