# Spencer Penn

> Spencer Penn is the San Francisco-based co-founder and CEO of LightSource, a procurement software company founded with Idan Mintz in 2021. He previously worked on the Tesla Model 3 program and led simulation at Waymo. His experience coordinating manufacturing requirements helped shape LightSource’s focus on connecting engineers, buyers and suppliers.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at LightSource
- **Organizations:** LightSource, Tesla, Waymo
- **From:** Manhattan, New York, United States
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Master’s in robotics, University of Pennsylvania, Joint MS/MBA in Engineering Sciences, Harvard Business School and Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- **Known for:** Helped launch Tesla’s Model 3 program., Led Waymo’s simulation organization., Co-founded LightSource in 2021.

## Career timeline

- **2015** — Joined Tesla, working on engineering business operations and finance during development of the Model 3.
- **2018** — Left Tesla; joined the inaugural Harvard MS/MBA cohort, class of 2020.
- **Before 2021** — Worked at Waymo, where he led the simulation organization.
- **2021** — Co-founded LightSource with Idan Mintz.
- **2025** — LightSource announced $33 million in seed and Series A funding at a $130 million valuation.
- **2026** — Published writing applying control engineering and AI fluency to procurement operations.

## Achievements

- Helped launch Tesla’s Model 3 program.
- Led Waymo’s simulation organization.
- Co-founded LightSource in 2021.
- Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition in 2016, as recorded in his Forbes Council biography.
- LightSource announced $33 million in seed and Series A funding in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Discussed LightSource’s origins, supplier collaboration, AI workflows and future ambitions in a Pulse 2.0 interview republished September 14.
- **2026-06** — Published Closed-Loop Procurement on June 12 and Fluency First on June 13, connecting engineering feedback and practical AI adoption to procurement.
- **2026-03** — Discussed direct materials sourcing in interviews with Procurement Magazine and TechTarget.
- **2026-02** — Appeared on Eric Jorgenson’s Smart Friends podcast to discuss Tesla, Waymo and LightSource.

## Links

- Website: https://lightsource.ai/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spenpenn

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/spencer-penn
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22