Rust Belt Industrials
Equipment Manufacturing / Electric Motors

Modal Motors

Detroit, MIStartupmodalmotors.com
Founded
2024
Employees
11-50

Modal Motors is a Detroit-area advanced electric motor manufacturer that produces non-rare-earth electric motors and generators entirely in the USA, using a 100% USA-and-allied supply chain. The company's flagship innovation is a patent-pending Transverse Flux Motor (TFM) architecture that achieves the highest torque density and efficiency across the full speed range of any comparable motor on the market. Unlike conventional radial flux motors that use 100-500 components, Modal Motors' designs require only roughly 20 parts-enabling hand assembly in approximately one minute or automated cell assembly in roughly 15 seconds. The company offers three core product lines: the Raxial Motor (heavy torque, light on energy), the Modular Motor (three coils, zero dead weight), and the Hybrid Enigma Drive™ (one motor, multiple inputs and outputs).

What sets Modal Motors apart technologically is its yokeless, back-iron-free motor architecture that harvests all magnetic flux developed inside the motor, minimizing core losses that plague competitors' designs. The motors can be built without permanent magnets and can even use aluminum windings instead of copper-dramatically reducing dependence on rare-earth materials predominantly sourced from China. Each phase in the motor is magnetically and electrically isolated, providing triple redundancy for safety-critical applications like drones, robots, and aircraft. The company spun out of Veolectra, Inc. and carries over $50M in prior OEM motor R&D and more than 25 issued patents, lending strong IP depth to its commercialization effort. Modal Motors also recently achieved CMMC Level 1 Compliance, signaling growing relevance to defense and government procurement.

Modal Motors is highly significant to the US energy supply chain and national security. As the US seeks to reduce dependence on Chinese-manufactured rare-earth electric motors-which power everything from EVs to industrial machinery to defense systems-Modal Motors offers a domestically produced, cost-competitive alternative that outperforms rare-earth motor benchmarks. Its fully automated, cell-based manufacturing model is designed to scale efficiently on American soil, supporting the broader reindustrialization of advanced motor technology. The company is actively targeting e-mobility, autonomous vehicles, robotics, aerospace, and defense markets, making it a pivotal player at the intersection of clean energy, supply chain resilience, and national security.

Funding

3 funding rounds completed (Pre-Seed, Seed x2 + Grant), exact amounts undisclosed. Currently raising Seed Round. Spun out of Veolectra, Inc. Investors include Sandy Munro (automotive manufacturing legend) and Ann Arbor SPARK.

Investors

  • Sandy Munro (Pre-Seed)
  • Ann Arbor SPARK

Key People

  • Michael Van Steenburg, Co-Founder
  • Ebru Van Steenburg, Co-Founder
  • Andrew Van Steenburg, Team Member
  • Aaron Smith, Team Member
  • Kent Helfrich, Executive Advisor & Investor (former GM CTO / President GM Ventures)
  • Jennifer N., Chief of Staff & CMMC Program Coordinator

News