Background
Summary
Thomas Sohmers is the founder and CEO of REX Computing, a High Performance Computing startup that is focusing on developing a new processor architecture targeted at performance, energy efficiency, and scalability for modern HPC and supercomputing workloads. Starting tinkering with simple electronics kits when he was six, Thomas taught himself basic electrical engineering and computer science skills until he developed his first creation, the EyePC monocular head mounted display in 2009, when he was 13. Shortly afterwards, he started an internship at the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, an army research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and worked there for three years. While he started off working on rapid prototyping of soldier utilities, he found more interest in embedded and high performance computing systems. In 2013, Thomas became part of the 2013 class of the Thiel "20 under 20" Fellowship, and later that year started REX Computing.
Experience
REX Computing
Co Founder and CEO
October 2012 – Present (2 years 2 months) Oakland, California
REX Computing is developing the future of massively parallel and high density computing systems that target the high performance computing (HPC) and server marketplaces. REX has developed a new highly scalable processor and system level compute node architecture with a focus on providing superior energy efficiency (performance per watt) in comparison to solutions provided by both market incumbents and competing startups alike. Our architecture relies on densely packed, custom processor chips and is designed to enable a large amount of computing performance while offering extreme power efficiency, scalability, and practical programmability.
1 organization
Open Compute Project
Responsible for the organization and planning of the Open Compute Project High Performance Computing group, which has a mission of setting open standards and specifications for all aspects of high performance computing systems.
Thiel Fellowship
2013 Thiel Fellow
May 2013 – Present (1 year 7 months) San Francisco Bay Area
Selected as a Fellow for the 2013 class of Thiel Fellows. I am working on my Embedded Cluster Computing company for the fellowship. Thiel Fellows are given a no-strings-attached grant of $100,000 to skip college and focus on their work, their research, and their self-education. They are mentored by a network of visionary thinkers, investors, scientists, and entrepreneurs, who provide guidance and business connections that can’t be replicated in any classroom. For more information visit: http://thielfellowship.org
1 honor or award
2013 Thiel Fellow
Thiel Fellows are given a no-strings-attached grant of $100,000 to skip college and focus on their work, their research, and their self-education. They are mentored by a network of visionary thinkers, investors, scientists, and entrepreneurs, who...View
MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies
Researcher
February 2010 – May 2013 (3 years 4 months)Cambridge, Massachusetts
Rapid prototyping of augmented reality, gestural interfaces, laser communications, and other concepts for possible military use
Epson America Inc.
Android Development Consultant
January 2012 – April 2013 (1 year 4 months)
Working on developing applications for the Epson Moverio BT-100 transparent head mounted display.
Primer Labs
School and Student Coordinator
November 2011 – November 2012 (1 year 1 month)
Developed and integrated our own and other schools curriculum into our main product "Code Hero", which aims at teaching students how to program in a variety of languages. I was responsible for working with schools on integrating the game into their day and/or after school curriculum and addressing student and teacher feedback.
EyePC
Owner
November 2009 – December 2010 (1 year 2 months)
EyePC manufactures consumer oriented head mounted displays (HMD's) and full wearable computing systems.
Organizations
Open Compute Project
HPC Project co-lead
August 2014 – Present
Responsible for the organization and planning of the Open Compute Project High Performance Computing group, which has a mission of setting open standards and specifications for all aspects of high performance computing systems.
Additional Organizations
MIT E-Club
Honors & Awards
2013 Thiel Fellow
The Thiel Foundation
May 2013
Thiel Fellows are given a no-strings-attached grant of $100,000 to skip college and focus on their work, their research, and their self-education. They are mentored by a network of visionary thinkers, investors, scientists, and entrepreneurs, who provide guidance and business connections that can’t be replicated in any classroom. For more information visit: http://thielfellowship.org
Education
Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School
Middle-High School (Dropped out), Junior
2007 – 2013
Dropped out to accept the Thiel Fellowship.
Additional Info
Interests
- Science fiction,
- Theoretical physics,
- Solid-state (semiconductor) physics
- Nanotechnology
- Nanofabrication
- Hardware hacking,
- Augmented Reality,
- Virtual Reality
Personal Details
Birthday: February 29, 1996
Advice for Contacting Thomas
Email is best way to contact me, but I do not always respond promptly.