In recent years, there has been growing interest in bringing advanced manufacturing back to the United States, especially in fields like robotics and drones. Michael Van Steenburg, a veteran in electric motor design, believes he is well-positioned to lead this shift with his startup, Modal Motors. Over the past decade, Van Steenburg has built various types of electric motors in the U.S. and North America. Now, he aims to take a different approach by creating motors that don’t rely on rare earth magnets—materials that are essential in many high-performance electric motors but are largely controlled by China. Van Steenburg is part of Startup Battlefield 200, a competition that will take place at TechCrunch Disrupt next month. He sees this as an opportunity to highlight the urgency of reducing U.S. dependence on China's supply chain for rare earth materials. China has previously restricted access to these materials, which are used in a wide range of technologies, from smartphones to wind turbines. Van Steenburg argues that other companies attempting to bring motor manufacturing back to the U.S. are still relying on rare earth magnets, which he says are not yet available in sufficient domestic supply. “They’re basically knocking off Chinese motors and just doing it in the U.S.,” he said, “but they’re hoping that the U.S. rare earth magnet system is going to get up to speed fast enough.” Modal Motors is currently developing two products ahead of Disrupt. One is a compact electric motor designed for drones, which can also be used in fans, blowers, and actuators. The motor is built to be lightweight while providing high efficiency and power. The more innovative design is the “Hybrid Enigma Drive,” a flat, planar electric motor that can fit into smaller, more confined spaces. Van Steenburg has drawn on his extensive experience in the automotive industry to develop these motors and ensure they are ready for commercial use. There is an ironic twist to Van Steenburg’s work: in the late 1990s, he was involved in creating a hybrid gas-electric drivetrain that China wanted to use in its "People's Car." He reflects on how the global landscape has changed dramatically since then, particularly with China's increasing control over rare earth resources. Despite the changes, Van Steenburg remains committed to tackling difficult challenges, driven by a long-term vision of reducing global reliance on China’s supply chain. He believes the time to act has been long overdue.