Notre Dame Engineering graduates make Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list for 2022

Author: Joan Fallon

Sherman Vassallo

Two recent Notre Dame graduates who launched a startup business focused on renewable energy collaboration have been named to Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list for 2022. The annual list features “inspiring and aspiring young movers and makers out to change the world.”

Thomas Sherman and Daniel Vassallo are co-founders of CRCL Solutions, which aims to help the energy industry achieve carbon neutrality by enhancing the profitability and reliability of renewable energy.

Sherman earned his Ph.D. in environmental fluid dynamics in 2019 from Notre Dame’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences (CEEES).

Vassallo earned his Ph.D. in environmental fluid dynamics from CEEES in 2020. He earned his Notre Dame undergraduate degree in civil engineering in 2016.

According to the company website, “CRCL Solutions has developed a state-of-the-art wind and solar forecasting tool to reduce risk for power traders. Our AI technology identifies when the current wind/solar forecast fails and provides an improved value in real time, enabling power traders to both capitalize on low-risk, high-return trades and anticipate market movements.”

According to Forbes, “At CRCL Solutions, cofounders Vassallo and Sherman developed novel artificial intelligence algorithms that ingest publicly available data on weather and energy use and output forecasts of wind and solar energy generation. So far, CRCL has received funding from NSF and joined the Austin Technology Incubator.”

— JWF, College of Engineering