Draft:Michael Burtov (inventor)

Michael Burtov (born Soviet Union) is a Russian-American academic and inventor. He is the creator of the GeoOrbital wheel. The invention is a traditional bicycle converted into an electric bike in under 60 seconds without the need for tools. Burtov designed the invention using a 500W Brushless DC motor and Panasonic 36V Lithium-Ion battery, allowing the wheel to last 30 miles on a single charge, or up to 50 miles when using pedal-assistance. The device replaces a normal bike wheel’s spokes.

Accolades
Burtov raised nearly $1.5M on KickStarter, was featured on the Shark Tank television show, and was listed on Time magazine’s 2019 “best inventions” list.

Background
Burtov was born in the Soviet Union and came to the United States as a refugee in 1989. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan, where he taught, entrepreneurship, and worked on multiple public health projects. He attended Brandeis University and graduated in 2002. He has taught classes on innovation-related topics at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.