Oilstainlab, the mischief makers of the automotive world, today unveiled a global advisory board with six prestigious members bringing decades of proven automotive experience from legacy companies. Veteran founders Nikita and Iliya Bridan formed the company in 2019 with the goal to challenge the industry. Together they have harnessed an award-winning automotive career spanning more than 15 years, holding 12 patents, and have successfully led 45 projects with major manufacturers resulting in more than six million cars on the road. With the appointment of advisors Stefan Krause, Alexander Lee, Monika Mikac, Vitaly Golomb, Graham Fotheringham and Andrew Shedden the company is ready to disrupt the industry and bring the mind-bending HF-11 car to market.
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Oilstainlab global advisory team consists of automotive and innovation leaders. From top left to right: Krause, Mikac, Lee. From bottom left to right: Golomb, Shedden, and Fotheringham. (Photo: Business Wire)
“Oilstainlab is very radical in our approach to design, innovation and manufacturing and as a result we need a fierce advisory board to equally match our vision,” said Nikita Bridan, CEO, Oilstainlab. “The advisors were selected based on their rich portfolio of experience and their torque to execute quickly in an industry that is riddled with many challenges and conservative approaches. Together we are driving a new era of automotive joy by Oilstainlab, bringing the main thesis to the past and overtaking the future.”
Unrivaled Global Advisory Board
Stefan Krause has worked for the biggest transportation brands globally. Including roles as CFO and CEO for BMW, Deutsche Banke, Faraday Future, B-On notably. He is a seasoned executive with a career in both corporate and entrepreneurial realms, complemented by extensive board experience across both private and public companies. His journey began at BMW, where he advanced to the roles of Group CFO and later Group CMO, overseeing iconic brands like BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce. He later served as CFO and a board member at Deutsche Bank, where he managed global divisions and high-stakes initiatives. He co-founded Canoo, an EV company that raised $300 million, scaled to over 300 employees, and was successfully listed on NASDAQ with a $2.4 billion valuation. As CEO of B-ON, he raised $150 million, steering an EV last-mile delivery company toward significant growth through strategic acquisitions and global partnerships. His board roles have included positions with public companies like Allianz AG, Rocket Internet AG, Rocktech Lithium Inc. and Velo3D Inc., as well as high-profile private companies across sectors. Currently, Stefan is an entrepreneur focused on fintech, ESG, and decarbonization sectors, championing innovation and sustainability in early-stage ventures
“Oilstainlab‘s conscious driven decarbonization approach is setting a new powertrain standard for making the impossible possible with dual functionality. I am looking forward to contributing to the next evolution of the company.” – Stefan Krause
Alexander Lee is an entrepreneurial Silicon Valley C-suite executive bringing over two decades of global experience leading disruptive companies in the high performance automotive, energy storage, defense, and Internet software sectors. He has proven success in fundraising, commercializing new technologies, and ramping up the operations of fast growth companies. Alex has held CEO and COO positions with pioneering automotive, and energy storage companies, including Singer Vehicle Design, Jannarelly Automotive, Phoenix Motorcars, Ionblox and Altair Nanotechnologies. He also served as Managing Director for Al Yousuf LLC, where he managed a portfolio of clean technology investments. He is also recognized for his passion for mentoring next generation entrepreneurs who are using transformative technology to solve complex problems and has served as an advisor to numerous venture-backed companies.
“Challenging the status quo, especially in the rarefied world of hypercars, requires a clear vision of the product, a robust playbook, and a team that can execute quickly. Oilstainlab has all three of these critical elements in place, and I am eager to help Nikita and Iliya go full throttle.” – Alexander Lee
Monika Mikac is an internationally recognized automotive executive and entrepreneur with more than 10 years’ experience in raising venture capital particularly in the EV sector. She currently is the CEO at NAD Capital, an investment fund that focuses on a whole circle of electric mobility. Monika previously held a CBO position in QEV Technologies where she helped the company closing a 17M€ round with the European Investment Bank. She also holds board positions with Turbo Energy Solar Innovation company listed on NASDAQ. Monica started her automotive career as COO in Rimac Automobili (Bugatti Rimac), as one of the founding team members she helped grow the company from 1 to 350 employees and closed more than 60 million of financing and quickly achieved the status of European Automotive Rising Stars.
“The Oilstainlab team has all the ingredients for success including grit, unstoppable design and unmatched innovation. Shaping the future of automotive is invigorating and I am looking forward to the change we will make together in the industry.” – Monika Mikac
Vitaly Golomb is a distinguished Silicon Valley-based technology entrepreneur with over two decades of experience spanning various roles in the industry. As a venture-backed CEO, venture capitalist, and investment banker, he has founded multiple companies and has been involved in numerous financings, joint ventures, and M&A transactions across North America, Europe, and Asia. Golomb serves as the Managing Partner at Mavka Capital, a strategic investment banking advisory and fund, and independent Board Director at HyperCharge (NEO: HC.NE). Throughout his career, Golomb has made significant contributions to the mobility and technology sectors. He has advised several prominent companies, including Rimac Automobili (Bugatti Rimac), Polaris, HyperloopTT, Damon Motorcycles, and QEV Technologies. He was the Global Mobility and Climate Tech Practice Lead Partner at Drake Star, Founding Partner at HP Tech Ventures, and served as Board Director of the Ukrainian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. Golomb also founded Keen Systems (acquired by Alyent), an award-winning SaaS company and is the author of Accelerated Startup, ranked as one of the top startup books of all time.
“Oilstainlab has ingeniously filled a long-standing gap in the automotive enthusiast market, offering a unique solution that addresses real-world demands. This emerging brand shows tremendous promise, and I’m excited to witness its ascent to the upper echelons of the industry.” – Vitaly Golomb
Graham Fotheringham has two decades of automotive executive and entrepreneur experience with a passion for driving innovation and sustainability. He has held key positions with Toyota, Honda, Faraday Future, and Great Wall Motors during his career. He also founded Angénieux LLC, an automotive consulting business acting as a trusted advisor to leading international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Charge Point Operators (CPOs), providing invaluable insights and strategic direction to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of electric mobility. Graham’s extensive experience encompasses a wide range of roles across the automotive sector, including brand strategy, product planning, go-to-market planning, marketing, engineering, and auto racing.
“I have dedicated my career to shaping the future of mobility through strategic leadership, innovative thinking, and an unwavering commitment to driving positive change and am excited to be part of Oilstainlab’s journey.” – Graham Fotheringham
Andrew Shedden, a Chartered Engineer, is a respected expert in lightweight chassis design and high-performance engineering. With over 15 years’ experience across the Formula 1, Le Mans, and Hypercar industries, he has developed innovative lightweighting technologies that help OEMs create hypercars with exceptional performance and driving experiences. As Director of AS Pro Engineering, he brings extensive experience in leading chassis development programmes for renowned OEMs such as Koenigsegg Automotive, Ferrari F1, Mercedes F1 and Renault F1. Andrew continues to push the boundaries of lightweight engineering to drive practical, forward-thinking solutions that support the next generation of automotive design.
“Oilstainlab is building the hypercar of the future and spares no attention to detail in their maniac design. I am honored to be part of the company’s vision to lead a new era of driving experience with the HF-11 and future designs.” – Andrew Shedden
About Oilstainlab
Fear average. Oilstainlab does. Founded in 2019 by twin brothers Nikita and Iliya Bridan. The company is located in Signal Hill, California. From branding and strategy to full prototyping, Oilstainlab empowers their clients. Now, venturing into bespoke manufacturing, the brand is set to magnify its voice within the automotive world.
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