It’s Not Just Any Job: Working for Elon Musk

Having the opportunity to sharpen your skills while working under the guidance of one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world is not something that happens every day. This is exactly what Will Drewery experienced when he worked for Elon Musk at Tesla. However, it was during his time at Tesla that Drewery’s idea for Diagon, a startup that helps manufacturers procure equipment, was born.

“Big projects companies are building now, like battery manufacturing, need very specific types of process equipment and automation equipment to build a factory and automate,” co-founder and CEO Drewery told TechCrunch.

As a supply chain manager, Drewery had a critical eye for how the trend towards nearshoring and reshoring of American manufacturing would unfold. He saw the need for a platform that would help companies navigate the complex process of procuring specialized machinery and equipment. People may understand the concept of sourcing materials for products made in the U.S. or nearby, but without the right infrastructure and suppliers, it wouldn’t be possible.

In January 2023, Drewery launched Diagon with former Zoosk engineering executive Shri Muthu. Their goal was to provide companies of all sizes with access to Drewery’s expertise in sourcing equipment for Tesla’s electric vehicle and battery facilities. Using their network of equipment suppliers, system integrators, and service providers, Diagon helps companies in industries like automotive and aerospace find qualified suppliers and manage complex projects using their toolkit.

In addition to their network, Diagon also utilizes artificial intelligence to answer crucial questions such as what type of infrastructure is needed for a company to qualify as an iron-based battery provider in the U.S., or what specific equipment is required to produce such products.

East Coast Origins

Drewery’s journey to Diagon began in Pittsburgh, where he spent most of his career as an equipment buyer. Growing up, he saw the impact of globalization on the steel industry, and it affected him deeply. He believed that there was a bigger significance to being able to support local manufacturing for the economy.

After working as a consultant for PwC, Drewery joined the U.S. Department of Defense as a contractor, where he was involved in helping companies procure machinery and equipment for rebuilding facilities damaged during the war in Baghdad. He then pursued his MBA and moved to the Bay Area, where a friend introduced him to Tesla. At the time, the company had just acquired an old factory in Fremont and needed help sourcing new equipment for their electric vehicles.

“I don’t know what this company is doing, but I’ll do anything to work there,” Drewery said after taking a joy ride in a Tesla.

As Drewery soon learned, Tesla’s supply chain processes were similar to any other organization’s, with engineers and other staff responsible for buying equipment for the factory. He was hired as the first formal buyer for this type of machinery, and his role quickly expanded to sourcing equipment for Tesla’s entire manufacturing footprint. This included not just their Fremont facility, but also their locations in Buffalo, New York, and Reno, Nevada.

Drewery recalls this as a significant learning experience, as he had to navigate the complexities of identifying suppliers, negotiating pricing and lead times, and managing delivery and installation. He also learned about the various types of equipment and suppliers and gained experience in building and managing a team for this process.

“One of the coolest jobs — hands down — that I’ve ever had, and I was awestruck at how few tools there were to help me do that job,” he said.

But working for Elon Musk also came with its challenges.

Working for Elon

As Drewery balanced his demanding role at Tesla, attending trade shows to find equipment suppliers became a challenge. He recalls having to attend conferences under the radar, finding ways to take a day off work without alerting his boss, Elon Musk.

Despite the challenges, Drewery found the experience of working for Musk to be incredibly fulfilling and educational.

“I’ve never learned more than I learned in that role, but it was the hardest thing that I’ve ever done. Up until starting this company, I’d say that,” Drewery said.

But this role also sparked an idea for Drewery.

Putting Skills to Work for Others

After leaving Tesla, Drewery started thinking about smaller companies that didn’t have the same resources and tools to source equipment as Tesla. This is where he saw the need for a platform like Diagon.

Diagon officially launched its equipment sourcing and procurement platform in November 2023, after participating in the startup accelerator Techstars. With a growing team and a handful of clients, including Mitra Chem, Zeno Power, and Mighty Buildings, Diagon is now able to offer its software platform and professional services to companies in need.

Thanks to a recent funding round of $5.1 million, led by the Westly Group, Diagon has a good runway for the next two years and is able to actively hire for positions such as head of product and go-to-market. Drewery and his team are constantly developing and rolling out new tools to help customers find suppliers and interpret and summarize quotes better.

In the end, Drewery’s journey from a young boy watching the impact of globalization on his hometown industry to working for someone like Elon Musk has led him to create a platform that aims to support and empower companies in their manufacturing processes, regardless of their size or resources.