Hi, I'm Sam!
I'm an engineer, entrepreneur, and angel investor living in Boston.
In my past, I've been an inventor, a scientist, an educator, an athlete, and a musician. I'm interested in science and the arts, startups and sports, philosophy and food, and almost everything in between.
This website is a place to share my work. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Professional Bio
I co-founded Embr Labs in 2014 and am currently Chief Revenue Officer after 11 years as COO. I helped create the wearable thermal wellness category with Embr Wave, the first personal thermostat that cools or warms you at the touch of a button.
Over the past twelve years, I've helped to scale Embr Labs from an MIT prototyping competition to a market leader: $50M+ in lifetime revenue, 200k+ customers across 100+ countries, 250k+ units shipped, 21 utility patents, and $60M+ in venture financing. Most recently, I led the shift from one-time sales to a subscription model, taking the Embrship hardware subscription from $0 to a $4M ARR run rate in eight months.
Prior to shifting primarily to the business side of Embr Labs, I co-invented our patented low-powered thermal waveforms technology, hand-assembled six-generations of prototypes, and led engineering for the Gen 1 device from design to mass production in China.
I've been invited to speak on category creation, connected devices, business model and pricing strategy, go-to-market execution, and supply chain & manufacturing at both universities and industry conferences.
I welcome inquiries about speaking, informal and formal advising, and independent board member opportunities.
You can contact me at: sam [at] samshames.com
Timeline
Here are some of the key events that have shaped my professional journey to date.
CBS Innovation Nation Follow-up
Embr Wave 2 Launch
Good Morning America Pitch
Past Projects
Education
Before co-founding Embr Labs, I was very interested in the future of education and technology-enabled learning. My interest started when I was a teaching assistant for the thermodynamics materials science undergraduate course for two years. I was further influenced by the launch of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the founding of platforms like EdX, Udacity, and Coursera while I was at MIT. Some of my work reflects that interest:
Passion Projects in Materials Science
MIT LINC Conference Speaking
Spoke on a panel during the MIT LINC (Learning International Networks Consortium) conference, giving a talk entitled 'Inspired Education - A Student's Vision'
Future of Education Columns
Wrote a series of opinion columns on the future of education for the MIT student newspaper. One of them on problem-based learning caught the attention of the Dean of Digital Learning and led to the chance to join a committee on the future of education.
Materials Science
During my time at MIT, I was an active undergraduate researcher working primarily with Professor Jeffrey Grossman and Professor W. Craig Carter. While I didn't end up pursuing graduate work in materials science, I published research in a peer-reviewed journal and was accepted to multiple PhD programs.
Rapid Windshield De-icing Research
Trabecular Bone Microstructure Evolution
Wrestling
More than almost anything else, wrestling has made me the person I am today. The sport helped me evolve from an insecure 88lbs freshman in high school to the first New England Champion in my school's history and then a National Champion at MIT. As Dan Gable said, "Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easier."
MIT Assistant Coach
I was a volunteer assistant coach for the MIT wrestling team for three seasons after graduating. I stepped down after Embr Labs raised its Series A financing and I needed to use the time I was coaching on Embr Labs.
Wrestling Stories Website
After losing in the national finals as a sophomore in 2012, I started writing about the life lessons I learned from wrestling. More than a year later, I finished When Disappointment Inspires. That story grew into Wrestling Stories, a website with more than 40 personal stories from 5 generations of wrestlers celebrating the impact the sport made on their lives.
Creative Writing
I discovered a love of writing in college as a way to express myself and sharpen my thinking. Here are a few pieces from the many experiments with many forms and styles over the years.
Positive Peer Pressure Blog (2015-16)
Philosophy and Neuroscience of Consciousness (2016)
Why study philosophy (2016)
The importance of philosophy in the age of high tech. Arguably even more important now with AI.
Nature's Legos (2012)
Science writing for an MIT class that was later awarded a writing prize.
Fun Facts
A bit more about me...
Movie Extra with Mark Wahlberg
I was a featured extra in the movie Ted after playing basketball with Mark Wahlberg at MIT. My game was terrible but my hustle impressed him enough to invite me to participate in the movie.
Backflip Off the Wall
I learned how to run up a wall and do a backflip in college. I cannot do this anymore, but here's the throwback video.
Marathon Runner
I've run 6 marathons: the Boston Marathon from 2012 through 2016, including 2013 the year of the Boston Marathon bombing, 2014 as part of the MIT Strong team raising money for MIT police Officer Sean Collier, and the NYC marathon in 2017.
Queen of Denmark
I met the now Queen of Denmark and was featured live on Danish TV in 2015 when Embr was a finalist of the Index Design to Improve Life Awards.
First Man on QVC UK Menopause Show
I was the first man to appear on QVC UK's Menopause Your Way show in 2023.
Most Expensivest with 2Chainz
I met 2Chainz while showcasing Embr Wave on season 3, episode 4 of Most Expensivest. They gave me the villain edit and made it seem like I wasn't supportive of 2Chainz's mom's hot flashes.
Biodiesel Processor Project
Built a biodiesel processor to convert waste fry oil from my high school cafeteria into usable fuel for a senior year project.
Cellist
I've played the cello since second grade. Although I stopped taking lessons after 11 years when I graduated high school, I still enjoy playing now and then.
Contact Me
Let's Connect
I'm always interested in connecting with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone passionate about building the future. Whether you're looking for speaking engagements, advisory opportunities, or just want to chat about startups and life, I'd love to hear from you.
Made with ❤️ in Boston • © 2025 Sam Shames