Selected · Episode 100 · May 5, 2025
François Jaubert - Airboard’s cardboard composites
François Jaubert on turning a recycled cardboard surfboard into Airboard, panels that replace wood and aluminium, and machines instead of one megafactory.
About this episode
What started as a DIY surfboard made from recycled cardboard quickly turned into a deep-tech material startup. François initially entered—and won—an innovation competition in California. But the surf industry was too niche, so he pivoted to a broader mission: replace carbon-intensive materials in furniture, mobility, and industrial design.