For Krystyna Kubran, her business, 352 Innovation, is the beginning of a paradigm shift of how vehicles are powered around the world. A mechanical engineer by trade, Krystyna is passionate about increasing access to electric vehicles while empowering automotive mechanics to maintain their service offerings as the industry shifts away from internal combustion car engines. In partnership with her brother, an experienced mechanic, Kubran offers custom engine retrofitting and consults with automotive shops to provide education on servicing electric vehicle engines.
Meeting a Need for Upskilling
Kubran’s idea for a business focused on electric vehicle retrofitting and education came about when she saw the need to ensure that the economy’s transition away from fossil fuel engines would be inclusive of the entrepreneurs who have made their livelihoods as mechanics. “I asked myself, ‘What would someone need to know to work on an EV effectively and reduce their liability while working on the car?’,” Kubran explains.
From there, in collaboration with her brother, she set out to upskill mechanics and demystify electric vehicles. With a solid idea but needing insight into the best practices of business operations, Kubran connected with Charles Thomas, a counselor at the California Capital Women’s Business Center (WBC). “[Charles] has been my main guy,” she says about their work. “He’s had ideas that have completely transformed my business.” Through one-on-one business counseling, Kubran created her website, made her service offerings more specific, and learned the basics of cash flow analysis and profit and loss statement tracking.
In launching her business, Kubran created a training program that she made available for subscription, and created a “Roadmap to the Clean Vehicle World” that envisions the process of undoing society’s reliance on fossil fuels. To increase her credibility and hone her knowledge, she became certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence.
As she continues to build her clientele and position herself as a resource for education on electric vehicles, Kubran is looking forward to broadening her impact by opening her own shop for converting internal combustion engines.
