Nick Donofrio

Background

About Nick Donofrio

I'm focused on solving practical thermal and energy challenges in agriculture and electronics through integrated system design. As the founder of HYDRALED, I’m working to improve the viability of controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Our systems combine high-output LEDs with hydronic climate control, using thermal recycling to reduce energy demand and simplify infrastructure. The long-term goals are to bring the cost of indoor farming in line with field-grown produce, improve nutritional density, increase local food resiliency, and eliminate the need for pesticides. In parallel, I’m developing a patented PCB platform called ColdBoard that rethinks how electronics manage heat. ColdBoard embeds dielectric thermal networks directly into the board structure, connecting seamlessly with fluid or vapor chambers. This design significantly improves heat dissipation and supports compact, fanless integration across high-power applications including computing, aerospace, power conversion, lighting and more. With additive manufacturing, ColdBoard can also be produced in multi-dimensional, multi-sided formats for greater design flexibility. My approach is grounded in real-world constraints: energy access, capital efficiency, manufacturability, and long-term reliability. I’m always interested in connecting with partners who are focused on practical, scalable solutions in agriculture, electronics, infrastructure, and sustainability.