Ben Gulak

Early life and education

Benjamin J. Poss Gulak was born in 1989 in Milton, Ontario, as the only child of Ken Gulak, who worked in the food business, and Sylvie Gulak, a psychotherapist. His early interest in engineering was nurtured by his grandfather, a design engineer, with whom Gulak spent time tinkering in a basement machine shop from a young age. This early exposure led him to build model trains, rockets, and other projects, and he developed a strong admiration for inventor Nikola Tesla. After his grandfather's death in 2003, Gulak inherited the machine shop, which provided the foundation for his future inventive work.

Gulak's formal foray into invention began in ninth grade when he entered a school science fair with a magnetic car propelled by accelerator coils. His project earned him a spot on Team Canada, a group of 18 individuals representing the country in an international competition against 54 other nations. His dedication to science fair projects became so intense that he frequently skipped school to work on them, which subsequently impacted his academic performance. In 2005, he participated in McMaster University's summer L.E.A.P. engineering program, where he served as a team leader in robotics and helped his team win a robot-building competition. This program provided him with practical engineering experience and team leadership skills that he would later apply to his own startup ventures.

Invention of the Uno electric dicycle

The concept for the Uno originated in 2006 during Gulak's senior year of high school following a trip to China with his father. Witnessing severe smog pollution from the pervasive use of small motor vehicles, he resolved to create an eco-friendly alternative for a science fair project. Gulak's initial vision was for a vehicle small enough to store indoors, be easily charged in an apartment, and ridden on regular roads. His first designs were created using Google SketchUp before he moved to physical prototyping in the machine shop he inherited from his grandfather.

Early construction involved an iron frame equipped with wheelchair motors, batteries, and gyroscopes. The first test ride was described by Gulak as "absolutely terrifying," resulting in a crash and a chipped kneecap, and the project faced further setbacks including a series of electrical fires. To overcome these challenges, Gulak collaborated with California-based Canadian robotics expert Trevor Blackwell to refine the Uno's gyroscopic control system for proper balance and smooth movement. With revised plans, he built a functional prototype at a motorcycle shop outside Toronto. The Uno is an electric-powered vehicle resembling a motorized unicycle but is technically a dicycle, featuring two closely spaced wheels side-by-side at its centre-point.

Ben Gulak entered his first Uno design through Team Canada during the 2008 international science fair. The vehicle had its first public unveiling at the Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show in 2008. It was awarded a Top-10 prize on Popular Science's list of 2008 Invention Awards. Gulak also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to talk about the project.

• 2008: The Uno had its first public unveiling at the Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show.
• 2008: The invention was awarded a Top-10 prize on Popular Science's list of 2008 Invention Awards.
• 2008: Gulak entered the Uno in an international science fair through Team Canada.
• 2008: Gulak was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to discuss the project.

Ben Gulak put off attending MIT for a year to work on the Uno project. He raised funds and moved to Boston to open a small office in Cambridge. He started the company BPG Motors to develop the motorcycle. He enrolled in MIT in the fall of 2008.

Development of the DTV Shredder

While studying at MIT at age 22, Gulak partnered with Ryan Fairhead to create another vehicle, the DTV (Dual-Tracked Vehicle) Shredder. The concept was driven by practical and economic considerations during a recession, aiming to create a single, versatile vehicle to replace seasonal purchases like snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. Fairhead's goal was to design something compact enough to fit in the back of any car and capable of operating in all conditions, including snow, sand, and mud. The resulting vehicle featured Segway-like handlebars and tank-style treads, with the capacity to tow up to 400 pounds, making it a unique hybrid of personal transporter and utility vehicle.

The Shredder quickly gained a following, particularly among extreme sports and X Games enthusiasts. In late 2010, Gulak posted prototype videos online, which garnered 50,000 views within a day and accumulated over one million hits within a week. The unique design led some bloggers to mistakenly speculate it was a new military device, though Gulak clarified its primary intent as an extreme sports vehicle. The Shredder represented BPG Motors' expansion beyond urban electric transport into the recreational all-terrain vehicle market, demonstrating the company's adaptability and Gulak's interest in diverse mobility solutions.

Founding of NALA and later career

In 2020, demonstrating a pivot from hardware to software and data science, Gulak founded NALA. The company is a data science-driven platform specifically designed to serve artists, applying analytical tools to support creative endeavours. This venture continues his pattern of identifying niche markets and developing innovative technological solutions to address them, expanding his entrepreneurial portfolio beyond transportation. The establishment of NALA marks Gulak's entry into the technology and creative industries sector, leveraging data to impact the arts community.

Public recognition and media appearances

Gulak's work has attracted significant media attention, highlighting his profile as a young Canadian inventor. His appearance on CBC's Dragons' Den in 2008 was a landmark moment, resulting in a record-breaking investment deal that brought his Uno project to a national audience. His segment on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno further amplified his reach into the American market. These appearances were crucial for securing early-stage funding and public interest, connecting his technical projects with mainstream entertainment platforms.

Beyond television, his inventions have been featured in major publications and profiles. Popular Science's recognition with a Top-10 Invention Award provided significant credibility in the tech and design communities. A feature in Rolling Stone magazine in October 2011, titled "How Inventor Ben Gulak Went From Science-Fair Nerd to the Playboy Mansion," chronicled his journey from a dedicated student inventor to a recognized entrepreneur in popular culture. This media coverage has consistently framed Gulak as a prototypical young innovator turning ambitious ideas into commercial realities, bridging the worlds of science fairs and business.

Entrepreneurial approach and design philosophy

Gulak's entrepreneurial approach is characterized by identifying specific problems observed in daily life and applying engineering principles to create compact, efficient solutions. His trip to China directly inspired the Uno, targeting urban smog, while the Shredder addressed the inefficiency and cost of owning multiple seasonal recreational vehicles. He consistently emphasizes practicality and size, as seen in his goal for the Uno to be stored indoors and the Shredder to fit in a car trunk. This user-centric design philosophy connects his diverse projects across different markets, from urban commuting to outdoor recreation.

His development process often involves public testing and leveraging media to generate interest and feedback. Posting the Shredder prototype video online to gauge public reaction is a clear example of this strategy. Gulak also demonstrates a willingness to seek expert collaboration, as seen in his partnership with robotics specialist Trevor Blackwell to solve the Uno's balance issues. This blend of independent vision, collaborative problem-solving, and public engagement defines his method for bringing inventions from concept to public awareness.

Ben Gulak's grandfather was a design engineer, and at a young age Gulak would help him tinker in his basement machine shop. Gulak was a fan of inventor Nikola Tesla. While developing the Uno, he was joined by California-based Canadian robotics expert Trevor Blackwell. Together they refined the Uno's gyro control system so the machine would properly balance and move smoothly.

• His grandfather, a design engineer, who provided the initial machine shop and mentorship.
• Trevor Blackwell, a Canadian robotics expert based in California, who helped refine the Uno's gyro control system.
• Ryan Fairhead, his partner at MIT in co-creating the DTV Shredder.
• Team Canada, the national science fair team that provided his first international competitive platform in 2008.
• Nikola Tesla, the historical inventor whom Gulak admired from childhood.
• The McMaster University L.E.A.P. program in 2005, where he gained robotics and team leadership experience.

His grandfather's machine shop provided an early environment for tinkering and invention. His science fair participation led to representing Canada on an international level. Collaboration with Trevor Blackwell solved key technical problems with the Uno's balance. Appearances on shows like Dragons' Den and The Tonight Show provided public platforms and venture capital.

Technical specifications and project outcomes

The technical evolution of Gulak's vehicles reveals a progression in complexity and capability. The Uno began as a simple iron frame using repurposed wheelchair motors and evolved into a balanced dicycle using a sophisticated gyro control system. Its design as a dicycle, with two wheels side by side, provided a stable yet compact footprint distinct from a traditional unicycle. The DTV Shredder incorporated tank treads for all-terrain mobility and a strong towing capacity, representing a shift towards recreational utility. Both projects shared a focus on electric power, aligning with Gulak's initial inspiration to create eco-friendly transportation alternatives.

The Uno was awarded a Top-10 prize on Popular Science's list of 2008 Invention Awards. On Dragons' Den, Gulak obtained $1,250,000 of venture capital for the Uno, which was the largest deal in the show's history at the time. For the DTV Shredder, Gulak posted videos of a prototype online which got 50,000 hits in a day and a million hits within a week. Some bloggers assumed the Shredder was a new military device.

BPG Motors developed the Uno, an eco-friendly electric vehicle for urban transport. The company also developed the DTV Shredder, a portable all-terrain vehicle. The Uno was described as a dicycle with two closely spaced wheels. The Shredder had Segway-like handlebars, treads similar to a tank, and could tow up to 400 pounds.

Questions about Ben Gulak

How did Ben Gulak get started as an inventor?

Gulak's interest in invention began in childhood, tinkering in his grandfather's basement machine shop and building models like trains and rockets. His first competitive project was a magnetic car for a ninth-grade science fair, which earned him a spot on Team Canada for an international competition. He further developed his skills in McMaster University's L.E.A.P. robotics program in 2005, where he was a team leader. The inheritance of his grandfather's machine shop in 2003 provided him with the practical tools to begin building his own prototypes, leading directly to projects like the Uno.

What company did Ben Gulak found?

Ben Gulak founded the Massachusetts-based company BPG Motors. This company was started to develop his vehicle inventions like the Uno and the DTV Shredder. In 2020, he also founded a company called NALA. NALA is a data science-driven platform for artists.

What was the Dragons' Den deal for the Uno?

On an episode of the CBC series Dragons' Den, Ben Gulak obtained $1,250,000 of venture capital. This investment was for a 20 percent share in further development of the Uno cycle. At the time, it was the largest deal in the show's history. The funding supported his work on the project.

What is the DTV Shredder?

The DTV Shredder is an all-terrain vehicle co-created by Gulak and partner Ryan Fairhead while Gulak was a student at MIT. Designed to be a versatile, year-round vehicle, it features handlebars similar to a Segway and tank-like treads instead of wheels, allowing it to operate in snow, sand, and mud. It is compact enough to fit in a car trunk and can tow up to 400 pounds. Prototype videos posted online in 2010 went viral, gaining over a million views in a week and attracting attention from extreme sports fans and bloggers who initially thought it might be a military device.

Where is Ben Gulak from and where did he study?

Ben Gulak is from Milton, Ontario, Canada. He attended high school there, where he began working on the Uno. For post-secondary education, he enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the fall of 2008, though he deferred his admission for one year to work on developing the Uno. Prior to MIT, he participated in an engineering summer program at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, in 2005, which focused on robotics and team-based competition.

What is Ben Gulak famous for inventing?

Ben Gulak is most famous for inventing the Uno, an eco friendly electric powered vehicle that resembles a motorized unicycle. This invention, which he began designing in 2006 as a high school senior, was directly inspired by witnessing severe smog pollution from small motor vehicles during a trip to China. The Uno is technically a dicycle, created by placing two closely spaced wheels side by side at its centre point. It had its first public unveiling in 2008 and was awarded a Top 10 prize on Popular Science's list of 2008 Invention Awards. Gulak also co created the DTV Shredder, a portable all terrain vehicle with tank like treads, while he was a student at MIT.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-06.