Why did the electrician become a great stock trader?
Because he knew how to "switch" and "current" trends!
🌎 Welcome back to CleanTechies, founder edition.
We are The #1 Podcast For ClimateTech entrepreneurs.
Each week, we publish 2x hour-long conversations with leading Founders, Investors, Operators, and Thinkers in ClimateTech to share their insights and tips for you.
On top of that, we publish other written content like our Companies to Watch series, where we highlight early stage startups operating in the spaces of our guests. That way, if you find yourself bullish on a space after an episode, you might find a deal you can chase!
If you are a current or aspiring ClimateTech Entrepreneur, this is the place for you. Subscribe today.
Today, we are talking to Toby Ferenczi from Granular Energy.
In this electrifying (ha!) episode, we finally tracked down the elusive Toby Ferenczi, a man who juggles startups like they're hot potatoes. ⚡️
Toby educates us about the world of electricity transparency and trading.
Did you know you can trade electricity like stocks? Neither did we! And it doesn’t exactly work like that…but it got your interest, didn’t it?? 🤔
From his days at Cambridge to co-founding Granular Energy, Toby has journeyed in solar starting with solar panel materials with this PhDs, working at GE, and later through startup exits.
He even founded a nonprofit for timestamped energy certificates—because, why not?
If you've ever wondered where your electricity comes from or how to make a clean energy choice, this episode is a shocker in the best way possible. 💥
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🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message.
ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…
It’s a lot.
That’s why we make CleanTechies, the #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs.
In addition to our jobs, we devote all of our spare time to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others’ mistakes, successes, and gain insights on navigating the complex ClimateTech world.
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The Guest: Toby Ferenczi
Toby physics at Cambridge University and completed a PhD in solar energy on new materials for solar cells.
He then for General Electric in global research, gaining experience in the renewables industry during the early growth of solar energy deployment in Germany
He co-founded multiple startups, including one of the first rooftop solar financing businesses in the UK, which was sold to a Chinese solar panel manufacturer in 2013
Now, he’s the co-founder of Granular Energy, a climate tech startup enabling transparency in energy sourcing to utility companies in 10 countries
If that wasn’t enough, he’s also founded Energy Tag, a nonprofit organization developing international standards for timestamped energy certificates which has been supported by major tech companies and the United Nations
The Company: Granular Energy
One Liner: Designing, Engineering, and Producing Hybrid Aviation Propulsion Systems to Decarbonize Air Travel Today.
Granular Energy provides software for utility companies to track and manage energy sources for greater transparency.
Their technology enables real-time matching of energy supply with demand.
They serve clients in 10 countries, helping utilities offer precise energy source information to customers.
Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment!
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📝 Show Notes:
Topics
02:42 Introduction
05:00 Enabling Customers to Choose Clean Energy
08:20 The Role of Electricity Markets
10:43 Journey as an Entrepreneur
14:46 Transparency in the Energy Industry
20:50 Understanding the Utility Business Model
25:28 Opportunities to Bypass Utilities
30:49 Fundraising
33:50 The Future of the Solar Industry
43:24 Opportunities in the Market
Links
This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.
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🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see y’all next episode!
#187 Energy Transparency, Selling to Utilities, Electricity Markets, Exiting TWICE & More w/ Toby Ferenczi (Granular Energy)