Conversations in Cleantech

redefining solar energy with christophe williams | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode two

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by christophe williams, co-founder and ceo of naked energy.

 

naked energy is revolutionising solar energy with the world's highest energy density solar technology, virtu. a whole new category of solar energy, naked energy's goal is to enable businesses around the world to cleverly use the space they have available to produce substantially more sustainable, on-site energy in a cost-effective way.

 

with a background in the global advertising industry, christophe worked on award-winning, ground-breaking campaigns for high profile names such as BMW, Toshiba and Sony Erikson. despite his success, christophe came to the realisation that something in his career wasn't quite right; a fortuitous meeting and several conversations later, christophe decided to follow in family footsteps, heading into engineering and cleantech.

 

in this conversation, christophe reflects on his cleantech journey and taking the leap from arts to science, lessons learned on the "solar-coaster", the value in cleantech partnerships, plus what is next for naked energy - hint, it's pretty impressive stuff.

 

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this episode of conversations in cleantech is an engaging discussion on the solar tech fuelling the future, with learnings on product development, community and challenges the industry faces that are insightful to both cleantech connoisseurs and novices.

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction to christophe

02:35 - tell our listeners about how you found yourself building one of the most unique solar companies in the UK

14:32 - what does cleantech mean to you?

21:59 - how long do you think it'll be before our government to see solar in the same way as other more progressive countries?

27:26 - how does it feel knowing that every day you have made a difference?

32:12 - as a founder of a cleantech company, what has been a real high and what has been a real low?

36:36 - can you share a bit about how you're expanding your partner network and how that's supported your business?

39:51 - what is next for naked energy?

45:02 - what is one message or piece of advice you'd give somebody who is thinking about a career in cleantech?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, christophe williams on linkedin

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

the buzz behind end-to-end e-mobility with tomas edwards | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode one

welcome to the first episode of season two of conversations in cleantech!

in this instalment, we’re delighted to be joined by tomas edwards, head of marketing at GoWithFlow.

a "newbie" to the cleantech sector, tomas left his corporate career to find a position with purpose earlier this year - which he has, as head of marketing at gowithflow. inspired by a conversation he had with his daughter, the recent change of gear within his career means tomas has unique insights into what it's like to take a leap of faith into a portuguese cleantech start-up, all in the name of pursuing your passion.

 

a brilliant marketeer and ally of women in tech, tomas is truly fuelling the future within his role at gowithflow; in this conversation he also explores the value of connections within the cleantech community, the buzz behind e-mobility, why end-to-end solutions are vital in tackling the corporate carbon challenge and EVs are a key part of solving the motobility puzzle.

 

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this latest episode of conversations in cleantech is an engaging listen for anyone looking to learn more about why working in cleantech is so rewarding, how the e-mobility sector is tackling climate change and how we can all play our part in lowering emissions.

 

timestamped guide:

00:50 - introduction to tomas

02:51 - tell us a bit about yourself

04:59 - talk to us about your understanding of what the cleantech space is, what it means and fits within that umbrella

06:42 - how can we all work together for a cleaner future, and how does that fit in with what you're doing with gowithflow?

14:28 - the value of collaboration in cleantech, and how that ties in with living your purpose.

20:02 - what motivates you on a day to day basis?

25:21 - How do EVs, in particular, have an impact and what part do they play?

32:26 - who are some inspiring people within the sector?

34:50 - what big changes are on your horizon - within the team or wider industry?

37:07 - If you could leave our listeners with one last message, what would it be?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, tomas edwards on linkedin

notable cleantech inspirations mentioned by tomas:

ade thomas, green.tv - angela hultberg, ikea (seconded to cop26) - catherine marris, motability - poppy mills, ubitricity - chris pateman-jones, connected kerb.

 

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

conversations in cleantech | season two trailer

Hello and welcome back to Conversations in Cleantech - I hope you missed us as much as we missed doing the podcast! It’s almost time to launch our exciting second season, and we're delighted to share a little more about it...

 

As the podcast that celebrates the cleantech industry and the people that power it, for this season we want to take a dive into one area which is hugely influential in driving sustainability for a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

 

That’s right: season two is all about the technical innovation fuelling the future!

 

Whether it’s spearheading solar panel innovation, redefining fuel cells or overhauling how we move, we’ll be taking a little more time on an educational overview of why these innovations and innovators are the ones that are sparking change.

 

For a refresher on the podcast: your host is Jenny Gladman, one of the 3 Directors of brightsmith, a cleantech search firm based in London, now operating globally. We partner with people and organisations who are as passionate as we are, about creating a cleaner future through technology, innovation and strategic change, under the core philosophy of “live your purpose”. 

 

Ultimately, our aim for the conversations in cleantech podcast is to provide support to the cleantech community, highlight the pace at which we are all travelling towards a cleaner future and inspire everyone to live their purpose.

 

With the first episode of season two launching very soon, be sure to subscribe now wherever you like to enjoy your podcasts.

 

This, is Conversations in Cleantech.

introducing a new way of moving with georgia yexley | conversations in cleantech | episode five

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by georgia yexley, head of cities uki at tier.

 

If you’re not familiar with tier mobility, there’s a chance you soon will be. as one of the world’s fastest growing micro mobility companies, they’re arriving in new cities on an almost weekly basis!

 

as someone who has been on the bleeding edge of micro mobility from day one, this instalment sees georgia share her career journey within micro mobility over the last 6 years.

 

georgia reflects what it’s been like experiencing hypergrowth at multiple micro mobility start ups, the challenges faced, problems solved and lessons learned in a sector that is still relatively young, as well as the social and community importance of what businesses like tier are trying to achieve.

 

as georgia circles back to - “because we're talking big scale, huge numbers, unicorns, and tech and all sorts and we can be forgotten that it's actually about helping people to move”.

 

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this fifth episode of conversations in cleantech is an engaging insight into micromobility with learnings on scaling, community and working with your competitors that are applicable across the cleantech industry.

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction to georgia

02:35 - tell me a bit about your journey into mobility

06:16 - tell me about how it felt launching tier into London, your hometown?

08:11 - can you share some of the stats around micromobilty to give our listeners some insight?

10:49 - what are some of the interesting challenges that you've faced and the problems that you've solved?

13:52 - why collaboration in cleantech is key

18:08 - what inspires you?

20:45 - can you share some of your experiences in driving a postie change?

24:09 - where does mobility fit into the wider clean tech community?

29:31- what else is coming for tier and mobility as a whole?

31:04 - what else are you wanting to achieve?

33:57 - advice on getting into micro mobility

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, georgia yexley on linkedin

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

driving sustainable movement with jane hoffer | conversations in cleantech | episode four

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by jane hoffer, ceo of gowithflow.

jane shares her experience as a proven technology leader in scaling startups and growth-stage companies as well as the lessons she has learnt specifically at gowithflow as she manages the business’s global expansion.

she also reflects on the colossal opportunity that electrification has to revolutionise mobility, ushering in a new phase of sustainability within transport: “as I've gone through my career, I've always looked for opportunities to use technology in order to bring about major shifts that ultimately improve the way that we live”.

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this instalment is an informative listen for anyone seeking actionable insights into strategic startup growth within the mobility space and beyond.

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction

02:23 – jane’s background and how she began her journey scaling startups

03:41 – what attracted you to the cleantech and sustainability sector?

05:00 – the cleantech space

06:03- how does gowithflow live its purpose of changing the way people move for the better

07.09 – gowithflow – the past, present and future

11:19 – the challenges of scaling a startup, particularly within a global crisis

13.06 – communication styles, cultural change and diversity

15:48 – jane’s favourite moments so far – from closing a contract with ikea to being named portugal’s best cleantech and industry 4.0 startup of 2020

17.03 – lessons in leadership

18:38 – the power of community and networks

23:29 – jane’s vision: the next evolution of the charging infrastructure

25:45 – what is your advice to those embarking on a career within cleantech?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, jane hoffer on linkedin

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

investing in a green future with siobhan clarke | conversations in cleantech | episode three

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by siobhan clarke operating partner at bp launchpad.

siobhan shares her practical insights into the scaling journey from zero to one, two to ten, and ten to 100 sized businesses as well as across seed-stage investment to series a, series b and series c level funding. siobhan discusses how launchpad as a platform enables startups to flourish and what she believes is the future of the cleantech – the “consumerisation of the electron economy”.

she also reflects on the importance of building an effective and diverse board to help craft a unified vision; a business’s board should grow as it grows, “interaction becomes less about advice, and switches to becoming more of an equal challenge and to support them in the direction that they're going”.

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith, this instalment is an informative listen for anyone seeking guidance on how to scale their cleantech company or start their journey and turn their innovative idea into a green reality.

 

resources:

listen to bp launchpad's own podcast: frankly. the energy podcast for founders: spotify, apple Podcasts and google podcasts 

learn more about the founder handbook written by siobhan clarke and andrius sutas

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction

04:10 – what is cleantech and how does bp launchpad fit into the industry?

07:32 – the stages of scaling

11:00 - building an effective and diverse board

15:33 - fundamental lessons from the founder handbook: how to get your first 10 enterprise customers

21.07 – challenges from the startup scene – building resiliency

25:01 – what makes launchpad such a great platform for launching startups?

27:30 – what it means to live your purpose and have a positive impact on the environment

30:38 – siobhan’s career standout

32:51 - how do you see things changing in clean tech? And on a global scale, where do you see the biggest changes?

34:01 – advice for cleantech innovators looking to scale

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, siobhan clarke and bp launchpad on linkedin

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

powering net zero with dr vidal bharath & dr erik engebretsen | conversations in cleantech | episode two

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by two guests from bramble energy: dr. vidal bharath, coo, and erik engebretsen, head of engineering.

 

vidal and erik share their story, touching on the work that bramble energy is doing to help drive the sustainable energy transition as a revolutionary fuel cell manufacturer.

they speak about bramble’s mission to reduce the costs of fuel cells so this unique technology can be applied within everyday life, helping to decarbonise as many industries and sectors as they can along the way; as vidal says, “that is the ethos of bramble energy – we’re here to support net-zero… it's urgent, and we're pushing really hard to make it happen”.

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith, this instalment is an informative listen for anyone seeking actionable insights on how to scale a cleantech company from investment to taking a product to market.

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction

01:42 – bramble’s origins

02:42 – fuel cell technology and how bramble is revolutionary

04:41- how erik lives his purpose through sustainability

05:59- what is cleantech? What does it do? And, where does Bramble fit into that?

07.25 – the challenges to scaling a cleantech startup and the importance of investors

14:15 – what have you learnt as you have scaled?

16.17 – vidal’s advice to those starting out on the investment journey

17.50 – the future of cleantech

20:33 – the dream in twelve months-time

22:23 – sustainability as a motivator – “to help the environment, we can never sit on our laurels”

23:11 – what are your top tips for phd students who share similar visions?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guests, dr. vidal bharath and erik engebretsen and bramble energy on linkedin

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith

 

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

elevating the status of reuse with dr nilofer christensen | conversations in cleantech | episode one

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by dr nilofer christensen, ceo and founder of swap-studio.

nilo shares her insights into the opportunities and challenges that female-owned startups encounter, the chicken and egg conundrum when it comes to investment, the need to tackle sustainability from multiple angles, and the importance of building diverse teams.

she also reflects on how swap-studio was created as a response to the immense waste from consumerism and the pollution of the planet as well as exploring the rewards of working in cleantech; “if people like us keep taking small steps forward, in the next decade, we will leave the planet in a much better state for the next generation - for my kids”.

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith, this instalment is an informative listen for anyone seeking actionable insights on how innovators within the consumerism space can have a positive impact on the world and effect real, proactive change.

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction

02:33 – nilo’s background and how she lives her purpose

05:22 – why did the idea behind swaps-studio come from and why is the mindset shift that drives the business so important?

07:22- what are the challenges start-ups face and how can you overcome them?

09:27- the chicken and egg conundrum when it comes to investment and how the baselines differ for businesses owned by women

11.21 – how do you juggle your work life managing not just one but two startups and maintain a healthy home life?

14:15 – Inspiring people and sharing in a collective vision – “a company is in like-minded individuals will come together to achieve something bigger”

16.47 – trends in consumer behaviour and consumer choices

18:29 - how do you see the cleantech market evolving over the coming years

20:21 - how does it feel to know that you're driving something that has the potential to leave such a big impact on the planet?

21:21 – what’s your vision, what’s your dream?

22:56 – what are your top tips for people embarking on the cleantech journey?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, dr nilofer christensen and swap-studio on linkedin

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

 

conversations in cleantech | trailer

welcome to conversations in cleantech - the podcast that celebrates the cleantech industry and the people that power it, brought to you by brightsmith.

 

in this trailer episode, hear from your host, jenny gladman, one of the 3 directors of brightsmith who a cleantech search firm based in london.

 

brightsmith partner with people and organisations who are as passionate as we are about creating a cleaner future through technology, innovation and strategic change, under the core philosophy of “live your purpose”. 

 

from this passion and a want to support each other as a community, came the conversations in cleantech podcast. 

 

on this podcast, jenny will be speaking to a host of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs from around the world to explore the opportunities, challenges and rewards of working in the cleantech space. 

 

from fuel cells to fashion tech, the stages of scaling, to c-suite strains, and some insightful tokens of wisdom - each conversation will be packed with diverse discussions on key cleantech topics.

 

ultimately, our aim for the conversations in cleantech podcast is to provide support to the cleantech community, highlight the pace at which we are all travelling towards a cleaner future and inspire everyone to live their purpose.

 

with the first episodes launching soon, be sure to subscribe now wherever you like to enjoy your podcasts.

 

this is conversations in cleantech.

 

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.