SunCast Nico Johnson

If we’re going to address climate change through capitalism, we’ll need about $10 Trillion. 
The growing climate crisis demands that we take urgent action, but early-stage climate entrepreneurs still face significant barriers in finding the funding to bring their innovations to market. 
CEO and co-founder of Enduring Planet, Dimitry Gershenson, offers a solution to a critical funding gap climate entrepreneurs face. After building the Energy Access program at Facebook and seeing first-hand how hard it was to get access to this much-needed startup capital, Dimitry has leveraged his experiences and network to create a fintech platform that provides fast, flexible, and founder-friendly working capital to climate-focused startups.
Enduring Planet offers non-dilutive capital (funding that doesn’t require a founder to give up equity or ownership) and comprehensive financial advisory services to help climate entrepreneurs navigate funding challenges. By doing so, they enable these startups to accelerate their projects and make significant strides in the fight against climate change.
Expect to learn:
Practical advice for securing and managing funding in the climate tech space.The unique financial hurdles faced by climate entrepreneurs (and how we can overcome them).How Enduring Planet’s innovative grant advance product works.Why non-dilutive capital is critical for early-stage companies.Dimitry’s story of transitioning from Peace Corps volunteer to climate finance leader.
Hit play to find out more about Enduring Planet’s innovative climate finance solutions.
Learn about the 10 Uncommon Books That Influenced Leaders of the Energy Transition + Giveaway
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.
You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.
Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 650 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.
Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/
You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Struggling with imposter syndrome? You're not alone. 
Returning guest (Ep 333, 687) Paula Glover, President of the Alliance to Save Energy, delves into one of the most common emotional challenges faced by leaders and entrepreneurs. Paula gets real about the self-doubt leaders face and the importance of authenticity in leadership. It’s rare to get this kind of honesty in a b2b podcast conversation, and Paula does it with guts and grace.
As the head of the Alliance to Save Energy, Paula has been a champion for diversity and inclusion in the energy sector. Her experience shows how crucial personal growth and self-awareness are for effective leadership. The conversation touches on the significance of self-reflection, the power of words, and the responsibility that comes with leadership roles. 
If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, you’re in good company.  Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou,Tom Hanks and David Bowie are among the many professional performers, unquestionably successful, who’ve battled the self-talk and emotional rollercoaster of feeling like an imposter. 
Ready to conquer your own imposter syndrome and lead with confidence? Listen in to hear Paula's empowering stories and actionable advice.
Learn about the 10 Uncommon Books That Influenced Leaders of the Energy Transition + Giveaway
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.
You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.
Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 650 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.
Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/
You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

He came to America with ten thousand dollars and a dream of making it big. A few years later, he was a legitimate rock star, rocking arenas with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osborne.  So why did this British rocker who achieved the height of music stardom give it all up and start an EV charging business? How did that turn into not 1 but 3 successful exits (his most recent for north of $80M to Enphase) and a fourth energy sector startup sure to find similar outcomes? Rue Phillips, a rockstar turned entrepreneur, has a story unlike any other we’ve told here on SunCast.
Rue has always had an interest in electronics, so perhaps it’s a natural that when he hung up his axe he would find a way to leverage the trade skill handed down through his family.  But in the 90’s, EV charging and solar energy were hobbyist businesses for most aspiring entrepreneurs. Yet, Rue found himself installing EV charging infrastructure for the Hollywood elite, and parlayed that experience into fixing what he saw breaking in the solar industry, literally. 
Now, Rue has turned his attention back to addressing the weak link in our Electric Vehicle (EV) dreams, charging. A considerable portion of EV charging infrastructure is unreliable or inoperable. Phillips, once a guitarist for rock legends like Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, has truly found his rhythm in energy entrepreneurship, founding several successful ventures including True South Renewables and 365 Pronto.
His newest venture, SkillFusion, is a digital learning platform that aims to train skilled professionals to address the critical need for reliable EV infrastructure. SkillFusion offers comprehensive training programs to prepare the workforce needed to maintain and repair EV chargers.  Phillips and his team aim to help EV charging companies achieve their long-promised 97% uptime guarantee.
Expect to learn:
Why reliable EV infrastructure will boost the industry's growth.How SkillFusion's training programs are bridging the skills gap in the EV sector.Rue Phillips’ journey from rockstar to renewable energy pioneer.Rue’s strategies for transforming passion into a successful business venture.
Discover how SkillFusion is powering the EV revolution, one skilled technician at a time.
Learn about the 10 Uncommon Books That Influenced Leaders of the Energy Transition + Giveaway
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.
You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.
Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 650 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.
Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: a href="https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

US manufacturing is back! 
We were recently invited to a ceremony to celebrate the expansion of Nextracker’s dedicated steel torque tube manufacturing lines at JM Steel’s Leetsdale facility in Pittsburgh. This historic site, formerly Bethlehem Steel(the company that produced the landing craft for Normandy during World War II) now manufactures low-carbon steel tubes for solar trackers. Among the many dignitaries present at the event were 3 people on Nico’s yet-to-be-interviewed bucket list, so he got the chance to get some genuine reaction commentary and excellent b-roll of the factory line up-and-running (see our Youtube video for that!)
You’ll hear from these 3 pioneering solar warriors in today’s episode:
Yuri Horowitz, CEO of Sol Systems, David Crane, DOE Undersecretary for Infrastructure, and Kelly Speakes-Backman, Executive VP, Public Affairs at Invenergy  
Each has an interesting perspective to offer on how the solar industry is reshoring manufacturing. Expect to learn:
How the U.S. government plans to fast-track permitting and workforce trainingExactly how this clean green steel factory is aiming to triple its output.Ways companies like Invenergy plan to support domestic manufacturingUpdates on the DOE’s commitment to awarding billions in infrastructure funds.
It’s beautiful to see manufacturing returning to U.S. soil. Hit play to learn why now is the time for solar companies to reshore manufacturing… And the incentives they’ll earn for doing so.
Learn about the 10 Uncommon Books That Influenced Leaders of the Energy Transition + Giveaway
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.
You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.
Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 650 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.
Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/
You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

It only took me 8 years and 699 episodes to finally land today’s guest! But the wait was WELL worth it. You’re in for a treat. And it was recorded in-person at Strata’s HQ, so you might enjoy some of the extra footage included in the YT video version of this episode. 
Markus Wilhelm founded Strata Clean Energy in 2009, but readily admits that he didn’t have the right initial vision for the company.  In fact, it wasn’t till the THIRD pivot that he says they really found their groove.  By any measure, Strata has now become an undeniable success-story in the world of Solar Energy Development and Construction. Over the course of 15 years, Strata has grown from a small residential installer to a globally-recognized utility-scale developer, owner, and operator of clean energy assets. 
Yet, few have been able to get access to the man behind the curtain and unpack what makes him tick and how Wilhelm's background as a former media executive uniquely prepared him to grow the company to this level. One of the most interesting things for me, having done now 700 of these, is that when Markus and his wife began this venture, it was supposed to be something to pass the time…in his RETIREMENT!  15 years later, he’s still going strong, and Strata is more relevant and impressive than ever.
Filmed at Strata's Durham NC HQ, this episode finds Wilhelm reflecting on the company's evolution—from pioneering the North Carolina solar market to building multi-billion dollar solar and battery storage projects. 
Expect to learn:
Strata’s three strategy changes that led them to become the company they are today. How building a vertically integrated business model can enhance your project quality.How Markus’s background as a media executive prepared him to grow an energy companyHow Strata plans to stay flexible amid inconsistent government policies and administration changes
This is a rare opportunity to hear how an industry titan built a solar company from the ground up.
Oh, and listen closely, because we’re giving away a free gift to our listeners for helping us reach 700 episodes!
Learn about the 10 Uncommon Books That Influenced Leaders of the Energy Transition + Giveaway
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.
You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.
Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 650 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.
Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/
You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:
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265,000!  That’s how many of you/us work in Solar Energy so far (and rapidly growing!)
Yet, with 4 million solar installations in the U.S alone, Solar Energy is rarely featured in mainstream media. WHY?
Probably True Solar Stories, a podcast created by Tor Valenza, also known as Solar Fred, aims to bridge this content gap with engaging solar-themed fictional tales.
Valenza, once a Hollywood writer for shows like "The Dead Zone," "Dharma and Greg," and "Stargate SG-1” brings a uniquely solar flair (get it? 😉).
This BONUS episode features Solar Fred sharing a whimsical story about a wedding he actually officiated at RE+ several years back. Loosely based on real events, the narrative follows Matt and Molly, two solar industry professionals who plan to wed at the convention with the help of their industry friends. When an unexpected blackout threatens their plans, the solar community bands together to pull off an unforgettable off-grid celebration on a Las Vegas rooftop.
Stay tuned for Solar Fred's collaboration with Resource Labs and definitely subscribe to Probably True Solar Stories — where the power of the sun meets the power of stories!
Learn about the 10 Uncommon Books That Influenced Leaders of the Energy Transition + Giveaway
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.
You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.
Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 650 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.
Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/
You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus