The Fundamental Molecule

The Fundamental Molecule with Tom Ferguson, Burnt Island Ventures
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The Fundamental Molecule

Welcome to The Fundamental Molecule. This show explores the intersection of water, technology and entrepreneurship. Each week, Tom Ferguson, Managing Partner of Burnt Island Ventures, interviews innovators, experts, entrepreneurs and investors in the world of water, to help us understand where this trillion dollar industry is headed. These are the stories of the people building the future of the world’s most valuable and fundamental resource. Explore all of our episodes and learn more at https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule

  1. Megan Glover - The Outsider Becomes the Insider

    APR 9

    Megan Glover - The Outsider Becomes the Insider

    When you hear a canary singing in the coal mine, you should stop and listen. Without torturing the metaphor too far, this is how I felt when I started working with Megan Glover at 120Water in 2017 as she started to build her business. The success of a business is predicated on the talent of the people running it, and Megan was important because she was one of the first brilliant CEOs who was truly new to water. She is at the vanguard of exceptionally smart, driven company leaders who appeared at the end of the 2010s and were the predicate essentially of BIV coming into being. We don't get to do our job without enough people as good as Megan. I love this conversation covering everything from strategic marketing to advice to board members. Please enjoy my conversation with my friend Megan Glover. Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- Megan Glover, Co-founder and CEO at 120Water, joins Tom to discuss the role of strategic marketing in her organization’s trajectory, emphasizing market analysis, customer understanding, and the importance of a quantitative approach. Together, they delve into the genesis of 120Water, its pivot from a consumer focus to serving municipalities, and the significance of regulatory drivers like the lead and copper rule. Megan reflects on talent in the water sector, the evolution of her role as CEO, and offers advice to founders regarding risk-taking in particular. 00:00 - Why Talent Defines Startup Success 02:52 - The Role of Strategic Marketing in Water Tech 05:17 - Market Research: Understanding Customers Before You Build 07:19 - The Origin Story of 120Water 09:36 - The Business Pivot: From Consumer to Municipal Focus 12:07 - How Water Regulations Create Business Opportunities 14:17 - The Future of Lead, PFAS, and Emerging Contaminant Rules 16:50 - State vs. Federal Water Regulations 19:46 - Consumer Awareness vs. Action in Water Quality 20:56 - The Evolution of Lab Testing & Data Standardization 22:49 - The CEO Journey 24:10 - Navigating Board Relations & Investor Alignment 27:08 - Attracting & Retaining Talent in the Water Industry 29:17 - The Future Vision for 120Water 30:42 - Managing Cash Flow While Scaling in a Slow-Moving Market 32:10 - The Role of Partnerships 33:20 - The Art of Negotiation for Water Entrepreneurs 35:13 - The #1 Advice for Water Entrepreneurs Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Megan Glover: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megancglover/ 120Water: https://120water.com/ SM Material Key Takeaways: "The success of a business is predicated on the talent of the people running it." "Before you can create, know who the creative is for." "Regulatory demand is the number one driver for change in the water industry." "Take the risk. The water industry is here to support you and wrap their arms around you." "Partnerships can be a phenomenal tool. Win fast and fail fast." "Manage your cash. Sales cycles in water take twice as long as in other startups." "Every stage requires reflection." "People are concerned about water quality, but not willing to pay for the solution."

    37 min
  2. Alex Fuglesang - A Deep Dive Into Desal, Literally

    MAR 26

    Alex Fuglesang - A Deep Dive Into Desal, Literally

    Sometimes things just strike you as dumb and then one day you understand why. The current model of desalination is a great example. It's something that everyone thinks that we at BIV should be invested in up to the eyeballs, and, of course, we support technologies that are pertinent to desal, but the legacy model is just a tough nut to crack. Ever more scaled plants to minimize the per gallon cost of purified water is the name of the game. So when I met Alex Fugelsang and the full Flocean team, it was like a light bulb going off. Legacy desal was dumb for the simple reason you were pumping up onto land a whole load of water, putting all of it through a giant factory, having designed it for all of that water, then throwing at least 40% of it back into the ocean. So what if you could desalinate under the surface of the sea and get rid of all that excess capacity? You don't run into paradigm shifts all the time, but we think that Flocean is one of them. Alex is a superb guy with a fascinating skill set, having spent most of his life operating machinery at inhospitable depths, and he's on a remarkable mission to put a huge dent in global water insecurity. Please enjoy my conversation with Alex Fugelsang.  Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- In today’s episode, Alex Fuglesang details Flocean's underwater desalination: less energy and less environmental impact thanks to stable deep-sea conditions. He reveals how robotics ensure reliable maintenance in their water-as-a-service model, and highlights building trust with communities, providing tailored solutions for water scarcity. Alex also shares insights on his background, leadership, and the future of desalination. 00:00 - Why Legacy Desalination Is Failing 02:16 - Operating and Engineering in Harsh Deep Sea Conditions   05:30 - Robotics and Automation in Underwater Water Tech   06:32 - Flocean's Origin Story   10:35 - How Flocean Cuts Energy Use and Environmental Impact   13:22 - Simplifying Permitting for Subsea Desalination   15:16 - Real-World Water Scarcity Challenges in Island Nations   17:24 - Growing Industrial Demand for Onsite Desalination   19:52 - New Business Models for Water Delivery   22:56 - What Infrastructure Investors Want from Water Tech   24:09 - Building a World-Class Water Tech Team   26:53 - Targeting High-Impact Coastal Markets   28:38 - Strategic Marketing for Deep Tech Startups   29:57 - Military Leadership Lessons in Startup Life   34:17 - The Future of Desal 37:43 - Cutting Red Tape in Water Infrastructure Projects   39:17 - Top Advice for Climate Hardware Entrepreneurs   Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Alex Fuglesang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderfuglesang/?originalSubdomain=no Flocean: https://www.flocean.green/ SM Material Key Takeaways: "In water-scarce regions, the frustration is real. Limited budgets lead to expensive maintenance and weeks of downtime." “Cutting bureaucracy and aligning stakeholders can unleash new technologies." “Flocean uses natural deep-sea pressure to cut power consumption. 40% energy efficiency savings are not abnormal." "Scale with trust and demand. Start small to build trust, then scale without massive infrastructure changes."

    41 min
  3. Felicia Marcus: A Public Servant for our Era

    MAR 14

    Felicia Marcus: A Public Servant for our Era

    Felicia Marcus is one of the most significant public servants in water, having served on the Board of Public Works for the City of LA, served as Regional Administrator for the EPA in Region 9, COO of the Trust for Public Land and Western Director of the NRDC. As if that wasn't enough, she was also the Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board of California during the business end of the 2011-2017 California drought, which was rather scary and is now taking a “breather” as a Fellow at Stanford's “Water in the West Program”. Felicia is delightful, the speed of her mind matched only by the quality of her communication. We're so lucky to have such extraordinarily dedicated people who choose service when they could be doing a lot of different things, and the water sector is so much better off for it. Please enjoy my conversation with the excellent Felicia Marcus.  Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- Felicia Marcus, a powerhouse in water policy, joins Tom today to discuss California's drought response, elevating water's importance, and the role of communication in public service. Felicia shares insights from her career, including her time as Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board and at the EPA, highlights the need for more support for water technology innovation, and expresses concerns about the current state of the EPA. Geopolitics of water and AI's implications are discussed, and Felicia offers her invaluable advice for water entrepreneurs. 00:00 - Meet Felicia Marcus 02:06 - Why Water Needs a Bigger Spotlight 03:16 - The Hidden Complexity of Water Infrastructure 06:15 - Why Water Lags Behind Energy in Investment and Innovation 07:16 - California’s Water Crisis 10:02 - Lessons from Droughts 12:58 - A Career in Water Policy 16:26 - The Future of LA’s Water and Infrastructure Challenges 20:47 - How Politics Shapes Water Policy Decisions 22:09 - Lessons from Managing California’s Drought 25:04 - Balancing Environmental Protection and Water Use 26:47 - Why Water Tech Innovation Lags Behind Energy 27:07 - The Operator vs. The Visionary 31:13 - The Power of Communication in Water Policy 36:53 - Stanford Water in the West Program 40:15 - The Role of AI in Water Management 42:52 - Water and Global Geopolitics 45:36 - Cybersecurity Risks in the Water Sector 45:58 - Advice for Water Entrepreneurs Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Felicia Marcus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciamarcus/ SM Material Key Takeaways: "Water is a necessity for life and economic development. It's amazing how it's just assumed and taken for granted." "Energy is appreciated because people notice when the lights go out. Water is less understood, less appreciated." "California's drought taught us a lot. The public saved nearly 25% when asked. Education was key." "The disparity in funding between water and energy is a self-inflicted wound in California." "I like helping people move. You can't just say, “Do it.” You have to help them see another way." "Know your audience beyond who you want to sell to. Educate yourself on the context in which you sell."

    47 min
  4. Scott Bryan - Pilots, Impact and Acceleration

    FEB 27

    Scott Bryan - Pilots, Impact and Acceleration

    I owe what I get to do every day here in a job I love to many people, but Scott Bryan really helped. In 2015, he took a chance on me to become the VP of Programming at Imagine H2O running the Accelerator, and it was a learning curve which laid the groundwork for what we do here at BIV. Scott is one of the most important figures in early stage water. Since 2010, he has built Imagine H2O into the premier accelerator for water entrepreneurs running three annual programs, and they announced their first pilot fund last year. All of this adds up to an enormous and rapidly growing degree of impact in water as the companies they backed and supported have revolutionized everything from groundwater management to flood insurance.  Please enjoy my conversation with Scott Bryan.  Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- Scott Bryan, President at Imagine H2O, joins Tom today to discuss the evolution of the water technology ecosystem. Together, they start by taking a look at how the early days were characterized by business plan competitions before the subsequent shift to emphasizing team strength, execution ability, and customer-centric approaches. Scott then goes on to highlight Imagine H2O's evolving selection process, the critical role of pilot projects, and the importance of impact measurement. Noting that water is a less polarizing issue than climate, allowing it a degree of stability, today’s episode also explores philanthropy in the water sector and Imagine H20’s focus on Asia, before wrapping it all up with Scott’s sage advice for water entrepreneurs. 00:00 - Imagine H2O’s Role in Water Innovation 02:19 - Why Water Has Lagged Behind Clean Tech 04:08 - Early Challenges in Water Entrepreneurship 05:40 - What Makes a Water Startup Succeed? 07:30 - The Hidden Dangers of Fundraising Success 09:41 - Key Milestones in Water Innovation Growth 11:17 - How COVID Shifted the Water Tech Landscape 13:17 - Why Most Accelerators Fail at Water Startups 15:15 - The ROI of Water Startup Accelerators 16:14 - Measuring Impact in Water Innovation 17:45 - Why Water Needs Standardized Impact Metrics 18:31 - The Unique Challenges of Running a Water Nonprofit 19:34 - The Role of Philanthropy in Water Innovation 20:24 - Why Climate Funders Must Care About Water 22:46 - How Water Ties Into Public Health and Equity 25:20 - Why Pilots Are Critical for Water Startups 28:12 - How the Water Innovation Pilot Fund Works 30:40 - Expanding Water Tech Innovation Internationally 32:24 - Key Lessons from Imagine H2O Asia 33:48 - Hiring the Right Talent for Water Startups 35:12 - The Future of Water Tech Investment 36:20 - Why Water Is a Bipartisan Issue 38:22 - What Entrepreneurs Must Know About Water Policy 40:11 - The #1 Advice for Water Entrepreneurs Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Scott Bryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmilesbryan/ Imagine H2O: https://www.imagineh2o.org/ SM Material Key Takeaways: "Water is a trillion-dollar industry. It's the future of the world's most valuable resource." "Philanthropy in water is changing. It's not just about wells anymore. We need sophisticated impact engines." "There are four pillars: climate, health, equity, and efficiency. They guide our work and impact." "Water is not as polarizing as climate. It's a bipartisan issue. We must manage resources better." "Take the check from people who know the space. Measure value in burritos, not just equity." "We need to standardize metrics in water. The math is all over the place. Precision is key." "Imagine H2O Asia is a base to think regionally. It's about testing business models faster." "We need to think beyond a 10-month accelerator. It's a long journey, and we're here to help."

    42 min
  5. Paul Hauffen - The Customer Inclusion Loop

    FEB 12

    Paul Hauffen - The Customer Inclusion Loop

    True dyed-in-the-wool software pros are a valuable breed in water and Paul Hauffen is one of the best. A two-time entrepreneur, he sold his last company Sedaru, and, in a founding hiatus, is bringing his enormous experience to bear helping companies along their trajectory, partially as a BIV Venture Partner. Paul is a very wise man indeed and his insights on building solid foundations for companies, the hard yards of especially early sales and reference building, and the traps that founders can fall into are second to none. We're so lucky to work with him. Please enjoy my conversation with Paul Hauffen. Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- Executive, entrepreneur, advisor, and BIV Venture Partner, Paul Hauffen, shares his insights on several valuable topics for water tech startups including common pitfalls for founders after securing funding, his personal journey into the water industry, and the development of his previous company, Sedaru. Paul offers advice on identifying and engaging early customers, outlines the benefits of targeting utilities, reflects on the evolution of software within the water sector, and shares the future of software opportunities. He finishes up by providing his perspective on marketing and sales, defining product-market fit, and emphasizing the vital role of strong customer relationships. 00:00 - Paul Hauffen: Water Tech Visionary 02:03 - The Biggest Mistake Founders Make 03:57 - Why You Shouldn’t Celebrate Fundraising 06:01 - Effective Startup Marketing on a Budget 07:38 - Why Water? A Founder’s Journey 11:27 - How to Identify a Profitable Market Opportunity 14:50 - Building Trust Through Customer Inclusion 15:21 - How to Land Your First Customer 16:32 - The $40K Napkin Deal: Winning Early Sales 18:01 - Checklist for Finding the Right First Customer 21:16 - Why Utilities Make Great Customers 24:25 - How to Win RFPs and Lock in Long-Term Contracts 26:28 - The Evolution of Water Tech Software 28:31 - The Future of AI and Software in Water 33:30 - AI’s Role in Water Innovation 36:29 - Marketing and Sales for Water Startups 39:03 - Pricing Strategy for SaaS in Water Tech 39:49 - Defining Product-Market Fit in Water Software 42:17 - Lessons from Advising Water Tech Startups 44:01 - The Customer Inclusion Loop Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Paul Hauffen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulhauffen/ SM Material Key Takeaways: "Founders often get intoxicated with marketing before proving value." "Establish product market fit before allocating budget to marketing." "Practical marketing is essential until product market fit is achieved." "Build excuses to interact with customers to strengthen relationships." "Utilities are great customers because they prioritize productivity over profit." "AI allows us to revisit legacy workflows and solve problems faster." "Early customers should be small to mid-size, progressive, and decision-makers." "Balance vision with execution to turn ideas into reality." "The customer inclusion loop is vital for growth and trust building."

    46 min
  6. Mudasser Iqbal - AI, Water and Institutional Memory

    JAN 23

    Mudasser Iqbal - AI, Water and Institutional Memory

    There is a lot going on in AI right now, from the travails of ChatGPT to the technology being essentially single handedly responsible for the surge of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” and therefore the overall S&P 500 in 2024. But what does it mean for water? Mudasser Iqbal is a career technologist and an exceptional guy, previous CEO of Visenti before its acquisition by our friends at Xylem in 2016, and he and his co-founders reformed to pursue the AI opportunity in water. TeamSolve is going after a tough problem, essentially aiming at solving the lack of easily accessible institutional memory and insight in water utilities using the power of AI. This is a fascinating run through the ins and outs of applying this technology and water, the practicality of problem solving, working with remote teams, maintaining customer focus and much, much more. Please enjoy my conversation with Mudasser Iqbal.  Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- Mudasser Iqbal, Founder and CEO at TeamSolve and noted ‘AI use in water’ visionary, details his organization’s mission to revolutionize utilities with their "knowledge twin," a formidable resource which effectively combats expertise loss. Accessible through everyday platforms, the Twin boosts efficiency for field techs and command centers. Building upon lessons learned from Visenti and Xylem, Iqbal stresses practicality, user feedback, and a distributed team model. He also urges water innovators to embrace tough challenges and strategic partnerships, mirroring TeamSolve's customer-centric, globally impactful approach. 00:00 - AI's Evolution and Real-World Applications 04:48 - Agentic Frameworks: Beyond Generative AI 07:04 - Why AI in Water Matters Now 09:37 - Real-World Examples: Institutional Knowledge Gaps 12:25 - Knowledge Twin: A Practical AI Solution 19:17 - Practical Uses: Field Technicians and Command Centers 24:21 - Ensuring AI Reliability and Trustworthiness 26:22 - Remote Team Collaboration: Lessons from COVID 29:30 - Vicente Learnings: Collaboration and Customer Focus 32:45 - Building a Customer-Centric Company Culture 35:15 - Creating Moats: Knowledge Sharing and Network Effects 38:51 - Maintaining Focus Amid Growth 40:40 - Advice for Water Entrepreneurs: Solve Hard Problems Links: Burnt Island Ventures TeamSolve Mudasser Iqbal  SM Material Key Takeaways: "AI has been around for decades, contributing to drug discovery, predictive maintenance, and more. It's not new, but its applications are expanding." "Generative AI connects the dots in water systems, overcoming data limitations and enabling real problem-solving." "Institutional knowledge in water utilities often retires with employees. AI can bridge this gap, preserving essential information." "AI's promise lies in solving real-world problems, not just generating text or images. It's about practical applications." "Focus on solving a hard problem that's bothering customers. Stick to it for long-term success." "AI can help leapfrog water utilities that are just starting their digital journey, providing practical solutions."

    42 min
  7. Debra Coy - Earnings Calls, Inflection Points, and Perspective

    12/04/2024

    Debra Coy - Earnings Calls, Inflection Points, and Perspective

    Over the last decade, I've been so lucky to learn from seriously good water people, and Debra Coy is one of the best. Over four decades, she has built an extraordinary body of work from public markets analyst to XPV, the preeminent water investing firm that has been extraordinarily supportive to us, to her current independent role advising and sitting on the boards of major water companies. She sits on the investment committee of our Opportunity Fund and it has been such a pleasure to benefit from her insight and wisdom as we have made our first two investments at the Series B. This is a really fun conversation. Everything from the lessons for founders, from earnings transcripts to lending her perspective on the overall history of private markets investing in water. Please enjoy my conversation with Debra Coy. *Please note in the episode Debra mentions XPV raised a $250m FundI I. The correct amount was a $150m Fund I. Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- Legendary water industry leader, Debra Coy, reflects on the water sector's transformation from obscure investment to a recognized industry. She highlights the impact of increased investor knowledge, rapid digital tech adoption, and a new generation of business-savvy entrepreneurs. Drawing from her experience at XPV Water Partners, Debra emphasizes their focus on strong entrepreneurs and hands-on company building, and champions talent recycling within the sector. She also offers advice to aspiring water entrepreneurs: study public market data, balance ambitious vision with practical execution, and prioritize diverse leadership for enhanced performance. 00:00 Learning from Water Industry Leaders 02:30 - Water's Transformation into an Investable Sector 03:15 - Challenges Across the Capital Stack in Water Investing 04:45 - 14-Year Tech Adoption Cycle in Water 06:45 - The Critical Role of Entrepreneurs in Water Innovation 09:00 - XPV's Focus on Scaling Water Companies 13:20 - Building Synergies with Operational Focus 17:40 - Importance of Talent Recycling in Water Startups 20:00 - Axius’ Growth Strategy with KKR Partnership 22:30 - Managing Water Challenges in the Permian Basin 27:30 - Public Markets as a Guide for Water Entrepreneurs 30:20 - The Value of Reading Earnings Call Transcripts 33:00 - Public Market Sentiment Around Water Investments 35:25 - Key Traits of Successful Water Leaders 37:30 - Advancing Gender and Diversity in Water 40:25 - Balancing Vision and Execution as an Entrepreneur Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Debra Coy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-g-coy-792992/ SM Material Key Takeaways: "Water's finally becoming a real industry." "The quality of the entrepreneur is critical." "Digital tech adoption in water has a faster rate. It's shifted the market's openness to innovation." "The investment world has woken up to water as an investable sector.” "Public markets give you a constant report card. It's a real-time view of investor sentiment." "A diverse leadership team is a better leadership team.” "Think big but do small. Balance vision with execution to succeed." "Investors are emotional. They want to invest in what they believe in." "You can't wait for it to get better. You have to do what it takes to make it better."

    42 min
  8. Guillaume Clairet - Operations, Rule-Breaking and Erin Brockovich

    11/20/2024

    Guillaume Clairet - Operations, Rule-Breaking and Erin Brockovich

    We all know about the CEO in a company. When the company is small, the CEO does everything, and when it's big, the CEO sets the vision, hires the right people and makes sure they have what they need to be successful. But what about a layer deeper than that? Guillaume Clairet is a fascinating example of a world class COO. Now he's too modest to be known as the power behind the throne, but he's the guy that makes sure what needs to be done gets done. And it's an interesting time for him after both the $395 million delisting of H2O Innovation by Ember Infrastructure and their acquisition of NextEra’s Distributed Water business. Along the way, H2O Innovation have done things their own way and have built an exceptional business and this is a fascinating insight into the practicality of that journey. Please enjoy my conversation with Guillaume Clairet.  Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- H2O Innovation COO Guillaume Clairet shares his insightful journey through the world and business of water. He discusses navigating the complexities of public markets, mastering M&A strategies, and building robust recurring revenue models. Guillaume also details H2O's transformative acquisition of the NextEra’s Distributed Water business, a strategic move towards owning water assets and offering diverse customer solutions, and finishes up by offering his invaluable advice to aspiring water entrepreneurs. 00:00 - Water Technology & Entrepreneurship 01:50 - Erin Brockovich Inspiration 03:45 - H2O Innovation Origin Story 06:12 - Early Roles & Company Growth 07:30 - Value of Full-Cycle Experience 09:23 - Navigating Public Markets 11:42 - Transition to Recurring Revenue 15:16 - M&A Process & Integration 19:03 - Successful M&A Integration Strategies 21:01 - COO Role: Serving & Problem-Solving 21:53 - When to Hire a COO 23:04 - CEO Sequencing Operations 26:18 - Going Private with Ember Infrastructure 29:25 - NextEra Acquisition & Future Strategy 30:30 - Holistic Water Solutions Provider 36:14 - Advice for Water Entrepreneurs Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Guillaume Clairet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaumeclairet/?originalSubdomain=ca H2O Innovation: https://www.h2oinnovation.com/ SM Material Key Takeaways: "The CEO sets the vision. The COO makes it happen. It's a partnership of vision and execution." "When you're a startup, you wear many hats. You learn every aspect of the business from sales to operations." "Public markets teach resilience. They keep you on your toes, driving for performance and accountability." "In acquisitions, integration is everything. It's not just about buying a company, but making it part of your own." "A CEO should look at their strengths and hire to fill their weaknesses, making themselves obsolete in those areas." "Being a COO means being accessible. It’s about serving your team and solving problems." "In the water industry, patience is crucial. Progress is slow, but it's accelerating. Be ready for the long game." "Focus on customer relationships. When you earn a customer, keep them by meeting all their water needs."

    38 min
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About

Welcome to The Fundamental Molecule. This show explores the intersection of water, technology and entrepreneurship. Each week, Tom Ferguson, Managing Partner of Burnt Island Ventures, interviews innovators, experts, entrepreneurs and investors in the world of water, to help us understand where this trillion dollar industry is headed. These are the stories of the people building the future of the world’s most valuable and fundamental resource. Explore all of our episodes and learn more at https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule

Information

  • Creator
    The Fundamental Molecule with Tom Ferguson, Burnt Island Ventures
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Burnt Island Ventures
  • Show Website
    The Fundamental Molecule

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