Which Startup Will You Fund?
The gigaton-scale challenges facing humanity are overwhelming. And, although there are a variety of ambitious efforts to solve these challenges, skepticism seems to be the prevailing mood.
When an entrepreneur is pitching a new company, it’s important to identify potential weaknesses, perhaps especially so for startups that aim to solve gigaton-scale problems. But a wise corporate venture capitalist tells me that it's also important to challenge her own skepticism and acknowledge her biases. She says that a good investor also asks, “What if it works?”
This special issue spotlights a few of the visionary founders, companies, and products that could accelerate a new energy economy. Like many, many other startups, they’ve had their share of long days and sleepless nights, setbacks and failures. Now they are on the verge of bringing to life something new, something real ... something that has the potential to make a profound impact. The companies featured in this issue are ready to go and ready to scale, poised to change the world. So, let’s put skepticism aside and choose optimism. Let’s open our minds (and our wallets) and be inspired.
When you read this issue of Energy Today, let’s imagine: “What if it works…”
Eric J. Vettel, PhD
President, American Energy Society
Imagine if ...
We eliminate 50% of California's greenhouse gas emissions.
Forum Mobility will replace 8,000 old diesel trucks with a fleet of electric vehicles and the infrastructure to support them.
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We accelerate utility scale solar. Terabase accelerates deployment of utility scale solar with an all-in-one digital platform that provides seamless support, from conception through operation.
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From the Editors:
To discover more people and programs working toward the new energy future, AES Members have access to previous reports on "Top US Energy Universities", and "Empowering Impact: A Report On All Incubators and Accelerators of Energy in the US." AES editors would like to thank Brigid O'Brien for her wisdom and recommend "Useful Skepticism," from the Sunday Letters blog. Please note that AES did not receive any compensation of any kind from any of the featured companies or their affiliates.
Be sure to join the American Energy Society
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