Bold ideas that solve the world’s energy needs.

Wanted — Social Impact Entrepreneurs

SPEAKERS:
Erik Birkerts, CEO, Clean Energy Trust
Amy Francetic, Managing Director, Buoyant Ventures
James Schulte, Director, Exelorate Growth, Exelon

Amy Francetic of Buoyant Ventures

The speakers presented their perspectives on the panel “Wanted: Social Impact Entrepreneurs to Solve Gigaton Problems.” As this summer’s conference was held virtually during the pandemic, Schulte shared his own experience of pushing through another difficult time: working on Wall Street during the 2008 recession.

​The other panelists also shared their own paths to becoming entrepreneurs in the green energy field, illustrating the transformation of funding for clean energy technology startups from the underdeveloped investment model of the mid-2000s. Venture funding has transitioned from a model that former Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson used to refer to as Clean Tech 1.0 to Clean Tech 2.0.

The speakers encouraged fellows to embrace the relatively new interdisciplinary approach to education in sustainability and energy. They expressed the need to pair risky, innovative ideas with the standard hard work, networking and strategizing needed to succeed today. Each panelist provided a unique viewpoint on available venture capital in the clean energy arena and shared their stories on their own journeys to success.

Session summary by SISE Fellows Erica Shumaker and Vincentius Sebastian Utama 

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Watch the video of the full session here. 

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