The Shameless Plug with Saul Griffith The Shameless Plug Episode 7: Katherine McConnell
Oct 7, 2025
Katherine McConnell, CEO of Brighte, shares her insights on making sustainable energy affordable through point-of-sale financing. She discusses Australia's new battery subsidy and its benefits for households, emphasizing the crucial role of tradespeople in this transition. Katherine also highlights the importance of comparing financing options effectively and shares her own experiences with an off-grid solar setup. The conversation touches on how this shift leads to more mindful energy use while navigating the financial landscape of electrification.
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Episode notes
Transition Is Fuels To Finance
- The energy transition is a shift from fuels to finance, requiring upfront capital for cheaper-running electric machines.
- Katherine McConnell frames household electrification as asset/infrastructure finance, not just technology adoption.
Early Battery Trial Sparked Bright
- Katherine installed early solar and one of Australia's first household batteries and joined a VPP pilot in 2015.
- That hands-on experience convinced her batteries would boom and need financing for mass adoption.
Tradies Are Frontline Closers
- Tradies are the frontline sellers for household electrification and need point-of-sale finance to close sales.
- Bright's model equips installers with financing tools to remove friction and accelerate uptake.
