Zach Dell, Co-founder and CEO of Base Power Company, aims to transform home energy services with innovative battery solutions. He discusses his entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration for Base, and the company's unique approach to distributed batteries in Texas. The conversation covers the challenges of clean energy, battery technology, and the importance of customer-centric models. Zach also delves into the significance of battery storage for grid support and the startup's strategy for affordability and reliability in home energy services.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Entrepreneurial Drive
Zach Dell always wanted to be an entrepreneur from an early age.
He believed solving hard problems through companies yields the biggest impact.
question_answer ANECDOTE
College Biogas Project
In college Zach built systems to convert human waste into biogas in India.
He found it was a project, not a commercially viable product then.
insights INSIGHT
Batteries Will Outrun Analyst Estimates
Zach Dell concluded battery demand would far exceed analysts' forecasts due to renewables.
He saw batteries as essential to a renewables-dominated grid.
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Zach Dell is the Co-founder and CEO of Base Power Company. Base aspires to build a reliable and affordable home energy service powered by distributed batteries. Their technology supports the grid during times of peak need and protects customers during outages. They claim to do this at a fraction of the cost of other solutions. Base is serving live customers in Texas and claims to be the only electricity provider to offer a home battery, monthly energy service, and installation, all in one with no requirement of rooftop solar.
MCJ is a proud investor in Base via our venture capital fund. The company recently raised a $68 million Series A round via Valor Equity Partners, Thrive Capital, and others in which we participated. In this episode, we dig into Zach's journey, the origins of Base, and what he sees as the path ahead for distributed storage and home energy as he builds a vertically integrated business in this enormous space.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:47] Zach's background and journey into entrepreneurship, with a focus on solving energy and climate problems
[7:57] How he landed on batteries and met his co-founder, Justin Lopas
[14:05] Base's residential approach in Texas
[22:00] The company's business model and role in the energy market
[25:03] Base's ideal customer
[27:30] The battery's current and future manufacturing strategy
[31:00] Zach's key learnings from starting a business
[32:18] Base's company culture and who they're looking to hire
[36:46] How Base could grow into other energy sectors
[40:00] Zach's vision for the future
Episode recorded on Sept 10, 2024 (Published on Oct 3, 2024)
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