Rewiring Energy: Disruption, Transparency, and Scaling with Purpose – Joe McDonald, TEM
In this energised episode, David Hunt is joined by Joe McDonald, Co-founder and CEO of TEM – a fast-scaling UK energytech startup reshaping how energy transactions are done. From his early days at LimeJump and the acquisition by Shell, to co-founding TEM and challenging the very core of how electricity is bought, sold, and valued – Joe shares a story of timing, execution, and bold ambition.
Joe and David dive into:
- The broken nature of the wholesale electricity market – and how TEM is fixing it with AI-driven infrastructure
- Why energy transparency is the antidote to greenwashing
- How scaling culture and teams in a remote-first world requires deep intentionality
- Lessons from Shell, LimeJump, and what it really means to build a challenger business
- Fundraising, lucky timing, and the power of storytelling in startup success
From disrupting energy incumbents to reimagining organisational design, this is a deep and inspiring episode for cleantech entrepreneurs, investors, and energy innovators alike.
🔑 Key Quotes:
“We’re not trying to be greedy – we’re trying to build something enduring. That means picking the right people, partners, and investors.” – Joe McDonald
“We’re not just innovating around the edges; we’re replacing the wholesale electricity market itself.” – Joe McDonald
“Remote-first doesn’t mean working from your bedroom – it means being intentional about culture, connection, and collisions.” – Joe McDonald
“This is about power – both in electrons and in people. Rewiring how energy is transacted is a chance to redistribute both.” – Joe McDonald
About Joe McDonald:
Joe McDonald is a seasoned energy entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience in the sector. He co-founded tem. in 2021, aiming to revolutionize the way renewable energy is bought and sold. Prior to tem., Joe held leadership roles at Limejump, including Vice President of Sales and Product, where he was instrumental in developing virtual power plants that enabled small renewable energy assets to access market opportunities akin to larger utilities. His efforts contributed to Limejump's successful acquisition by Shell in 2019, earning him a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe list.
At tem., Joe leverages his deep expertise in product development, s
About Hyperion Search:
At Hyperion Search, we specialize in building world-class teams for the cleantech and energy transition sectors. We focus on leadership roles but also recruit strategically critical individual contributors who drive business growth. Whether you’re a founder scaling a startup, a board member guiding a scaleup, a VC/PE investor, or a corporation committed to energy and mobility transitions, we find the talent that will deliver impactful, sustainable results.
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyperion-search-ltd
- Website: www.hyperionsearch.com
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