#198 Fleet Charging, Max Charger Utilization, Digitizing Electrification, Being Scrappy, & More w/ Kieran White (Curo)
Aug 9, 2024
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Kieran White, Co-Founder of Curo, has a unique journey that began by hustling his way into Tesla at 18. In this insightful discussion, he reveals how Curo assists EV fleet owners in accessing reliable charging without the burden of building infrastructure. Kieran dives into the challenges of climate tech entrepreneurship and shares innovative strategies for maximizing existing charging assets. Tune in for his valuable insights on navigating the evolving landscape of electric vehicle charging and the impact of policy and incentives on the industry.
Curo provides EV fleet operators with access to existing underutilized charging infrastructure, significantly reducing costs and installation time.
Kieran White emphasizes the importance of a company-first mindset and adaptability in shaping a startup's culture and productivity.
Deep dives
Kiro's Innovative Charging Solutions for Fleets
Kiro focuses on solving the challenges that fleets face in finding reliable charging solutions. The company provides a virtual charging depot by locating underutilized chargers owned by various facilities, allowing fleet operators to access charging infrastructure without the need to build their own. This approach saves fleet operators significant costs and time, as they can avoid expensive installations and capitalize on existing infrastructure. At the same time, Kiro helps charger owners maximize their investments by ensuring their equipment is utilized effectively, creating a win-win scenario for both parties.
Background and Learnings from Tesla Experience
The CEO of Kiro, Kieran White, shares insights from his unconventional journey to entrepreneurship, particularly his time at Tesla. His experiences highlighted the importance of aligning personal and organizational goals, emphasizing a company-first mindset. White found that dedication to a shared mission significantly influenced productivity and team dynamics, which he applied to Kiro's culture. These lessons have been instrumental in shaping Kiro's approach to flexibility and adaptability in a rapidly changing market.
Current Market Dynamics and Regulations
Kiro operates within a market influenced by regulatory demands, particularly in California, where fleet electrification is becoming mandatory. Companies must now meet specific electrification targets, which can complicate compliance given existing infrastructural limitations. This environment creates a strong demand for Kiro’s solutions, as it provides fleets with the necessary infrastructure quickly and efficiently. Kieran notes that companies are increasingly focused on just launching their electrification initiatives in time to adhere to these upcoming regulations.
Challenges and Strategies for Growth
Kiro faces challenges associated with sourcing virtual depots while also catering to the fleet's specific charging needs. The company employs proactive strategies to bootstrap its network, paralleling techniques used by ride-hailing services to grow their driver bases. Kieran mentions that their focus is on creating a robust network of facilities while balancing the client needs to ensure they quickly meet fleet demands. Additionally, they have developed a metric-driven approach to track their progress, emphasizing the importance of defined goals for assessing their success.
Today, we are speaking with Kieran White. Co-Founder of Curo.
At Curo they help EV Fleet owners secure reliable charging without the need to build their own infrastructure.
This has the double benefit of allowing existing infrastructure owners to maximize their assets.
Today’s call is super fun. We discuss:
How he hustled his way into a job with Tesla at 18, even tho they claimed to only hire 21 and older
The effect this exp had on him and how it led to him launching Curo
How they help fleet owners find reliable charging without building infrastructure
And how they help existing charging owners maximize their infrastructure
Enjoy the show!
Topics: **01:56 Intro **04:23 Journey to Entrepreneurship **06:20 The Problem Kero is Solving **08:22 Challenges and Ops in EV Charging **17:05 Policy, Incentives, and the Future of the Industry **19:33 Navigating Ideas / Staying Focused **23:52 Growth Hacks **27:07 Tracking Progress / Systematizing **30:17 Dealing with New Ideas **32:57 Climate Startup Ideas **34:26 Future of EV Charging **38:38 Fundraising Advice & Closing Thoughts
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