Category Visionaries Troy Helming, Founder & CEO of EarthGrid: $63 Million Raised to Build Underground Super Grids with Plasma Torch Technology
Troy Helming is building the future of infrastructure with EarthGrid, a company developing an underground super grid network of tunnels across North America using revolutionary plasma torch technology. As a serial entrepreneur who founded two unicorns in the renewable energy space, Troy brings decades of experience in wind and solar power to solving one of the most critical infrastructure challenges of our time. EarthGrid has raised $63 million and secured an $18 billion joint venture commitment from the Kuwait Investment Authority to build 10,000 miles of underground tunnels over the next decade.
Topics Discussed:
- EarthGrid's mission to build an underground super grid network using plasma torch excavation technology
- The massive infrastructure challenge of transmission line development in the United States
- Troy's journey from early solar exposure 45 years ago to founding multiple renewable energy companies
- The regulatory breakthrough of becoming a telecommunications utility in 46 states
- Overcoming the "supply problem, not demand problem" with over 20,000 potential customers in their pipeline
- The $18 billion joint venture with Kuwait Investment Authority's Enertech subsidiary
- Plasma torch technology's ability to cut through hard granite and other materials conventional machines cannot handle
- The vision for moving freight and eventually people through underground tunnel networks
GTM Lessons For B2B Founders:
- Choose industries with structural supply-demand imbalances: Troy has successfully built three consecutive companies where demand far exceeds supply, eliminating the need for traditional sales teams. He specifically targets infrastructure sectors where "the need is so acute and there aren't that many companies doing it, and the ones that are, the demand exceeds the supply." B2B founders should research industries with massive unmet demand and limited competition, particularly in infrastructure where the barriers to entry are high but the market need is desperate.
- Solve regulatory risks early through strategic positioning: Rather than fighting regulatory battles, Troy transformed EarthGrid into a regulated telecommunications utility, gaining rights to build under public roads in 46 states representing 97% of US GDP. This strategic move eliminated the primary risk factor that kills most infrastructure projects. B2B founders should identify their biggest regulatory or compliance risks early and find creative ways to work within existing frameworks rather than against them.
- Build resilience through failure conditioning: Troy's experience with rock climbing and American Ninja Warrior taught him to "overcome the fear of people looking at you when you might fail" and to "shake it off, get back up and go again." After pitching over 2,000 times with a 97% rejection rate, he learned to treat fundraising as a numbers game rather than personal rejection. B2B founders should actively seek experiences that condition them for repeated failure, whether through athletics, public speaking, or other challenging pursuits that build mental resilience.
- Validate demand before building supply: EarthGrid already has "close to 20,000 potential customer contacts" and over 50 signed letters of intent before fully commercializing their technology. Troy validates market demand through extensive research and customer outreach before investing in full product development. B2B founders should spend significant time understanding their market's pain points and securing early customer commitments before building complex solutions.
- Leverage personal capital for strategic advantage: Troy's ability to "wait to start your company until you have enough money in the bank" prevents short-term financial pressures from forcing poor strategic decisions. His personal investment in EarthGrid (part of the $63 million raised) demonstrates commitment to investors while providing operational flexibility. B2B founders should consider how personal financial runway affects their ability to make optimal long-term decisions rather than being forced into suboptimal short-term choices.
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