#56 - Solving Energy Demand Spikes of Increased Electrification with Rekha Sharma of Solv4X

Aug 12, 2022

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Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 56.
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If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.
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Today's conversation is with Rekha Sharma the founder of Solv4x. Rekha spent a number of years working for CAISO which, for those unfamiliar is the grid operator in California. During her time there she dealt with the issue of energy demand irregularities the more renewable energy that came on the grid and the more electrification permeated the grid.

That experience led her to seek a solution which is what she's doing with Solv4X. In this conversation she walks us through the evolution of how she got to where she is, the steps she took to get here, and how the first vertical she's focusing on is the EV Charging space.

Generally speaking, this was a really great conversation and I personally enjoyed it a lot as she was able to help shed light on the decision-making process to leave a stable job to start this business. Generally, very inspiring.

Main Talking Points:

Intro
The shift to electrification
Her early career
The evolution of the grid
What is Solve4X
Seeing CAISOs issues firsthand
Getting started
Finding the right partners
Getting capital
Many small tweaks
How the incubators helped
Picking the right incubator
Division of labor & specialties in the labor market
User experience
Internships and the importance of hands-on experience
Giving back to the people
Wrapping up

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com

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We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ /

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