SunCast

Welcome to Episode 65 of SunCast! I hope you learned a lot during this week's ultra-nerdy Tactical Tuesday with Hongbin Fang of LONGi Solar.On today's episode, I speak with Etienne Lecompte. Etienne is a leader and entrepreneur in renewable energy, software development and regulatory compliance. Etienne's companies and products have set the standard for developers, financiers and equity providers investing in renewable energy assets in Canada and now throughout North America. He currently leads his latest venture, PowerHub: a cloud-based Asset Management solution designed to help renewable energy asset owners manage their projects.Tune in Today as we Discuss Topics Such As:How Etienne & PowerHub raised capital.The opportunities and threats currently in the Asset Management space.For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/065)Make sure you tune back in next Tuesday for Episode 66 of Suncast, where I talk to Mark Mclanahan for a brand new Tactical Tuesday!Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Etienne Lecompte.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Welcome to Episode 64 of SunCast!  Welcome to Tactical Tuesdays, a short-form conversation with subject-matter experts to give you the edge in building your solar business and brand.Hongbin Fang is Director of Product Marketing at LONGi Solar, a leading dedicated monocrystalline solar cell and module manufacturer.With the resurgence of Bifacial Modules & the rapid rise of the PERC cell technology, I thought it would be good to bring in an expert on the subject to help us understand the technical bits and why it matters to the industry.Tune in Today as we Discuss:The rise of PERC Mono solar cell technology - what is it, and why should we care?The re-emergence of bifacial modules - what's new, and how does it help developers deliver more kWh?For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/064)Make sure you tune back in on Thursday for episode 65 of Suncast, where I talk to Etienne Lecompte of PowerHub.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Hongbin Fang.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Welcome to Episode 63 of SunCast!I hope you enjoyed the last week's episode with Oleg pushing the envelope on commercial finance.Today's episode is going to plumb the depths of the entrepreneurial journey with a CEO of a US-based solar module manufacturer who's had his share of failure and success, and most certainly understands how to cross the chasm.I had the incredible pleasure of sitting down with Suvi Sharma, CEO of Solaria Corporation.Suvi joined Solaria in 2003 and recruited a world-class management team, developed partnerships with industry-leading solar companies and raised close to $200 million from strategic financial investors.Tune in Today as we Discuss:Solaria's Newest Innovation: Architectural PV GlassHow Suvi gave his job to Dan Shugar, then took it back after they spun Nextracker out of Solaria.For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/063)This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $100K value, and you'd like to see how Solrates can help You quickly and easily deliver a financing proposal to your customers, Head over to www.mysuncast.com/SolRates and click on the Request an Invitation button.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Suvi Sharma.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Welcome to Episode 62 of SunCast!In today's episode of SunCast, I speak to Oleg Popovsky of Braggawatt Solar. We talk about a project they announced that week at SPI. On the surface, it would appear a rather innocuous, perhaps insignificant achievement, but I think Oleg does a great job explaining exactly why this announcement had my ears perked.If you've been curious to look under the hood a wee bit to see what this SunEdison spinoff is up to, this episode is for you. It's a great example of taking intrapreneurship to its ultimate destination, spinning out your idea & turning it into a standalone business.Oleg ran global biz dev for SunEdison in its heyday, and had an inside view at the good, bad and ugly of commercial solar finance, so he and his team are the kind of folks you want to lend your ear to.Tune in Today as we Discuss:The announcement of a very interesting achievement for C&I Solar.How Oleg ran with an idea to create a standalone business.How Big Data is paving the way for the Solar Industry.For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/062)This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $100K value, and you'd like to see how Solrates can help You quickly and easily deliver a financing proposal to your customers, Head over to www.mysuncast.com/SolRates and click on the Request an Invitation button.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Oleg Popovsky.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Happy New Year. I've got some exciting episodes and community planning coming, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this timeless story.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this New Years episode of SunCast.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Welcome to Episode 60 of SunCast!In today's episode of SunCast, I speak to Jigar Shah, an icon in the solar industry. From founding SunEdison to leading the Carbon War Room as its first CEO, Jigar has been innovating on business models in the energy and infrastructure arenas for more than 2 decades.  Currently, Jigar is the co-founder and President of specialty finance company, Generate Capital, investing in infrastructure assets in what they refer to as the world's critical resources, energy, water, agriculture and basic materialsTune in Today as we Discuss: How Jigar's early career and family life shaped the companies he's built Why Jigar believes you can't build a business as a side-hustle SunEdison's early days of financing, and how that influences his own investing ethos What Jigars sees smart entrepreneurs doing to win For resources from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/060)This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $100K value, and you'd like to see how Solrates can help You quickly and easily deliver a financing proposal to your customers, Head over to www.mysuncast.com/SolRates and click on the Request an Invitation button.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Jigar Shah.

Welcome to Episode 59 of SunCast!This is installment #2 in the Solar+Storage series.Today on SunCast, I get to interview one of the guys who's had a massive impact on my own personal career, Mike Grunow, the VP of Marketing at Vizn Energy Systems.Tune in today as we discuss:How to spec out a good MRD - Market Requirements DocumentThe biggest misconception about Li-ion batteriesLimitations of both from duty & cooling cycles to electrodegradationThe difference between Power & Energy, and why it's not always clear for many developers new to storageIF you missed the first in this Solar+Storage series, be sure to check out Travis Simpkins Episode as well #56.And for resources (and a hilarious yet informative video) from today's episode, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to today's and every other show's blog posts. (the direct URL is ...episodes/059)This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $100K value, and you'd like to see how Solrates can help You quickly and easily deliver a financing proposal to your customers, Head over to www.mysuncast.com/SolRates and click on the Request an Invitation button.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Mike Grunow.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Welcome to Episode 58 of SunCast!Today on SunCast, we are digging into the inner workings of a company (Wunder Capital) many of you have probably begun to work with, and who has clearly done a great job of gaining traction since it's founding back in 2013.  For you entrepreneurs out there, I ask Bryan a ton of questions specifically about the who/what/how/when/why of starting and growing his business. Bryan Birsic and his co-founders have grown Wunder Capital to be one of the fastest-growing and useful platforms for funding commercial solar projects in the US right now.Tune in today as we discuss:Founding Bain's Green TeamWhy Wunder is different from other platforms like MosaicHow Wunder is Funding Commercial SolarAnd, what Bryan believes is the most Critical decision every Founder makes This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $100K value, and you'd like to see how Solrates can help You quickly and easily deliver a financing proposal to your customers, Head over to www.mysuncast.com/SolRates and click on the Request an Invitation button.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day. Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Bryan Birsic.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Welcome to Episode 57 of SunCast, and episode #5 in the Solar Pioneers series.Today is the much-anticipated Part 2 of Episode 39 with Dan Shugar!As founder and CEO, Dan Shugar helped build NEXTracker into one of the fastest growing cleantech companies in the U.S. Dan was responsible for spinning NEXTracker out of Solaria Corp. where he also served as CEO, and then merging with FLEX almost 2 years ago. Nextracker has become the largest tracker company in the world by volume shipped, and I wanted to know more about what has driven that success. If you don't know Dan's backstory, and it's a GREAT one, please be sure to listen to Episode 39!Tune in today as we discuss:The similar evolution of the Auto and Solar industries.The Best Advice Dan has been given by his Mentors.Advice to budding Entrepreneurs.The book Dan has given away the most.What's in Dan's crystal ball? This episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $100K value, and you'd like to see how Solrates can help You quickly and easily deliver a financing proposal to your customers, Head over to www.mysuncast.com/SolRates and click on the Request an Invitation button.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day.  Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Dan Shugar.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Welcome to Episode 56 of SunCast.Today I talk to Dr. Travis Simpkins, based on a recommendation from one of our amazing listeners!Travis is the founder and CEO of muGrid Analytics.muGrid Analytics are the nerds of the renewable energy world. Analyzing potential or existing projects to help you make sound data driven decisions and get the most out of our renewable energy investments. Travis provides techno-economic analysis of renewable energy and energy storage projects to developers, utilities and component manufacturers using their proprietary Redcloud energy optimization platform.Tune in today as we discuss:Solar plus StorageMicrogridsTravel HackingMountain ClimbingWhat's Hot and What's HypeThis episode is brought to you in partnership with Solrates.com, the fast and Free online platform for providing your commercial customers with a credible lease financing proposal. If you have projects over $100K value, and you'd like to see how Solrates can help You quickly and easily deliver a financing proposal to your customers, Head over to www.mysuncast.com/SolRates and click on the Request an Invitation button.Thanks again for setting aside THIS time in your day.  Enjoy this week’s episode of SunCast, with Dr. Travis SimpkinsCheck out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus