634: Simplifying On-Site Energy for Businesses; VECKTA may be the first ‘platform’ to do it!

While businesses grapple with skyrocketing energy costs, increasingly frequent power outages, and mounting pressure to reduce carbon emissions, clean energy & energy efficiency providers struggle with how to find & convert them as customers. The complexity of on-stie energy challenges often leaves businesses feeling overwhelmed with options for transitioning to cleaner, more resilient, on-site energy solutions, also known as distributed energy resources. Adding to this complexity are the 'soft costs' associated with developing these solutions, which include consulting, engineering, sales, and procurement, which can account for a staggering 50% of project costs. The energy market also suffers from a pervasive information asymmetry. Buyers often find themselves at a loss for who to trust, and suppliers struggle for project traction due to customer indecision.Gareth Evans, the CEO and founder of VECKTA, designed a company specifically to tackle these challenges head-on. Their unique platform helps businesses navigate the energy transition by developing tailored strategies, prioritizing projects, designing optimal solutions, and providing access to vetted suppliers via a streamlined marketplace. In our conversation, Evans offers an in-depth look into how VECKTA managed to overcome the hurdles of achieving product-market fit, which included building their platform in isolation during a global pandemic. Evans also shares insights about managing the growing pains of a start-up: from recruiting and maintaining an effective team, to raising capital, to managing the transition from intrapreneur to CEO.Evans offers a unique perspective on the transformation that businesses must undergo to meet increasing environmental pressures and transition to more resilient energy solutions. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in how businesses can navigate the complexities of the energy transition and provides valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of leading a startup in a rapidly evolving industry. VECKTA may have just unlocked the doorway to scaling the C&I sector for what Evans prefers to call “On-site Energy”, which we have commonly referred to as Distributed Energy, Solar, Energy Effiiency, etc.  Give it a listen and let us know what you think with a note on Linkedin or X! If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 650 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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