Mastering your commercialization engine

For early-stage startups, the term “go-to-market” is often mistaken for a launch activity. A campaign, a sales push, or a growth sprint.  A go-to-market is a roadmap organisation’s made for launching a new product or service.

In reality, go-to-market is a learning process. It is how founders understand who their customer truly is, how value is delivered, and what it takes to move from early interest to real adoption.

These insights were at the center of an expert sharing session led by Sharinee Shannon, Venture Partner at Hive Ventures, as part of the She Wins Climate Southeast Asia Accelerator Program.

Start with one customer

One of the most important messages from the session was the need for focus at the earliest stage.

“You don’t win go-to-market by trying to serve everyone. You win by knowing one customer deeply, then expanding from there.”

Early-stage founders often see multiple potential customer segments, especially when building solutions that could apply across industries. While this flexibility can be valuable, pursuing too many customer types at once slows learning.

By selecting one ideal customer profile (ICP), founders are forced to go deeper. This includes understanding the customer’s buying cycle, pricing constraints, internal decision-making, competitors in their context, and where they spend time.

This depth of understanding becomes the foundation for effective distribution, pricing, and messaging. Expansion can come later, once there is evidence of traction.

Defining your ICP clearly

To help founders move from assumptions to action, the session encouraged using a simple framing to define an ICP:

We help (who) solve (pain) by (solution) because (urgent why).

The goal is to be as specific as possible. Specificity helps translate strategy into action.

A clear ICP definition makes it easier to decide:

• Who to prioritise for conversations and pilots
• How to tailor messaging and value propositions
• Which channels and partnerships are worth pursuing
• What kind of evidence or validation is needed

If defining one ICP feels restrictive, it may help to see it as a starting point rather than a permanent choice.

Start with a problem that feels urgent

Go-to-market does not start with market size. It starts with a problem that customers feel strongly enough to act on.

Useful questions to explore include:

• How does this customer currently address the problem?
• What are the limitations of that approach?
• What risks or costs exist if the problem remains unsolved?

Understanding urgency helps shape messaging, pricing, and distribution decisions, and often explains why some customers move faster than others.

Early go-to-market is about learning

In the early stages, go-to-market activities are less about scaling and more about learning.

Pilots, trials, and early deployments provide valuable insight into:

• How customers actually use the product
• Who is involved in approving a purchase
• How long decisions take in practice
• Where friction or hesitation occurs

These insights help founders refine both the product and the go-to-market approach before expanding further.

Choosing distribution with intention

Distribution channels should reflect how a chosen ICP prefers to discover and adopt solutions.

Some customers value direct engagement, while others rely on partners or peer recommendations. Understanding these preferences reduces wasted effort and improves conversion.

When the ICP is clear, distribution decisions tend to become more straightforward.

Pricing as part of go-to-market

Pricing plays a role beyond revenue generation. It signals value and influences adoption.

Early pricing discussions can reveal how customers perceive the importance of the problem being solved. Feedback during negotiations or pilots often provides direction for refinement.

Rather than aiming for perfect pricing early on, the goal is to learn and adjust.

Go-to-market evolves over time

It is expected that a go-to-market approach will change as a startup gains experience and feedback from the market.

Adjustments to ICP, messaging, channels, or pricing are signs of learning, not failure.

Go-to-market is best viewed as a capability that strengthens over time through focused experimentation and reflection.

Supporting women-led climate startups

This expert sharing session is part of the She Wins Climate Southeast Asia Accelerator, initiated by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and supported by the Government of Canada and the Government of Australia.

The program supports women-led climate startups across Southeast Asia with investment readiness, go-to-market capability, and access to regional and global networks.

The International Day of Clean Energy is an annual reminder that the energy transition needs to be fast. But it also has to be fair; communities and livelihoods are at stake, and no one should be left behind.

Around the world, clean energy entrepreneurs are proving that the energy shift and social impact can go hand in hand. They are building solutions, training the next generation, and connecting technology to real needs.

Having backed over 10,000 entrepreneurs over the last two decades, we’ve seen this every day. From training local solar installers to deploying innovative cooling systems, supporting founders means helping ideas turn into tangible change that strengthens communities and powers a just, resilient clean energy future.

Here are a few examples:

1. Sunstruck Solar Solutions (Philippines)

Training the next generation of solar installers

After 22 years working on oil barges, Henry Cequina shifted to clean energy, founding Sunstruck Solar Solutions, which has installed over 7 MWp of solar power across the Philippines.

But Henry didn’t stop at deployment. He’s now partnered with New Energy Nexus Philippines’ New Energy Academy to strengthen both technical and business skills. Today, Sunstruck helps train the next generation of solar installers and entrepreneurs across the region, building local capacity while supporting the clean energy transition.

“What I saw as a big gap in Davao… is the lack of certified solar installers, and also the lack of training providers. What really made me decide to become a training partner… is to standardize installations here,” said Henry Cequina, founder of Sunstruck Solar Solutions, Inc.

By investing in skills alongside infrastructure, Sunstruck ensures the transition creates durable livelihoods rather than just megawatts.

Henry Cequina, founder of Sunstruck Solar Solutions, Inc., facilitating a New Energy Academy training session in Davao City, Philippines.

2. Volto SEA (Indonesia)

Cheaper, more efficient boat motors for fisherfolk

For fishing communities on Bungin Island, rising fuel prices and unreliable cold storage have long eaten into incomes. Volto SEA introduced electric outboard motors designed for small-scale fishers, lowering operating costs and protecting the marine environment.

“The sea is the heartbeat of life in Bungin [Island]. By replacing fossil fuel engines with electric motors, we’re not just offering innovation—we’re honoring the maritime way of life and supporting a more sustainable future,” said Yindy Kurniawan, CEO of Volto SEA.

Backed by New Energy Nexus Indonesia, Volto SEA demonstrates that clean energy can strengthen traditional livelihoods while supporting long-term resilience.

Yindy Kurniawan, CEO of Volto Sea, developed the electric outboard motor for Lelepa boats through a collaboration with New Energy Nexus. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

3. SunSawang (Thailand)

Empowering border communities with solar energy

Salinee Hurley, founder of SunSawang, has broken through the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs to deliver solar solutions to off-grid communities along the Thailand–Myanmar border.

SunSawang’s model empowers local families to adopt solar power sustainably, trains community members as technicians, and fosters long-term energy independence.

“Free installations may help in the short term, but the real goal is to empower people to access energy independently in the long run,” said Salinee Hurley, founder of SunSawang.

By centering communities and building local skills, SunSawang shows that equity and energy access go hand in hand. SunSwang is supported by New Energy Nexus Thailand through the SolarSTEP program

Salinee Hurley. Photo from SunSawang

4. Community Energy Labs (United States – California)

Optimized heating and cooling for schools and public buildings

Buildings generate roughly 40 percent of global carbon emissions. Community Energy Labs, alumni of New Energy Nexus California’s CalSEED program, helps schools and public buildings cut energy costs with “self-driving” systems that continuously optimize heating and cooling.

“Our technology takes something that feels really hard to a lot of building operators… complex, expensive, and very frustrating… and turns it into a hands-off solution. It saves time, money, and hassle,” said Tanya Barham, CEO of Community Energy Labs.

Savings can flow back into communities, showing that climate action can support social priorities while cutting emissions.

Community Energy Labs at Sonora Elementary.

Empowering entrepreneurs to lead the transition

Across sectors and geographies, these founders share a common thread: they build clean energy solutions that work for people. New Energy Nexus provides the training, mentorship, connections, and funding founders need to scale responsibly. Through accelerators, programs like the New Energy Academy, and access to global networks, we help turn bold ideas into real-world impact.

These stories show a clear lesson: the transition succeeds fastest when it is inclusive, grounded, and built with communities at its core.

Grow clean energy solutions with your community. Explore our programs and get support at join-nex.co/programs

As 2025 comes to a close, these highlights show how entrepreneurs backed by New Energy Nexus Thailand are shaping Thailand’s clean energy future, and what’s next.

NEX Thailand Gratitude Dinner

Turning climate research into real impact

Thailand’s research community is full of untapped climate innovation. Through Climate Tech Lab to Market, the country’s first climate tech commercialization program, researchers transformed decarbonization-focused research into startups ready to scale.

Over 12 weeks, the inaugural cohort engaged customers, stress-tested assumptions, refined value propositions, and connected with corporates, investors, and venture builders locally and internationally.

By the time the cohort took the stage at Demo Day, they now had market-ready solutions spanning clean energy, industrial decarbonization and carbon capture, green buildings, sustainable mobility, and circular economy. Plus, they’re now part of the New Energy Nexus portfolio with clearer commercialization pathways and stronger networks.

If this year is any indication, Thailand’s climate tech space has a ton of potential, especially as the country’s net-zero goals become more urgent. What existing and aspiring founders need is structured support to bridge the gap from idea to impact.

GBI ConNEX event

Advancing green buildings from pilots to market readiness

In 2025, the Green Building Initiative (GBI) focused on groundwork rather than scale, and that proved to be its strength. By bringing building owners, climate tech startups, and ecosystem partners into the same conversation early, GBI helped move green building solutions closer to deployment.

In its initial phase, the initiative secured commitments from three buildings to engage in upcoming pilot collaborations with startups from the NEX Thailand network. This established a clear proof-of-concept pipeline and signaled strong market readiness for green building technologies in Thailand.

Then, the first GBI ConNEX event brought public and private stakeholders together to unpack structural barriers, policy gaps, and market opportunities. Those discussions are now being shaped into practical policy recommendations to support future collaboration with government agencies and partners.

The insight here was not about speed, but alignment. When demand, technology, and policy conversations start together, climate solutions face fewer roadblocks down the line.

SolarSTEP 2025

Building a skilled workforce for Thailand’s solar future

Thailand’s energy transition will only move as fast as the people driving it. This is why our SolarSTEP program is making sure the workforce at the core of this shift is up to the challenge.

Through trainings delivered with regional partners, the program equipped solar entrepreneurs and technicians with both technical expertise and business know-how. It also reinforced a critical truth. Inclusion strengthens the energy transition.

This year, SolarSTEP also marked a major milestone: the national approval of its Solar Entrepreneurship Curriculum by the Department of Skill Development under the Ministry of Labour. This formal recognition strengthened the country’s green workforce framework and sent a clear signal that clean energy skills matter.

Our takeaway? Investing in skills, leadership, and inclusion is not optional. It is essential infrastructure for a resilient clean energy sector.

Decarbonize Thailand Symposium: Decarbonization Deep-Dive From Trends to Solutions

Connecting startups, corporates, and capital to decarbonize Thailand

This year’s Decarbonize Thailand Symposium was our biggest one yet. Over 30 climate tech startups showed up alongside corporates, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem partners, creating space for real conversations about deployment, pilots, and partnerships.

From geothermal energy and AI-powered energy management to circular battery materials, biochar, cooling technologies, and sustainable transport, the solutions on display reflected the breadth of Thailand’s innovation pipeline. The focus was not abstract net-zero goals, but practical use cases, measurable savings, and realistic pathways to scale.

While large-scale deployment is still unfolding, the symposium succeeded in its core purpose: aligning innovation with market demand and reinforcing startups’ role as key actors in Thailand’s decarbonization journey.

The NEX Gigawatt—a NEX-hosted gathering at the Bangkok Climate Action Week

Driving cross-border collaboration for climate impact

The first-ever Bangkok Climate Action Week positioned Thailand as a regional convenor for climate and clean energy collaboration – and it was an opportunity we couldn’t miss.

At three events we co-hosted and organized, we brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders from across Asia to exchange insights, showcase solutions, and explore partnerships beyond borders.

For Thai founders, this mattered. Cross-border dialogue opened new pathways to scale, learn from neighboring markets, and apply solutions in diverse contexts. For both the local ecosystem and the wider region, it showcased Thailand as a hub for Asia’s clean energy transition.

What we learned this year

Looking back, 2025 was not about a single breakthrough, nor about a finished story. It was about building momentum through relationships, trust, and consistent support for entrepreneurs willing to take risks.

As Jirapat Horesaengchai, Country Manager at New Energy Nexus Thailand until October 2025, put it:

“The role of New Energy Nexus Thailand is to facilitate the whole process of different stakeholders coming together… and grow the ecosystem for clean energy entrepreneurs.”

By backing entrepreneurs with capital, skills, and connections, and by strengthening the ecosystems around them, New Energy Nexus Thailand is helping shape a cleaner, more sustainable future that benefits the country economically and ecologically. That is what we set out to do this year, and what we’ll continue to do through 2026 and beyond.

Want to be part of it? Explore our programs and stay close to opportunities shaping Thailand’s clean energy future.

As Pakistan’s climate tech boom accelerates, entrepreneurship is pushing it even further. Founders across the country are turning real community challenges into practical climate tech and resilience solutions.

Their work follows a historic market shift: in the first half of 2024, Pakistan imported over 13 GW of solar panels, a surge that could bring the country ahead of its 2030 renewable energy targets (The Great Solar Rush in Pakistan, 2024). But scaling this transition will require more than panels; it demands innovators who can tailor technologies to local needs.

That’s why New Energy Nexus and Renewables First launched Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP): a national platform designed to support climate tech founders, build a skilled clean energy workforce, and strengthen the policies that unlock long-term impact.

“Pakistan’s startup ecosystem must urgently propel the climate tech vertical, as the need for locally developed solutions has never been more critical,” said Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO of Renewables First. “Through our collaboration with New Energy Nexus, we aim to demonstrate that with appropriate support, investing in climate tech is both essential and economically viable.”

CLIP’s mission is clear – equip founders with the tools to shape a cleaner, more resilient economy, and ensure Pakistan’s climate tech momentum becomes a long-term engine for growth. And it starts with the first-ever CLIP Incubator.

The Clip Incubator journey. Image from Climate Innovation Pakistan

Why the CLIP Incubator Matters

The Incubator is a 12-week, equity-free program helping entrepreneurs validate products, run pilots, refine business models, and connect with investors and partners across Pakistan. It’s built for startups working in the country’s realities, where infrastructure, affordability, and community impact matter as much as technical performance.

“Pakistan is the world’s fifth most populous nation, with its largest industries in high carbon-emitting sectors… Here lies an immense opportunity to ignite the development of groundbreaking climate tech innovations,” said Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director of New Energy Nexus.

The CLIP Incubator’s first-ever cohort.

These 11 startups comprise the Incubator’s inaugural cohort, representing the ambition and ingenuity behind the country’s climate innovation wave. Meet them below.

Nimbus Labs

The Problem
Pakistan faces severe gaps in weather monitoring and forecasting. Extreme events disrupt lives and livelihoods, but limited infrastructure prevents accurate early warnings.

The Solution
Nimbus Labs deploys AI and IoT-driven weather stations and machine learning models, powered by low-cost sensor networks, to deliver hyper-local precipitation nowcasts and medium-range forecasts. Their systems strengthen climate resilience and support data-driven decision-making for agriculture, cities, and disaster response.

The Founder
Sarwan Shah is an electrical engineer specializing in Embedded Systems and Machine Learning. His experiences – from founding the Karachi Water Project to Fulbright research and award-winning embedded systems – led him to start Nimbus Labs, aiming to improve Pakistan’s weather monitoring and forecasting infrastructure.

Power Sodium

The Problem
Energy storage in Pakistan remains dependent on expensive lithium imports or polluting diesel generators.

The Solution
Power Sodium builds next-generation sodium-ion and sodium–lithium hybrid batteries with long cycle life and ultra-fast charging, providing clean and reliable power for telecom towers, microgrids, data centers, and renewable energy systems.

The Founder
Ahmad Ghauri brings expertise in aerospace engineering, R&D, and clean energy project management. He co-founded Power Sodium to develop sustainable, locally-manufactured sodium-ion and hybrid batteries that reduce reliance on imported or polluting energy storage systems.

PakPlug’s app interface. Screenshots from PakPlug

PakPlug

The Problem
EV adoption is constrained by a severe shortage of public chargers, despite thousands of unused private chargers across cities.

The Solution
PakPlug allows homeowners to list chargers, while EV drivers book and pay through the app. Their QR-enabled smart switch ensures secure access, accurate metering, and reliable payments — unlocking affordable charging where it’s needed.

The Founder
Roha Rehan, an Electrical Engineering graduate from LUMS, founded PakPlug to make EV charging accessible and community-driven. Her team leverages technical and strategic expertise to connect private chargers with EV users across Pakistan.

Nayab Raza, Founder of Algaverse. Photo from Algaverse

Algaverse

The Problem
Farmers depend heavily on chemical fertilizers that degrade soil, raise input costs, and worsen emissions.

The Solution
Algaverse’s bio-fertilizers offer a climate-resilient, lower-cost alternative aligned with global soil restoration goals, helping farmers improve yields while reducing synthetic fertilizer use.

The Founder
Nayab Raza, a PhD candidate in Environmental Biology at the University of Manchester, founded Algaverse to develop CO₂-capturing bio-fertilizers. Her goal is to provide farmers with sustainable, low-emission alternatives that improve soil health and reduce dependence on chemicals.

SustainAgro by Verdora Ventures

The Problem
Pakistan faces water scarcity, pesticide overuse, and reliance on imported produce.

The Solution
Verdora’s modular greenhouses use climate-smart irrigation that cuts water use by 90%, reduces pesticides, increases yields, and localizes production of crops like cherry tomatoes. This lowers the costs for consumers and businesses.

The Founders
Syed Mahd has over a decade of experience in strategy, investments, and project management. At SustainAgro by Verdora Ventures, he works closely with Asad Shamsi, a finance and strategy professional with expertise in research, consulting, and FMCG. Together, they are integrating climate-smart agriculture practices to improve sustainability and productivity in Pakistan’s horticulture sector.

Pani Express

The Problem
Unreliable municipal supply forces cities to rely on informal tanker operators, which results in waste, high emissions, and inconsistent pricing.

The Solution
Pani Express uses mobile ordering, IoT water-level sensors, and optimized tanker routing to reduce water waste, improve reliability, and provide fair pricing – all while lowering emissions and supporting local livelihoods.

The Founder
Ali Yar draws on years of operational, finance, and HR experience in startups to build Pani Express, a smart water logistics platform. His mission is to make urban water delivery reliable, efficient, and climate-conscious.

Moiz Bhatti presents at an investor summit. Photo from Moiz Bhatti via LinkedIn

EPO (Environmental Productivity Organization)

The Problem
Water scarcity and rising energy costs threaten agricultural productivity in Pakistan.

The Solution
EPO’s closed-loop farming systems use renewable energy and recycled water to produce consistent, high-quality crops while reducing water and energy consumption, offering a resilient solution in water-stressed regions.

The Founder
Moiz Bhatti, an environmental advocate and founder of National Incubation Center Islamabad, co-leads EPO with a team of environmental scientists. They focus on AI-driven solutions for efficient, sustainable urban and agricultural productivity.

MycieBlue

The Problem
Plastic pollution is growing, and sustainable alternatives are either costly or hard to access.

The Solution
MycieBlue produces compostable, lightweight materials using mycelium grown from organic waste, offering low-carbon solutions for packaging and future construction applications.

The Founders
Yumna Ali, an architect and environmentalist, is advancing regenerative biomaterials through mycelium, turning waste into nature-inspired products. She partners with Ameerah Rizwan, a product and interaction designer who brings user-centered design and community insight. The architect–designer pair is pioneering mycelium-based materials and accessible bio-design research in Pakistan.

Commercial deployment of 500 Ecobricks Eco-Tiles at F9 Park, Islamabad. Photo from Ecobricks

Ecobricks

The Problem
Millions of tons of plastic end up in landfills or incinerators due to a lack of recycling infrastructure.

The Solution
Ecobricks transforms hard-to-recycle plastics into construction materials supported by AI quality control, reducing waste and enabling circular construction practices.

The Founder
Kashaf Akhtar leads Ecobricks, a team with deep expertise in engineering, AI, and business development. Their focus is on converting difficult-to-recycle plastics into durable, environmentally-friendly building materials.

Screengrab from the Greenova8 website

Greenova8

The Problem
Only large investors typically fund solar and wind projects, leaving everyday citizens out.

The Solution
Greenova8 tokenizes renewable projects, allowing small-ticket investments with real-time tracking. Smart contracts automate payouts, while carbon credit monetization strengthens returns.

The Founder
Ibrahim Afridi started Greenova8 to democratize renewable energy investment using blockchain. He aims to give everyday citizens access to solar and wind projects through fractional ownership.

Recycle Bin

The Problem
Mixed waste contaminates recyclables and sends valuable materials to landfills.

The Solution
Recycle Bin offers digital door-to-door collection with a rewards system, sending materials to verified processors, reducing landfill use and emissions.

The Founder
Adeela Ali, a pharmacist turned entrepreneur, founded Recycle Bin to solve local waste management challenges through technology. She applies her scientific and analytical skills to create scalable, sustainable solutions.

From left: Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO of Renewables First, and Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director at New Energy Nexus

Building Pakistan’s climate future, and taking it global

The founders joining the first CLIP Cohort reflect Pakistan’s growing role in the clean energy transition, and the power of local innovation to reshape a national drive toward a more sustainable future.

This is exactly the kind of work we’re supporting at New Energy Nexus. We’ve backed more than 10,000 clean energy entrepreneurs worldwide. Through CLIP, we’re expanding this mission in Pakistan: helping founders scale solutions, build resilient businesses, and contribute to a cleaner, more inclusive economy.

Pakistan is having a historic climate and clean energy moment. Now it’s time to turn this momentum into long-term transformation, powered by entrepreneurs who understand Pakistan’s needs and are ready to build solutions the world can learn from.

Ready to scale your innovation in Pakistan and beyond? Visit climateinnovate.pk for more climate tech opportunities and updates.

Bungin Island, the second most densely populated island in the world. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Life on Bungin Island in Indonesia’s Sumbawa Regency can be challenging. With 2,338 people per square kilometer, it’s one of the most densely populated islands in the world. Meanwhile, the residing Bajo Tribe—the world’s largest remaining community of sea nomads—depends almost entirely on the ocean for income. The island has 1,020 to 1,113 active fishers today, all of whom rely on fishing as their main source of livelihood.

But rising fuel prices, unreliable cold storage, and dependence on costly diesel-powered equipment are putting intense financial pressure on the community. Spoilage, long-standing infrastructure gaps, and unstable operating costs are shrinking margins for fishers at a time when every kilogram of catch matters. Globally, weak cold chain systems are known to drive post-harvest losses and depress incomes for small-scale fishers, a challenge documented by the FAO,[1] both of which highlight renewable-powered cold chains as a pathway to higher incomes and reduced losses.

To help address these economic vulnerabilities, New Energy Nexus (NEX) Indonesia partnered with local startups Olat Maras Power and Volto Sea to launch a community-led clean energy pilot focused on strengthening the fishing economy. By introducing solar-powered cold storage units and electric outboard motors, the project aims to reduce losses, stabilize costs, and support the livelihoods of Bungin’s fishers.

Karyadi has reduced his operational costs by 50% after converting his Lelepa boat from a fossil fuel engine to a Volto Sea electric outboard motor. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Ismail, one of the local fishers using the Volto Sea electric outboard motor. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

This pilot is part of a larger NEX Indonesia-led initiative supporting Indonesia’s coastal and marine sectors through community outreach, capacity building, and scalable clean energy innovations that directly improve local economic conditions.

“We’ve seen firsthand how much loss fisherfolks experience due to inadequate storage,” said Nova Aryanto, CEO of Olat Maras Power, which deployed 12 solar-powered cold storage units on the island. “Our solar cold storage helps maintain catch quality and cuts daily operating costs. Fishers can save up to IDR 30 million and reduce up to 12.5 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.”

Olat Maras Power has converted the cold storage unit to be powered by three energy sources: grid electricity, batteries, and solar panels. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Nova Aryanto, CEO of Olat Maras Power, collaborates with Volto Sea to establish a battery charging station for electric outboard motors on Bungin Island. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Previously, fish collectors on Bungin were losing up to 1.2 tons of fish during the peak season due to spoilage, putting a major financial burden on families whose income depends on selling each day’s catch. With solar-powered cold storage, catch quality is preserved longer, waste is reduced, and profits become more predictable.

Meanwhile, Volto Sea, a Bali-based startup that develops clean maritime technology, introduced electric outboard motors to replace expensive fuel-powered engines.

“The sea is the heartbeat of life in Bungin,” said Volto Sea CEO Yindy Kurniawan. “By replacing fossil fuel engines with electric motors, we’re not just offering innovation—we’re honoring the maritime way of life and supporting a more sustainable future.”

Yindy Kurniawan, CEO of Volto Sea, developed the electric outboard motor for Lelepa boats through a collaboration with New Energy Nexus. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Switching to electric motors offers fishers major financial relief, with potential annual savings of up to IDR 37 million (US$2,225) per fisher.

The pilot is not only about introducing hardware. For the transition to work, communities must be aware of the benefits, equipped to use the technology, and actively involved in the process. With support from Manussa Consulting, the project began with a feasibility study involving more than 50 respondents and 22 stakeholders, including fishers, aquaculture operators, small businesses, and village leaders. The study highlighted high energy costs, low awareness of alternatives, and infrastructure limitations as key barriers holding communities back.

To address these constraints, the team rolled out workshops, product demonstrations, and public awareness activities. A hybrid-powered charging hub is also being piloted to provide accessible, renewable energy for both cold storage units and electric motors, reducing long-term dependence on costly fossil fuels.

“Introducing electric boats and solar-powered cold storage is a timely response to the economic vulnerabilities and climate crisis impacting Indonesia’s coastal regions,” said Kevin Felix, Senior Program Associate at New Energy Nexus Indonesia. “Together with a hybrid charging hub, these technologies can drive real change, building resilience and improving quality of life for fishing communities.”

For Bungin’s residents, the impact is already tangible.

“We welcome this program as a first step toward building an energy-independent and environmentally friendly coastal village,” said Jaelani, Head of Bungin Village. “This isn’t just about technology—it’s about securing the future for our children and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our local economy.”

Pilot test of Volto Sea’s electric outboard motor. The boat can carry 2–3 people. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Looking ahead, NEX Indonesia and its partners are developing pathways to help communities adopt these solutions at scale. Flexible financing schemes, youth engagement programs, and collaborations with government agencies are all in the works to expand this model to other coastal areas across Sumbawa and beyond.

As the sun rises over the waters of Sumbawa, so does the hope for a clean energy future: powered by local innovation, supported by global partnerships, and grounded in the everyday lives of its many island communities.

References:

[1] Improved post-harvest practices for fish loss and waste reduction | FAO; and Hidden Harvest: The Global Contribution of Capture Fisheries | World Bank

In August 2022, the first batch of TCL solar-powered low-carbon campuses were established in Xixiang County, Hanzhong, Shaanxi.

This year, China has outpaced the world in the shift to clean energy, and it’s quickly progressing into a new phase.

Rural communities will be key to this development. They not only bear the brunt of climate impacts but also hold enormous potential to drive economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental gains. Yet they face persistent energy transition challenges and remain overlooked, with an annual funding gap of roughly 2 trillion RMB [US$282 billion] that government resources alone cannot fill. Addressing this gap requires smart, targeted interventions that can stretch limited funds into transformative impact.

New Energy Nexus China’s “Small Money, Big Change” shows how modest, strategically deployed investments can unlock far larger capital flows. By blending policy, market, and philanthropic resources—and grounding projects in local trust and participation—small sums can generate outsized impact: boosting incomes, cutting emissions, improving living standards, and creating inclusive industries.

China’s rapid clean energy expansion illustrates the power of these approaches, offering lessons that extend across the Global South. Here are five key takeaways:

1. Clean energy boosts rural livelihoods.

Renewable energy is more than a climate solution. When projects address concrete community needs, they create new income streams, strengthen resilience, and improve quality of life.

We learned it from the TCL Foundation’s low-carbon campuses.

1.6 MW of solar power was installed across 27 schools, cutting 40,000 tons of CO₂ and generating 17.4 million RMB (US$2.5 million) for education. This showed how philanthropic capital can fund sustainable infrastructure that benefits communities directly.

2. Blended finance makes the impossible possible.

The biggest wins come when public, market, and philanthropic capital work together. Each plays a unique role, and real breakthroughs happen where they intersect, bridging funding gaps and reducing risk.

We learned it from the Dalad Banner Wind Cooperative.

In Inner Mongolia, 132 village collectives co-invested with the government and banks in a 75.6 million RMB [US$10.7 million] wind farm. Each village received guaranteed annual dividends, demonstrating how blended finance can create both financial viability and equitable local benefits.

3. Technology and governance unlock hidden potential.

Digital tools, fintech, and transparent governance models help rural communities access capital, manage risk, and scale solutions faster. Technology alone isn’t enough—participatory management ensures long-term sustainability.

We learned it from Trina Solar and MYbank’s AI-enabled solar financing model.

Data-driven risk models lowered loan rates by 21% for small PV distributors in the “last mile”, expanding access to solar for households while maintaining zero defaults, illustrating how innovation in financing and governance unlocks local potential.

4. People must be at the center.

A just energy transition puts communities, workers, and women at the heart of clean energy projects. Training, shared ownership, and empowerment ensure projects deliver dignity, opportunity, and lasting benefits.

We learned it from the Tianmen women drone pilots.

A 30,000-RMB (US$4,237) seed fund trained over 100 women to operate agri-drones servicing more than 1 million hectares annually, creating new income streams and reducing pesticide use, showing the power of people-focused interventions.

5. Ecosystems scale solutions, not isolated projects.

Long-term transformation requires collaboration across government, finance, enterprises, and communities. When capital flows, policy innovation, and local participation align, isolated projects evolve into replicable ecosystems.

We learned it from Tencent SSV’s solar trust model.

A “charity + capital” trust funded rooftop PV, while surplus revenues supported health and education programs, providing a blueprint for integrated, community-centered clean energy ecosystems.

Small investments, when paired with trust, technology, and collaboration, can generate systemic impact—showing how inclusive, sustainable clean energy is possible for communities across China and the Global South. Read more about these initiatives and how we can make a bigger impact: Download our casebook today.

New Energy Nexus in China

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is a world-leading clean energy accelerator dedicated to advancing the global energy transition. In China, NEX China carries this mission forward with a local, hands-on approach—providing tailored consulting, business matchmaking, and support to governments, industrial parks, universities, and enterprises of all sizes. By identifying and scaling innovative energy transition solutions, integrating resources, and building both online and offline collaboration platforms, NEX China connects entrepreneurs, investors, research institutions, and policymakers.

Learn more about clean energy opportunities in China here.

Giang Hoang represents HKG Energy at a 2024 AIS4EE event.

When we first met Giang Hoang, she wasn’t just leading a startup – she was building one from the ground up.

Giang is the CEO and co-founder of HKG Energy, one of New Energy Nexus Vietnam’s corporate partners, which hosted interns through our NEXGen 2024 and Youth Internship Pilot 2025 programs. But even as she helped give young innovators hands-on experience in the country’s fast-growing clean energy, she was still in the process of learning herself; particularly on how to find success in one of the most challenging corners of climate tech.

Giang launched HKG Energy on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024, and it proved to be more than a coincidence. Working in tech, an industry where women hold only a quarter of CEO positions globally, she has faced her fair share of challenges.

“Being a founder is hard, especially in deep tech,” she said. “In my first three months, most people told me I’d quit within a year. No one trusts you until you deliver. But while some of those voices have since been laid off in today’s tough job market, we’re still here, growing and gaining traction.”

HKG Energy lab in South Korea

Faster charging, better EVs

HKG Energy’s core innovation, Terra Silicon, is a patent-pending nanomaterial that increases battery energy density by up to 80%, helping electric vehicles drive farther, charge faster, and cost less. Beyond mobility, the technology can improve energy storage systems, consumer electronics, and even robotics, expanding access to cleaner, more efficient power.

Since its founding less than two years ago, HKG Energy has moved fast: entering proof-of-concept phases with global OEMs and battery makers, securing millions in LOIs, and receiving clean energy grants from both Vietnam and the US. Moreover, they’re now a member of Greentown Labs, a leading climate incubator based in Boston.

Sample cells made by HKG Energy

But her journey didn’t start in America. Giang’s career began in Vietnam, working her way up toward a leadership position in the Vietnamese EV company VinFast and managing a US$2-billion supply chain.

Now, through HKG Energy’s partnership with New Energy Nexus Vietnam, Giang is paying it forward by opening doors for young people to enter the clean energy sector.

“We’re truly grateful for [New Energy Nexus Vietnam]’s commitment to building a sustainable startup and talent ecosystem. Your support goes beyond programs; it’s a belief in the potential of founders and future leaders.”

Vietnam on the rise

For Giang, success isn’t just about building a company; it’s about building capacity for a nation ready to lead in deep tech.

“Vietnam has a unique window to leap ahead, not just as Southeast Asia’s gateway, but as a global hub for deep-tech manufacturing. The key is not waiting for the ecosystem to mature, but actively building it: invest early in high-quality startups, fund national labs and pilot lines, and de-risk commercialization. It’s not a burden, it’s an opportunity to lead.”

Her vision for Vietnam’s role in the clean energy transition is bold, drawing from her experience managing a US$2 billion supply chain for Vietnamese EV company VinFast.

“From my time at VinFast… I saw Vietnam’s speed and scale. But to lead globally, we must shift from assembly to deep-tech leadership. HKG Energy brings that shift – building homegrown IP and advanced battery materials that can power Vietnam’s rise in the global battery value chain.”

Giang Hoang presents HKG Energy to Julien Guerrier, European Union Ambassador to Vietnam.

Giang’s story goes beyond her success in her tech. She is one of many women and Southeast Asian leaders breaking glass ceilings across the globe. As they do this, more innovators can bring forth solutions that can make the clean energy transition go faster – ensuring a better, more sustainable future for everyone.

“Clean energy isn’t just necessary for the planet, it’s a sound investment. It’s already cheaper than fossil fuels and will define the future of industry. For the next generation, stepping into this space isn’t just a mission – it’s a smart, strategic move.”

Looking for more clean energy stories in Vietnam and beyond? Or are you a founder searching for opportunities? Find out more from New Energy Nexus Vietnam here.