Story
Vietnam
Built Environment
Women
How women entrepreneurs are building Mekong Delta’s climate resilience
Vietnamese farmer in Mekong Delta

A Vietnamese farmer cuts rice and harvests rice in the Mekong Delta.

Climate change is having a huge impact in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The region is sinking 1.1 centimeters every year, and farmers are struggling with inconsistent weather cycles.

In response, its agricultural sector is embracing climate adaptation, powered by brilliant women entrepreneurs whose products are helping the region build resilience.

Through the Deltaccelerate program, funded by the Australian Government and managed by New Energy Nexus, six women entrepreneurs with climate-adaptive products received up to VND 1 billion (over US$39,000) to scale their businesses and strengthen their sustainable practices. These entrepreneurs were selected out of 14 competitive participants, all of whom underwent tailored training and gained networking opportunities.

This program follows a positive trend for diversity in the country’s private sector. Women now own over 20 percent of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country. As they rise in numbers, so does their role in shaping the future of sustainable business in Vietnam.

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The six women entrepreneurs receiving funding from the Deltaccelerate program.

Whether they’re using coffee to make mugs, or cat houses from water hyacinth, here are the women-led businesses at the forefront of climate innovation in the Mekong Delta:

Mekong Coconut Oil Company Limited (Cocovie)

Founded by Hoang Thanh Thuy, the company produces quality cosmetic and food products made from coconut oil in the Ben Tre province. They have been utilizing and preserving over 10,000 hectares of coconut trees, estimated to have absorbed 75,000 tons of CO2.

Cau Ke Macapuno Coconut Processing Co., Ltd (VICOSAP)

Lam Ngoc Tu’s business uses macapuno coconuts to produce confectionery, baking ingredients and drinks. Cultivated by the Khmer community of Tra Vinh province, macapuno coconuts are known for their high saline tolerance—making them an ideal climate-adaptive crop.

Palmania JSC

Co-founded by Chau Ngoc Diu, the company produces Palmania, an organic sugar substitute made of sweet nectar from palmyra trees in An Giang province. The business provides jobs to indigenous farmers and taps palmyra trees in a way that does not shorten the trees’ 100-year lifespan.

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Ben Tre Village in the Mekong Delta.

AirXCarbon/Veritas Vietnam JSC

Represented by Chief Strategic Officer Tran Thanh Thao, AirXCarbon turns materials such as coffee grounds, rice, and coconut husks into bioplastics, used to make zero-carbon products ranging from mugs to alternative packaging.

Dam Doi Sesarmid Cooperative

Tran Thi Xa’s business produces a wide range of sustainable products made from sesarmids and shrimps caught in the Ca Mau province.

Ecoka JSC

Led by Quang Chan Chan, this company manufactures and distributes handicrafts made entirely from natural materials in the Ha Giang province—including water hyacinth, bulrush, rattan, bamboo, and macrame. Their products include bags, coasters, and even cat houses.


About Deltaccelerate

Deltaccelerate is made possible by a unique partnership between the Australian Government and New Energy Nexus through the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) Climate Adaptation Partnerships in the Mekong Delta, announced in November 2023.

Deltaccelerate is a business accelerator funded by the Australian Government providing direct support, tailored training, and networking opportunities for enterprises that work in the Mekong Delta’s agricultural sector, which are led by or significantly benefit women and contribute to the sector’s resilience to climate adaptation.

The Partnerships are part of the Australian Government’s AU$94.5 million investments for climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta.

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Story
California
Renewable energy tech
Announcing CalSEED Cohort 7: Powering California’s Clean Energy Future

We’re excited to present the seventh cohort of CalSEED Concept Awardees—early-stage innovators ready to help reshape California’s energy landscape. After a rigorous five-month selection process, CalSEED Cohort 7 was chosen from nearly 100 applicants, each bringing a unique approach to solving California’s biggest energy challenges. Each awardee will receive a $200K grant to develop their concepts.

Our mission was clear: identify clean energy technologies with the potential to benefit California’s electricity ratepayers and support the state’s ambitious energy and climate goals. To achieve this, we launched a comprehensive outreach campaign in March 2024, reaching innovators through virtual info sessions, webinars, and targeted social media while highlighting the journeys of past CalSEED awardees. This year’s focus centered on four essential technology areas:

  1. Battery circularity – Innovations in recycling, reuse, and sourcing alternative materials for EV batteries.
  2. Long-duration energy storage – Affordable, safe, and long-lasting solutions for energy storage during periods when wind and solar aren’t generated.
  3. Electrifying medium- and heavy-duty vehicles – Technologies that drive transportation electrification at a larger scale, replacing diesel trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles with zero-emission electric models to reduce air pollution.
  4. End-use electrification – Advanced solutions to electrify industrial processes, EV charging, and next-generation heat pumps.

To ensure we selected the best, CalSEED employed a two-step application process. Applicants first submitted a preliminary application, and those meeting our eligibility requirements advanced to a full application stage. Of the initial 97 applications, only 28 met the rigorous screening criteria, including alignment with EPIC objectives, a California base, and a funding cap under $1 million. The most common reason for disqualification? Misalignment with our targeted technology areas, proving just how competitive this year’s cohort was.

A distinguished review committee of experts—from industry leaders to representatives from California’s top energy agencies—scored the full applications on Innovation, Social Impact & Energy Equity, and Team & Approach. After weeks of careful evaluation, the top-scoring innovations rose to the top, culminating in a final selection meeting in July.

CalSEED Cohort 7 Concept Awardees are pioneering technologies accelerating California’s journey toward a sustainable, zero-emission future. Each project promises to drive tangible benefits for California communities, creating jobs, improving energy equity, and addressing critical gaps in the clean energy landscape.

You can watch the California Energy Commission business meeting where the awards where approved and listen to the positive public comments about the importance and impact of this program.

So join us in welcoming the newest CalSEED companies shaping the future of energy in California!

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17, Inc.

17, Inc. is building small, portable systems that use excess intermittent clean energy to produce green ammonia, a zero-carbon fuel. These systems can be placed right at the wind or solar power plants and the ammonia can be stored and transported. this technology will allow distributed, autonomously operated production units that can be turned off overnight to fit diurnal/intermittent clean energy without large batteries, extensive hydrogen storage, or grid power.

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AmpTrans Inc.

AmpTrans Inc. building IntelliCharge, a medium and heavy-duty electric fleet charging optimization platform. It will help manage the charging of large groups of electric trucks using artificial intelligence (Al) to balance when the trucks need charging with when the grid is busiest, using solar energy and battery storage to reduce energy costs. IntelliCharge will make charging easier and help reduce pollution by making electric trucks more efficient, while keeping the grid stable.

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Aris Hydronics

Aris Hydronics is building a smart heating, cooling, and hot water system for multi-family buildings. The ARIS Thermal Plant Pod combines these functions into one system, using heat pumps, storage tanks, and controls to efficiently manage energy. It adjusts to each apartment’s needs, saving energy and money. The system is modular and easy to install, reducing the number of heat pumps needed.

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Calectra

Calectra is building a thermal storage system with special heat-storing bricks that can reach super-high temperatures using electricity instead of burning fuels. The system will provide low cost, high-temperature (700-1600°C) process heat by achieving an 1800°C thermal storage temperature, maximizing the brick material lifetime, and using a simple, air-based heat transfer system. The heat stored in these bricks can be transferred to factories for making things like steel and cement.

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Coulomb Technology, Inc.

Coulomb Technology, Inc. is developing a zinc-ion based battery energy storage system to support medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging stations. The zinc-ion batteries don’t catch fire like lithium-ion ones and can handle high power safely. The team is testing and improving the battery design to last longer, charge faster, and expects to provide energy storage at half the cost of lithium iron phosphate batteries while increasing the energy density by 50% over standard zinc-based battery chemistries.

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Cryodrives, LLC

CRYODRIVES is building a heavy-duty variable frequency electric drive system that will replace a diesel engine in heavy duty truck/trailer applications. It will allow operators to check the trailer’s performance remotely and be strong enough for tough road use. This innovation has the potential to replace over 50,000 diesel pony-auxiliary motors on heavy duty trailers with reliable heavy duty electric drives to eliminate carbon, particulate, and NOx and SOx emissions.

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Eco Recycle Tech

Eco Recycle Tech is designing a new solid-state lithium-ion battery cell and pack that facilitates easy repair, repurposing, and automated disassembly of the pack and cell without shredding. By eliminating adhesives and preserving the electrode structure, this approach is expected to reduce production costs by 30% and slash greenhouse gas emissions by sixfold compared to traditional recycling methods.

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KVA Technologies

KVA Technologies is developing integrated thermal processing methods for additive manufacturing and welding of high performance alloys which can enhance material properties and uniformity. It uses electricity to only heat specific areas of a metal system needed to optimize mechanical and physical properties – significantly reducing the need for emission-heavy thermal processing resulting in less energy, emissions, time and costs during manufacturing and over a product’s lifecycle.

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Gridwave

GRIDWAVE is building modular solar-powered charging stations for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. These stations are easy to set up, can connect to each other, and use smart technology to manage energy use. They include solar panels, batteries, and advanced controls to avoid overloading buildings or the electrical grid. The goal is to make charging stations that are affordable, reliable, and expandable as fleets grow, saving money on electrical upgrades.

Manara Materials LLC

MANARA is developing a method to recover over 99% of high-purity nickel and vanadium from California’s spent catalyst oil refinery waste. It is a closed-loop solution to recover metals that are used to manufacture high energy density sodium-ion cathode material for energy storage applications. The recovery of these battery materials will also reduce costs associated with the disposal of hazardous material while securing a domestic supply of critical battery materials.

Navion Energy

Navion Energy is building an onsite rapid charging system using sodium batteries to deliver rapid, safe, and cost-effective charging for electric trucks. Most existing battery chargers are incompatible with deeply discharged sodium-ion cells, but this technology uses an innovative combination of a low voltage architecture and a specialized bidirectional DC-DC converter to bridge this gap. The system charges quickly without needing expensive cooling, making it a more affordable solution for Medium- and Heavy-Duty electric vehicle charging.

OpenRoad Technologies

OPEN ROAD is building a fast-charging battery system for EVs with special battery packs that can be installed using consumer-grade wiring. This way, places like apartment buildings or stores can offer fast EV charging without expensive upgrades, making fast charging available in more places. The batteries also store power and will help reduce the cost of electricity.

SolGraphVR

SolGraph is developing a unique structured graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries that enables recovery at the end of battery life. The interconnected structure of the woven graphitic material is easily removed and recycled, is made using solar synthesis, reduces battery weight, and leads to high electrical and thermal conductivity, eliminating the need for a metallic current collector while keeping the battery cooler and improving battery life.

Sol Robotics

SOL ROBOTICS is developing a wireless charging solution for autonomous fire threat detection electric vehicles (EVs) that operate along remote power lines. These EVs will identify vegetation overgrowth and maintenance issues that have triggered past devastating wildfires. This technology uses a novel low-frequency wireless inductive charger mounted on a compact retractable robot arm, and can harvest energy directly from the electromagnetic field generated by the power lines to recharge its battery.

Three Rivers Power

Three Rivers Power is creating super-small, powerful battery systems that will eliminate the separate inverter, charger and battery management system (BMS) normally employed in energy storage systems. The size of a complete battery system will be at least 2-3 times smaller than competitive products and will enable new use cases such as ultra-compact utility pole-mounted battery storage units.

Wayside Energy

Wayside Energy is building a battery pack made from a recyclable enclosure that simplifies construction and end-of-life material recovery. The design integrates three components – the battery enclosure, a non-flammable biodegradable fluid cooling system, and a mounting device – into a unibody composite structure to simplify the pack, which reduces weight and increases manufacturability.

Three Rivers Power

WE THINK GLOBAL is building a portable, IOT enabled, solar-powered system to that can recover, isolate, and purify a large range of metals and critical minerals from a variety of waste streams including mine tailings, industrial waste, brine, and other sources. The metals are purified on-site and sold through an virtual market (CIRCRIT ARCHIVE) accessible to technology manufacturers.

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News
Vietnam
Energy for Agriculture
Women
Six women-led agricultural enterprises secure investment to tackle climate adaptation in the Mekong Delta

Six women-led agricultural enterprises across the Mekong Delta in Vietnam have successfully secured up to AUD60,000 (VND1 billion) each to take their businesses to the next level, thanks to Deltaccelerate.

Deltaccelerate is a women’s agribusiness climate adaptation accelerator funded by the Australian Government that provides customised training and tailored support for women-focused small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Mekong Delta to build their capacity in sustainable business practices and strengthen their resilience to climate adaptation.

The six successful businesses were selected from a cohort of 14 Deltaccelerate participants following a competitive Pitch Day event on 17 October 2024 in Can Tho city. They include:

Mekong Coconut Oil Company Limited (Cocovie)

Producing and trading high-quality cosmetic and food products from coconut oil in Ben Tre province, focusing on preserving and utilizing coconut trees over 10 years old, which can absorb 75 tons of CO2 per hectare per year.

Cau Ke Macapuno Coconut Processing Co., Ltd (VICOSAP)

Specialising in confectionery products, baking ingredients and drinks made from macapuno coconuts, a specialty of Tra Vinh province cultivated by the Khmer community and known for their high saline tolerance, making them an ideal climate-adaptive crop.

Palmania JSC

Creating healthy, organic products from palmyra trees using sustainable farming methods rooted in the indigenous Khmer community in An Giang province.

AirXCarbon/Veritas Vietnam JSC

Transforming biomaterials, including coconut husks from the Mekong Delta, into zero-carbon consumer products.

Dam Doi Sesarmid Cooperative

Producing a range of sustainable products from locally-caught sesarmids and shrimps in Ca Mau province.

Ecoka JSC

Producing and trading handicrafts made from adaptive materials, including water hyacinth and bulrush, from Hau Giang province on global e-commerce platforms.

Each enterprise will now receive this financial support to scale their business through trade promotion, marketing, product development and training initiatives. Deltaccelerate’s total contribution of AUD250,000 (VND4 billion) will also leverage AUD320,000 (VND5 billion) in co-funding from the enterprises to further amplify its impact.

The Deltaccelerate program is part of the Business Partnership Platform (BPP), an Australian Government initative implemented by Palladium. Deltaccelerate is managed by New Energy Nexus Vietnam (NEXVN) and continues to foster innovative solutions for climate adaptation and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta.

About the Business Partnerships Program (BPP)

The BPP supports business partnerships between DFAT and inclusive, commercially sustainable businesses to deliver strategic development outcomes, with a focus on gender equality, disability, social inclusion and climate impact. Since 2016, it has supported 75 partnerships in 21 countries, partnering with 147 organisations across the private sector, social business, NGOs and academic institutions.

The Australian Government has invested more than AUD31 million in BPP partnerships, with partners contributing more than AUD51 million.

About the Deltaccelerate

Deltaccelerate is made possible by a unique partnership between the Australian Government and New Energy Nexus through the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) Climate Adaptation Partnerships in the Mekong Delta, announced in November 2023.

Deltaccelerate is a business accelerator funded by the Australian Government providing direct support, tailored training, and networking opportunities for enterprises that work in the Mekong Delta’s agricultural sector, which are led by or significantly benefit women and contribute to the sector’s resilience to climate adaptation.

The Partnerships are part of the Australian Government’s AUD94.5 million investments for climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta.

Media contacts:

For information about Deltaccelerate – Trinh Thi Cam Tu: tu.trinh@newenergynexus.com  +84 364 661 564

For media inquiries – Nguyen Truong Duy: duy.nguyen@newenergynexus.com  +84 397 459 910

About New Energy Nexus

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive. NEX has accelerated 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam.

Follow NEX on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube

News
Australia
Transportation tech
Mass EV retrofit startup Veepower wins second Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge
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From left: EnergyLab CEO & Director Megan Fisher, Veepower Founder & lead software developer Kyle Van Berendonck, and New Energy Nexus Venture Partner & EnergyLab volunteer Danny Kennedy.

Sydney, Australia, 8 November 2024 – Plug-and-play EV software control system provider, Veepower has won the second Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge with its unique technology that unlocks mass EV retrofits across thousands of potential installers and designers in Australia and overseas.

“We have a product that can enable anyone with a garage to repower any vehicle class into an EV with about the same effort as doing an engine swap – from individuals to company fleets. We’re incredibly excited to scale from what we’ve learned in the Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge and unlock rapid growth in mass EV retrofits,” said Kyle Van Berendonck, founder and lead software developer of Melbourne-based Veepower, an offshoot of Cuedo Controls.

supercharge australia innovation challenge awards nov 2024 veepower veepilot product trans

Veepower’s solution, the Veepilot.

The second annual Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge winner was selected from a cohort of 12 startups with solutions to rapidly convert half the Australian vehicle fleet to electric vehicles (EVs), equivalent to more than 10 million vehicles.

“This cohort will be the spark for an industry that could electrify half the Australian vehicle fleet and increase domestic battery demand twenty times over to 1.3TWh, while providing the skills, services and equipment to emerging markets around the world,” said Kirk McDonald, Project Manager for Supercharge Australia. “In Australia alone we have the potential to generate demand for AU$181 billion worth of Australian-made lithium batteries, targeting a replacement market of AU$700 billion in vehicle sales.”

“A vehicle retrofit industry will create a jobs and skills pathway for mechanics, auto-electricians, and advanced manufacturing workers, while also accelerating the decarbonisation of our transport sector. It’s win-win, and we’re thrilled to support startups like Veepower to scale its impact,” said Megan Fisher, CEO of EnergyLab.

supercharge australia innovation challenge awards nov 2024 full cohort

The cohort of startups who joined the SuperCharge Australia Innovation Challenge: Retrofit Nation.

In 2022 the transport sector contributed to 19% of Australia’s emissions, with trucks, buses and light commercial vehicles accounting for about 40% of the total transport figure.  The Challenge aimed to find solutions that can deploy up to 1.3TWh of batteries that would be required to reach this goal, starting with approximately 600GWh of heavy truck and bus batteries (plus up to 25GWh for  mining), 400GWh for light trucks and commercial vehicles and 260GWh for passenger vehicles. By accelerating all forms of EV uptake, both additional CO2 emissions will be avoided and grid storage expenditure reduced.

Veepower will now have the opportunity to join an expert guided visit by Danny Kennedy, EnergyLab Director and Venture Partner at New Energy Nexus Ventures, to California’s startup ecosystem, centred in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Supercharge Australia is accelerating the lithium battery value chain in Australia, and is a joint project of not-for-profit cleantech startup support organisations New Energy Nexus globally and EnergyLab in Australia and New Zealand.


The twelve startups in the second Supercharge Innovation Challenge were:

  • Australian EVS, Newcastle, NSW: light commercial EV retrofits for councils and fleets.
  • Veepower, an offshoot of Cuedo Controls, Melbourne, VIC: efficient EV software control systems for the entire retrofit market.
  • Eclass Outboards, Kiama, NSW: electric outboard and marine hybrid retrofits for pleasure craft and fishing fleets.
  • Electric Power Conversions Australia (EPCA), Hazelmere, WA: EV retrofitting mining haul trucks from 100 tonnes and up
  • Electromotiv, Canberra, ACT: EV retrofitting buses for public transport and private fleets
  • Evans Electric, Sydney, NSW: EV powertrain hardware and software developer specialising in axial flux motor development including e-axles
  • IonDNA, ACT and NSW: power electric ATVs, utility vehicles, and farm tools from electricity generated via on-site solar power infrastructure.
  • Jaunt, Melbourne, VIC: EV conversion systems for classic cars and specialist commercial vehicles.
  • Net Zero Engineering Solutions, Adelaide, SA: bi-directional EV charging solution.
  • OZ Electric Vehicles, Logan City, QLD: battery upscaling and “flat pack” EV retrofit kits.
  • “Project Midas,” Sydney, NSW: next-generation graphene anode technology, improving lithium-ion battery performance and safety.
  • REVR, Melbourne, VIC: Minimised installation requirement mass EV retrofit kits.

Media contacts:

Kirk McDonald
Project Manager, Supercharge Australia
kirk.mcdonald@newenergynexus.com
+61 412 336 848

Tristan Tremschnig
Global Communications Director, New Energy Nexus
tristan.tremschnig@newenergynexus.com
(based in San Francisco)

About New Energy Nexus

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive. NEX has accelerated 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam.

Follow NEX on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube

About New Energy Nexus

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive. NEX has accelerated 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam.

Follow NEX on LinkedInXFacebook, and YouTube

About EnergyLab

EnergyLab is Australia’s largest climate tech startup accelerator and innovation network dedicated to reaching net zero emissions. EnergyLab connects talented founders to the mentors, advisors, partners, peers and investors they need to succeed and has so far supported over 200 startups and 140 aspiring founders through its various programs.

In addition to running 10 programs, EnergyLab operates a climate focused angel investor network with over 200 angel investors, a mentor network with over 400 experts, coworking and events space at UTS in Sydney all of these services are leveraged to support the clean energy and decarbonisation startup ecosystem in Australia.

Story
California
Insights from California’s leading clean energy entrepreneurs at our inaugural ‘NEX Level’ event

We recently had the pleasure of bringing together 160 of the brightest minds in California’s clean energy ecosystem for our inaugural NEX Level event. Entrepreneurs from all over the Golden State convened with policymakers, funders, and clean energy experts to share clean energy resources and success stories in Berkeley. We proudly showcased the new CalTestBed cohort, PowerForward grant awardees, and leaders who’ve navigated the ecosystem and seen success through CalSEED and beyond. Attendees engaged in tailored matchmaking sessions, connecting with funders, energy leaders, and key partners in funding, industry, policy, national labs, and mentorship.

CEO of Climformatics, Dr. Subarna Bhattacharyya, explained why this gathering was so important, “many of the attendees have technologies that can be game-changing and planet-saving, including ours. And so you can see those kinds of ideas, how you can build on them, how your technology can fit into how their technology can fit into yours, all of that amalgamation can happen. The best part is that this is inspired by our work here and supported by the California Energy Commission. So we get to learn a lot more about that.”

Dandelion Energy CTO, Kathy Hannun, is working to bring geothermal energy to residential buildings. She was excited to connect with folks working on similar projects. “I’m most excited about being in a place with many other people who care about the same things as me and are working towards clean energy in California.”

This event showed that California opportunities are rich and the ecosystem to support clean energy startups is robust. Through connections and creativity, we can solve big problems and advance toward a more just, clean energy future.

CEO of Community Energy Labs, Tanya Barham, spoke on a panel and expressed gratitude for the event.

CEO of Community Energy Labs, Tanya Barham, spoke on a panel and expressed gratitude for the event.

“We talk about vibrant collaboration. I’m really excited because I get to see all these other clean-tech entrepreneurs,” she said. “I think these are some of the best entrepreneurs worldwide trying to solve this problem being supported by one of the most innovative state funding mechanisms in the world. So it’s amazing to be a part of that.”

Here are recordings of some of our core sessions, including the new CalTestBed cohort introduction, an address by the California Energy Commission Chair, a keynote panel on the opportunities available to California clean energy companies, and a founder-to-founder discussion between two women leaders.

You can also browse a collection of photos from the event on CalSEED’s website.

Thanks to our partners, Momentum and the California Energy Commission, for making NEX Level possible.

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Story
Youth
How can youth in the Global South build careers in the clean energy transition?

We talk to clean energy business founders and management teams on a daily basis, and what we hear consistently is the struggle they have finding talent.  A staggering number of green jobs will need to be created to transition whole economies to clean energy and there is a critical talent shortage across the sector. By 2030, there will be a global shortage of seven million skilled workers that would be needed for all the necessary climate and energy projects – a fact that is not lost on the startups and businesses we support. The skills shortage is the achilles heel in the clean energy transition.

While many young people – the workers of the future – want to dedicate their careers to climate action, they often find themselves without the necessary skills to pursue one, or aren’t even aware of the career pathways available to them.

Take this data point as an example: a majority of respondents to a Student Energy survey of 40,000 youth around the world found that over two-thirds think it is necessary to have a background in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) to work on the energy transition. However, ask any marketing professional or policy analyst working in a climate tech startup, and they’ll easily bust this myth!

Their research shows that the most common barriers respondents to the survey face in employment are lack of awareness about existing job opportunities (47.6%), lack of available entry-level positions (46.0%), and lack of access to skills training (44.9%).

LinkedIn’s own research also shows that just 1 in 20 Gen Zs globally have the skills they need to tackle the climate crisis, compared to 1 in 8 of the wider workforce.

This has big implications for the talent pipelines of clean energy businesses. So the question is: How can we create more awareness of the career pathways available in the clean energy transition? And how do we equip these youth with the skills they need to join clean energy businesses and startups, or even start their own?

At New York Climate Week 2024, we hosted a panel discussion with Student Energy and LinkedIn to answer these very questions, with a focus on youth in the Global South.

A discussion on clean energy career pathways for youth in the Global South

Cammie Erickson – Director of Social Impact, LinkedIn

Cammie opened the panel by stressing the importance of data in shaping strategies for clean energy career pathways. LinkedIn’s data reveals a passionate generation eager to work in green jobs but lacking the necessary skills and access to roles.

photo 2024 09 30 19 59 37 2

Cammie Erickson – Director of Social Impact, LinkedIn

Andrew Chang – Chief Growth Officer, New Energy Nexus

Andrew emphasized the centrality of people in a just energy transition, which is not just about technology but about fairness. He discussed opportunities in the energy transition, entrepreneurial skills, narrative-building, and how NEX creates alliances to help youth connect with value-driven solutions.

photo 2024 09 30 19 59 38

Andrew Chang – Chief Growth Officer, New Energy Nexus

Helen Watts – Executive Director, Student Energy

Helen highlighted the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, urging climate actors to rethink their business models and engage with underserved voices. She encouraged expanding partnerships, fostering dialogue between educational institutions, NGOs, and the private sector to create curricula, training, and job opportunities for youth, all while pushing for supportive government policies.

photo 2024 09 30 19 59 36

Helen Watts – Executive Director, Student Energy

Hamd Akmal – Student, NYU

Hamd shared her personal experiences of the barriers young people face, including a disconnect between available jobs and their motivations. She urged organizations to better engage youth, understand their needs, and bridge communication gaps between job seekers and employers.

photo 2024 09 30 19 59 37

Hamd Akmal – Student, NYU

What next?

By investing in education and training, we can empower the next generation to accelerate a more equitable clean energy transition. The Student Energy and New Energy Nexus partnership is one such initiative.

We’ll pilot an internships and jobs platform that will feature opportunities from our extensive network of clean energy startups and entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between green skills, the youth workforce, and employers in the clean energy sector.

We’re already doing this in California, Indonesia, the Philippines, Uganda, and Vietnam. Watch this space as we scale up our work to support even more youth in joining the clean energy transition!

Sign up for our newsletter for updates.

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News
Vietnam
Built Environment
Funding for Vietnam’s climate tech startups growing 365% year-on-year, reveals new report
saigon

Drone photo of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City, 30 September 2024 – Vietnam’s rapidly growing climate tech startup ecosystem secured US$92.6 million in cumulative financing for 49 startups between 2015-2023, according to the first report to map the growth of the country’s funding ecosystem. 

The Vietnam Climate Tech Ecosystem report released today by New Energy Nexus and Clickable Impact with support from the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP, shows that there is huge room for growth as climate tech funding contributed only four percent of Vietnam’s total venture capital investment in 2023—well below the global average of 10 percent.

“Vietnam witnessed a remarkable acceleration in investment from 2021-2023, with funding for climate tech startups averaging 365 percent growth year-over-year,” said Thao Tran, country head of New Energy Nexus Vietnam, one of the few organizations building a clean energy innovation ecosystem to support climate startups. “This shows that there’s a strong ecosystem to support clean energy innovators to develop their ideas, but that there’s a funding crunch when it comes to commercialisation and deploying this tech where it’s needed most,”

“We see great room for entrepreneurial support organizations like New Energy Nexus to help Vietnam’s climate tech entrepreneurs build more commercially sound businesses, improve their investment readiness, and connect with both domestic and international capital,” said Jason Lusk, managing partner of Clickable Impact.

Key findings from the report:

  • Among the 49 funded startups, 76 percent have been founded since 2019.
  • Most deals have been early-stage, with seed and Series A funding comprising 47 percent of the deal count. Only two startups have graduated to Series B, a funding round that signals a startup’s readiness to scale.
  • Most climate tech startups operated out of Vietnam’s largest cities: Ho Chi Minh City (65.3%) and Hanoi (26.5%).
  • Farming and food production startups raised 48.4 percent of all climate tech funding in Vietnam.

Although funding for the circular economy and carbon sectors remains limited, there is an emerging trend marked by an increasing number of startups in these areas. This aligns with the growth in grant funding, which could lead to a higher number of investable startups in the next business cycle.

Furthermore, while many startups and investors remain optimistic about fundraising, a gap persists between investable startups and investors with a deep understanding of the market and the specific challenges faced by early-stage ventures.

Vietnam is highly vulnerable to climate change; according to the World Bank, the country faces potential economic losses of up to 12-14.5 percent of its annual GDP by 2050.1 Climate tech entrepreneurship is critical in mitigating Vietnam’s greenhouse gas emissions and empowering the country’s communities and industries to build climate resilience.

Notes:

[1] World Bank (2022). Vietnam Country Climate and Development Report.

Media contacts:

Nhung Nguyen
Program and Impact Manager, New Energy Nexus Vietnam
nhung.mguyen@newenergynexus.com
(based in Ho Chi Minh City)

Tristan Tremschnig
Global Communications Director, New Energy Nexus
tristan.tremschnig@newenergynexus.com
(based in San Francisco)

About New Energy Nexus

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive. NEX has accelerated 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam.

Follow NEX on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube

About New Energy Nexus

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive. NEX has accelerated 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam.

Follow NEX on LinkedInXFacebook, and YouTube

About New Energy Nexus Vietnam

New Energy Nexus Vietnam was launched in early 2019 with the mission of promoting Vietnam’s clean energy transition. We have supported over 500 entrepreneurs and engaged over 1,500 participants through our incubation, acceleration, and funding programs. With our backing, startups have generated US$1.4 million in grants.

By enhancing our strong bond with all the stakeholders in the network, we aim to further develop the energy ecosystem in support of a smooth transition to sustainable initiatives and build a pipeline of potential entrepreneurs.

About Clickable Impact Consulting Group

Founded in 2013, Clickable Impact is a strategic advisory firm dedicated to green and inclusive growth. We aspire to market-leading mastery over the toolkit of change. Our services include research, policy analysis, innovation platform design, business matching, market entry, and strategic communications. From our headquarters in Vietnam, we work across the Greater Mekong Subregion, ASEAN, and the broader Asia-Pacific.

News
Indonesia
Built Environment
Youth
Indonesia’s first youth driven clean energy policy competition announces winners

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The 3GE Team, [RE]Power Hackathon First Place winner, presents their clean energy policy proposal.

Jakarta, 20 September 2024 – The winners of Indonesia’s first youth-driven clean energy policy “hackathon” presented their policy recommendations today to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas).

Announced at New Energy Nexus Indonesia’s [RE]Power event, the policies will be shared with policy leaders who will formulate the upcoming 2025-2029 RPJMN (National Medium-Term Development Plan).

  • First place: Encouraging private sector engagement through efficiency and transparency in a public-private partnership for renewable energy infrastructure project in Indonesia | 3GE Team (Nain M. Farchan & Elmaira Ferlita S) – Universitas Jember
  • Second place: Establishing a Coordinating Ministry for Climate Change as a Solution for Data Integration and Roadmap Synchronization to reach Indonesia’s Net Zero Emission Goals | Invaluable Team (Azaria Ahmad Haykal, Gema Wachid Aryasatya, Rafi Ramadhan Seba) – Institut Teknologi Bandung & University of Tokyo
  • Third place: Proposing strategies to strengthen the clean energy research and development ecosystem in Indonesia | Arindama Team (Rizka Fitria Utami & Herlina Pebria) – Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa
    These teams were selected after completing a rigorous bootcamp, developing capstone projects, and participating in intensive mentoring sessions. The winning teams will share a total prize of IDR45,000,000.

“Young people are not only one-quarter of the Indonesia’s population, but they’re also at the forefront of climate change impacts. That’s why we’re showcasing their ideas and solutions, providing them the opportunity to collaborate with entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers to influence future energy policy,” said Diyanto Imam, Program Director of New Energy Nexus Indonesia. “We’re so proud of the finalists and all the participants who demonstrated unyielding optimism to solve some of the world’s most intractable problems.”

According to the first-place winner 3GE Team, there are several key issues in Indonesia’s clean energy policies, particularly in relation to Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). These include a lack of transparency and persistent corruption within renewable energy projects, unclear risk-sharing mechanisms between the public and private sectors, and the absence of compelling incentives that limit the appeal of green energy initiatives under the current PPP framework.

“To address these challenges, we recommend improving public transparency and accountability through open reporting on project implementation, establishing clear risk-sharing mechanisms to strengthen public-private partnerships, and developing more attractive programs for investors with effective financing strategies,” said Elmaira Ferlita S, a member of the 3GE Team. “These measures are essential for driving sustainable development in Indonesia’s clean energy sector.”

“I never realized how much goes into creating a policy and how deeply it impacts our daily lives. While I’m thrilled that our team won, I’m even more grateful for the knowledge and networks we’ve gained through the [RE]Power Hackathon, especially the intensive discussions we had with our mentors and industry experts,” added Nain M. Farchan, also from the 3GE Team.

New Energy Nexus (NEX) Indonesia’s [RE]Power Hackathon is the country’s first youth-driven energy policy hackathon designed for young innovators to develop forward-thinking policies that will catalyze the adoption of clean technologies across Indonesia.

“I am pleased to see our youth dedicating their minds to creating policies that will drive Indonesia toward achieving its sustainable energy transition goals. The fact that dozens of young people applied to the [RE]Power Hackathon shows their deep interest in and commitment to these critical issues,” said Ir. Senda Hurmuzan Kanam., M.Sc on behalf of Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New and Renewable Energy. “As someone who helps shape regulations, it gives me peace of mind knowing we are not alone in this journey. When my time ends, I am confident that our future leaders will take the reins and ensure Indonesia’s continued progress with just policies.”

The [RE]Power Hackathon also welcomed five startups from Bali showcasing products ranging from waste-derived innovations to eco-apps aimed at promoting sustainable tourism: Ambawarna, Kishara, Decoco Luminer, Ecous, Kelana Terra.

[RE]Power is proud to collaborate with eleven youth-led organizations: BEM FH Universitas Indonesia, Climate Rangers Jakarta, Economy for Ecology, Environmental Law Society FH Universitas Indonesia, Green Welfare Indonesia, School of Applied STEM Universitas Prasetya Mulya, Society of Renewable Energy ITB, Society of Renewable Energy ITK, Society of Renewable Energy Universitas Indonesia, Teens Go Green Indonesia, and Mindworks Lab. NEX Indonesia is also grateful for the support of our media partners, Changemakr Asia, Katadata.co.id, Katadata Green, and Zona EBT.

The support from Milkywire, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of National Development Planning has been critical in NEX Indonesia’s efforts to foster a vibrant cleantech ecosystem in Indonesia.

Media contacts:

Raisha Fatya
Communications Manager, New Energy Nexus Indonesia
raisha.fatya@newenergynexus.com

About New Energy Nexus

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive. NEX has accelerated 1,400 startups, empowered over 9,500 entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$3.7 billion in investment. Since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam.

Follow NEX on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube

About New Energy Nexus Indonesia

In Indonesia, New Energy Nexus works to support the development of ecosystems that can support the needs of not only innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs, but also other stakeholders in the clean energy and climate solutions sectors.

Story
Indonesia
Energy Access
Decarbonizing Indonesia, one island at a time

Indonesia, the eighth-largest carbon emitter globally, faces significant climate risks. Despite these challenges, its abundant resources position Indonesia as a pivotal player in transitioning towards sustainable and decarbonized solutions. New Energy Nexus Indonesia is leading this change by supporting clean energy entrepreneurs in the climate solution sector. One of its programs, the Dilau Initiative, aims to decarbonize Indonesia’s marine and fishery sectors with a particular focus on coastal communities. The initiative includes conducting community outreach, building capacity, introducing scalable innovations, and preserving the marine ecosystem.

Bungin Village, located in the Alas District of the Sumbawa Regency, was originally settled by members of the Bajo Tribe, renowned for their free diving and fishing skills and recognized as the world’s largest remaining group of sea nomads. The Bajo community has maintained its distinct way of life by building its own islet out of coral, allowing their culture to develop separately from the mainland. The village is densely populated by 2,338 people per square kilometer, with most residents being fisherfolk. This includes 1,020 to 1,113 active fishers, 9 active fish collectors, and 12 fish farming groups known as KJA (Kelompok Jaringan Apung); though only 4 of these groups remain active.

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Aerial view of Bungin Village. Photo by Yudha Baskoro

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A fisherman passes his catch to his wife to sell at the market. Photo by Yudha Baskoro

The problem

Transitioning towards sustainable practices in Indonesia is a complex issue. For many Indonesians, the priority is simply putting food on the table, making it tough to prioritize sustainable practices.

In Bungin Village, the fishing sector faces several challenges, including issues with storage, high electricity, and fuel costs, as well as its dependence on conventional fuel for boats—which is both expensive and harmful to the environment.

Waste is also a significant issue on Bungin Island. The use of styrofoam for storage and plastic for fish captures and ice blocks have resulted in considerable trash ending up in the ocean. Moreover, fisherfolk often catch more fish than they can sell, resulting in waste and financial stress due to limited storage options and the high cost of ice and electricity.

The fishing sector holds a real chance for positive change, especially as more people are looking for ways to cut costs. With plenty of sunlight in the area, there’s a great opportunity to bring in sustainable solutions—one such idea is solar-powered cold storage for fish catch and electric outboard motors for boats. But the shift isn’t easy; there’s a knowledge gap, and some folks are hesitant, which is understandable given the lack of awareness, the high upfront costs, and concerns about whether new technologies will work. Making this transition will need careful planning and strong support to overcome these hurdles. With the end goal of adopting sustainable technologies, we can help lower costs and make sure there’s enough food for everyone.

“The potential for solar power in Sumbawa is excellent, so it would be a shame not to utilize it. We want to introduce green practices to the fishermen in Bungin Island, providing a solution to their problems” — Ahmad Jaya (Chief of Technology of Olat Maras Power)

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Nova, CEO of Olat Maras, inspects a solar-powered charging station. Photo by Yudha Baskoro

The solution

Our feasibility study

To get this initiative off the ground, we first needed to understand the current situation and the people who live there.

The feasibility study conducted by New Energy Nexus Indonesia and Manussa Consulting focuses on how we can bring solar-powered cold storage and electric outboard motors to Bungin Village’s fishing industry. The goal is to cut carbon emissions and boost economic efficiency by embracing sustainable technology. We surveyed 54 people, including 45 fishers and 9 village fish collectors (Pengepul Ikan), and conducted interviews with 22 representatives from startups, fish collectors, mariculture farmers, fishers, restaurant owners, local government, village enterprises, and banking institutions. The study suggests that providing workshops and financial incentives will be crucial to getting people on board with these new technologies. The financial analysis confirms that the project is feasible, but it will require careful financial planning and backup plans to ensure success.

The study brings to light some major challenges, including the high costs and the fact that many people are unfamiliar with the new technology. We asked locals about their knowledge and understanding of these technologies, their benefits, and climate change in general, and we found that there is a noticeable lack of familiarity, as shown in the chart below.

awareness and knowledge gaps among local communities

Noticing this trend, we wanted to gauge how interested people are in adopting and buying the technology. The results reveal that their interest is considered a balance between those who are keen, those who aren’t, and those who are neutral. But when it comes to making a purchase, it turns out that more people seem to shy away, which makes sense given the still low awareness of electric outboard motors.

interests in using electric outboard motors vs interests in purchasing the electric outboard motors

In contrast to responses about solar-powered cold storage, where people seem to have a better understanding due to existing units available in the village, therefore show more interest in adoption and purchase, although there’s still a high level of disinterest. This highlights how crucial initial awareness and knowledge are.

interest in using solar powered cold storage vs interest in purchasing a solar powered cold storage

When we asked why folks were disinterested, most said it was because the unit wasn’t a priority for them and they were worried about the high initial cost. Others were concerned about its capacity and durability.

Offering solutions such as financial support and awareness-raising programs may help bridge these gaps. By involving various stakeholders and pushing for sustainability, the project hopes to set an example for positive change in other coastal communities.

Solar Powered Cold Storage by Olat Maras

Our study reveals that many village fish collectors in larger capacity categories depend on multiple cooling units powered by PLN electricity, leading to significant monthly electricity costs. While fish collectors can store their catch for 2 to 4 days, they often prefer to sell it immediately. Some fishers also use cold storage when they return late from fishing, relying on arrangements with village collectors. To maintain the cold chain, fish collectors use styrofoam boxes and ice blocks, incurring substantial daily expenses.

Recognizing the Island’s abundant solar energy, Olat Maras Power offers sun-powered cold storage to help cut down electricity costs. This new solution addresses the significant economic loss caused by fish spoilage. Previously, fish quality would degrade by an average of 220 kg per month, reaching up to 1.2 tons during peak fishing seasons. With cold storage, fishers can now store their catch longer, reducing waste and increasing the market value of their products. By preventing spoilage—assuming a 25% rate—each fish collector can avoid economic losses of approximately IDR 2,388,750 (~US$147) per month.

“Before we had the cold storage, I always looked for ice blocks. If I couldn’t find it, I had to let the fish rot” — Mrs. Jusmia (a local fishmonger from Bungin Island, user, and beneficiary of the technology)

 

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Fish catch stored in styrofoam boxes, ready to be sold at the market. Photo by Manussa Consulting

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A conversation with local fisherfolk for the feasibility study.

Electric Outboard Motors by Maritek

Despite the environmental impact and high costs associated with conventional fuels, many fishers are still unaware of alternatives like electric outboard motors. Our research shows that most fishers don’t know about the environmental damage caused by fossil fuels. In fact, 51% aren’t aware that fossil fuels are a finite resource, and 69% don’t understand the connection between fossil fuels, carbon emissions, and pollution, which contribute to climate change. Additionally, about 90% of fishers are unaware of alternatives such as electric outboard motors.

Switching to electric outboard motors can lead to significant cost savings for fishers, with each person saving around IDR 2,012,500 (~USD 124) per month on conventional fuel. Using solar-powered cold storage can further reduce costs, saving IDR 2,265,000 (~USD 140) on ice blocks and IDR 83,326 (~USD 5) on electricity per 300L storage unit. These savings can greatly boost their profits per delivery cycle, potentially doubling their earnings.

Our approach

While there’s promising interest in solar-powered cold storage and electric outboard motors from fish collectors, mariculture farmers, and restaurant owners, we face challenges like high initial costs and concerns about durability.

To address these issues, we will organize workshops to educate small and medium-scale fish collectors, mariculture farmers, restaurant owners, and other relevant stakeholders. These workshops will focus on the potential cost savings and environmental benefits of these technologies. We will also share case studies, testimonials, and success stories from current users within the community to encourage wider acceptance and adoption.

Our study identifies Pokdakan groups (Kelompok Budidaya Ikan), especially Lelepa boat fishers, as key candidates for this project. They are well-suited for solar-powered cold storage and electric outboard motors and will serve as an ideal starting point for introducing and adopting these technologies. We will run pilot projects with them to give participants firsthand experience with the technology. By collecting and analyzing their feedback, we can refine the technology and address any operational issues, ensuring it meets local needs and builds trust among potential users.

What success looks to us

For these technologies to truly be implemented in the village, we will need to connect with all the key people involved—fish collectors, mariculture farmers, and village officials—who will help build support within the community.

Our approach includes educational workshops, pilot demonstrations, and ongoing feedback mechanisms, with plans to scale up pilot trials to involve more fisherfolks.

We are hoping that the Indonesian government will support sustainability and growth following our pilot trials. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive knowledge base on coastal decarbonization, securing enthusiastic community support and fostering a sense of ownership in the initiative. We are also dedicated to involving youth from the Greater Sumbawa area in innovative projects, inspiring them to address local challenges and actively contribute to the initiative’s success.

In the future, we aim to establish a flexible business model for these technology adoption managed by community-owned enterprises, with a strong emphasis on transparency to navigate social and political challenges effectively.


The Dilau Initiative is supported by the Milkywire Foundation and implemented with help from our partners at Manussa Consulting.

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Story
California
Key Takeaways from ConNEX Workshop: Building Your Winning Clean Energy Workforce

The second installment of ConNEX’s expert workshops, Inclusive Innovation: Building Your Winning Clean Energy Workforce, brought together thought leaders to discuss building diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams to drive long-term success. Hosted by New Energy Nexus, California, as part of the CalSEED program, this virtual event provided valuable insights on strategies for fostering diversity in hiring, team culture, and workforce development.

At New Energy Nexus, we design all our programs with equity at the core. A just energy transition is our goal, requiring mindful work and the deconstruction of old mindsets. In this workshop, attendees asked panelists what kind of trade-offs they had to make to build out diverse teams, and the experts pushed back, explaining diverse teams aren’t a “nice-to-have”. They are a force multiplier and essential to long-term success. Throughout the hour workshop, experts from three successful clean energy startups shared concrete types and processes for building a winning team.

Defining Diversity Beyond Appearance

From the outset, the panelists stressed that diversity goes beyond race and gender. Zora Chung, CFO of ReJoule, highlighted the importance of diverse educational and experiential backgrounds, as these contribute to a richer diversity of thought within the company. Whether in technical roles or management, the collective variety of perspectives is a key driver of innovation.

Steve Pratt, Director of People at Twelve, echoed this: “A group of individuals from many different backgrounds brings their own experiences, perspectives, and creativity.” In fast-growing startups, this diversity enhances problem-solving and helps build stronger connections within the communities they serve.

Challenges in Recruiting Diverse Talent

Recruiting diverse talent is not without its challenges. Chung noted that smaller clean energy startups often face obstacles like a lack of brand recognition and competition with larger companies offering more stability and higher salaries. She credited the CalSEED program with helping ReJoule build a strong mission that resonates with potential candidates, noting that storytelling through mediums like video can be an effective way to attract talent.

Pratt shared how Twelve, which grew from 80 to over 260 employees, overcame recruitment hurdles by developing talent pipelines with a multi-faceted approach. Twelve partners with nonprofits, tribal governments, and minority-serving institutions to create talent pools while maintaining ongoing relationships with colleges and community organizations.

Strategies for Workforce Retention

Building a diverse team is only the beginning; retaining talent requires a concerted effort. Vince Wong, Co-founder and COO of ElectricFish, emphasized that fostering an inclusive workplace starts from the top. Inclusion isn’t just about having diverse employees in the room—it’s about ensuring they have a seat at the table. Wong underscored the importance of strategic partnerships with entities like labor unions and tribal nations, which create economic opportunities and open doors to grant funding.

At Twelve, inclusion is built into their recruitment and onboarding processes. They’ve developed a fair and transparent system from structured interviews that ensure every candidate has a similar experience to diverse hiring panels that incorporate multiple perspectives. They also focus on career development through each employee’s learning and development budget, regular check-ins, and a strong feedback culture to continuously evolve their practices.

Pratt urged participants to use surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations to get feedback and make decisions.

“Make changes based on actual feedback, not what you assume,” he said.

The Power of Partnerships

Strategic partnerships emerged as a recurring theme throughout the workshop. Wong shared how ElectricFish has collaborated with community-based organizations and labor unions to create a pipeline of diverse talent. These partnerships contribute to workforce diversity and position companies well for funding opportunities targeting underserved communities.

Similarly, Twelve’s collaboration with community colleges has helped develop a workforce for operator roles, creating a pathway into the clean energy economy for non-traditional candidates. These partnerships are crucial for companies looking to scale inclusively while contributing to local economic development.

Investing in Diversity as a Competitive Advantage

The speakers all agreed that investing in diversity is not a trade-off but a strategic advantage. Wong noted that diversity has become a “force multiplier” for ElectricFish, contributing to its global impact. When diversity is built into the company culture from the start, it drives innovation and positions the organization for long-term success. Given each of ElectricFish’s four founders is from a different continent, they know the power of a diverse leadership team.

As the clean energy sector continues to grow, building an inclusive, equitable workforce is essential for companies looking to lead in the transition to a sustainable future. By leveraging resources like CalSEED’s Equity-in/Equity-out framework, engaging in strategic partnerships, and fostering an inclusive culture, clean energy entrepreneurs can position themselves at the forefront of this transformation.

Stay tuned for more insights from future ConNEX events as we continue to explore the strategies and innovations shaping the clean energy landscape.

Join Us Next Time! Interested in joining our upcoming ConNEX workshops? Here’s a link to register for our next event all about building strategic partnerships for maximum impact.

Resources:
Culture Amp https://www.cultureamp.com

IBEW: https://www.ibew.org/
Mental health resource: https://www.zeera.com/
CEC Grants: https://www.energy.ca.gov/funding-opportunities
LACI: https://laincubator.org/
CalEnviroScreen: https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen
Specific resources: To focus on HR tech stack, 1) engagement data, 2) LinkedIn Insights (skills that are rare and prioritize hiring specific people), 3) focus on scalability for your processes
For deeper recruiting channels 1) APC fellowships via https://laincubator.org/apc/ , 2) https://novaworks.org/

 

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