The Fundamental Molecule

By: The Fundamental Molecule with Tom Ferguson Burnt Island Ventures
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  • Summary

  • Welcome to The Fundamental Molecule. This show explores the intersection of water, technology and entrepreneurship. Each week, Tom Ferguson, Managing Partner of Burnt Island Ventures, interviews innovators, experts, entrepreneurs and investors in the world of water, to help us understand where this trillion dollar industry is headed. These are the stories of the people building the future of the world’s most valuable and fundamental resource. Explore all of our episodes and learn more at https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule
    2023 Burnt Island Ventures
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Economics Leadership Management Personal Finance
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Episodes
  • Guillaume Clairet - Operations, Rule-Breaking and Erin Brockovich

    Guillaume Clairet - Operations, Rule-Breaking and Erin Brockovich
    Nov 20 2024
    We all know about the CEO in a company. When the company is small, the CEO does everything, and when it's big, the CEO sets the vision, hires the right people and makes sure they have what they need to be successful. But what about a layer deeper than that? Guillaume Clairet is a fascinating example of a world class COO. Now he's too modest to be known as the power behind the throne, but he's the guy that makes sure what needs to be done gets done. And it's an interesting time for him after both the $395 million delisting of H2O Innovation by Ember Infrastructure and their acquisition of NextEra’s Distributed Water business. Along the way, H2O Innovation have done things their own way and have built an exceptional business and this is a fascinating insight into the practicality of that journey. Please enjoy my conversation with Guillaume Clairet. Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- H2O Innovation COO Guillaume Clairet shares his insightful journey through the world and business of water. He discusses navigating the complexities of public markets, mastering M&A strategies, and building robust recurring revenue models. Guillaume also details H2O's transformative acquisition of the NextEra’s Distributed Water business, a strategic move towards owning water assets and offering diverse customer solutions, and finishes up by offering his invaluable advice to aspiring water entrepreneurs. 00:00 - Water Technology & Entrepreneurship 01:50 - Erin Brockovich Inspiration 03:45 - H2O Innovation Origin Story 06:12 - Early Roles & Company Growth 07:30 - Value of Full-Cycle Experience 09:23 - Navigating Public Markets 11:42 - Transition to Recurring Revenue 15:16 - M&A Process & Integration 19:03 - Successful M&A Integration Strategies 21:01 - COO Role: Serving & Problem-Solving 21:53 - When to Hire a COO 23:04 - CEO Sequencing Operations 26:18 - Going Private with Ember Infrastructure 29:25 - NextEra Acquisition & Future Strategy 30:30 - Holistic Water Solutions Provider 36:14 - Advice for Water Entrepreneurs Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Guillaume Clairet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaumeclairet/?originalSubdomain=ca H2O Innovation: https://www.h2oinnovation.com/ SM Material Key Takeaways: "The CEO sets the vision. The COO makes it happen. It's a partnership of vision and execution." "When you're a startup, you wear many hats. You learn every aspect of the business from sales to operations." "Public markets teach resilience. They keep you on your toes, driving for performance and accountability." "In acquisitions, integration is everything. It's not just about buying a company, but making it part of your own." "A CEO should look at their strengths and hire to fill their weaknesses, making themselves obsolete in those areas." "Being a COO means being accessible. It’s about serving your team and solving problems." "In the water industry, patience is crucial. Progress is slow, but it's accelerating. Be ready for the long game." "Focus on customer relationships. When you earn a customer, keep them by meeting all their water needs."
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    38 mins
  • Sarah Brody - From Oceans to McKinsey

    Sarah Brody - From Oceans to McKinsey
    Oct 28 2024
    It's always worth paying attention to top-level consultants as crucial advisors to their usually enormous clients. They have their finger on the pulse of the practical needs of the market and are responsive when they see critical mass in an area. Sarah Brody runs the North American water practice of McKinsey, which she has restarted in response to considerable client demand from mega-cap corporates to private equity firms. The mainstreaming of water advice for major clients is a very interesting leading indicator of the increasing attention being paid to the fundamental molecule. Sarah is a proper intrapreneur and has done exceptional work building the business on behalf of her clients. She really elucidates the role that firms like McKinsey play in this sector, and she has an excellent water origin story. Please enjoy my conversation with Sarah Brody. Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205
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    36 mins
  • Michael Rigney - The Millenium Falcon of Heat Pump Water Heaters

    Michael Rigney - The Millenium Falcon of Heat Pump Water Heaters
    Oct 9 2024
    The idea of an Overton Window when the conditions around a political issue change that in turn changes the nature of what is politically possible, is a useful one in assessing businesses. Sometimes conditions change enough in a market or sector that there is suddenly a significant window of opportunity for a founder to run through. We think that is the case with Michael Rigney, CEO of Cala Systems. They're building a next generation heat pump water heater, and if they're right, they could save billions of gallons of water, reduce US national emissions by 3%, and save domestic energy consumers about $23 billion a year. We talk about the nature of the water heater market, competing against entrenched incumbents, and rebuilding a well known consumer product from the ground up. He has major game in this segment and Cala are in a fascinating position. Please enjoy my conversation with Michael Rigney. Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205 ----------- Cala Systems CEO, Michael Rigney, shares insights on the future of water heating with his company’s next-generation heat pump technology. He explains how predictive control and intelligent design are set to revolutionize the industry by optimizing energy efficiency, cost savings, and user comfort. Rigney also discusses the importance of strategic partnerships, the role of branding, and the urgent need for decarbonizing residential water heating to reduce global emissions. 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Overton Window and Market Opportunities in Water Heating 01:47 Why Target the Water Heater Market 03:21 Recognizing a Unique Market Opportunity 05:40 Early Steps in Building Cala Systems 07:15 Building the World’s First Intelligent Heat Pump Water Heater 11:02 User Experience and Intelligent Water Heating 12:42 Customization and Integration with Home Systems 13:29 Branding Water Heaters: Lessons from Nest and Opower 15:37 Designing Cala Systems’ Website as a Brand Statement 17:29 The Impact of Decarbonizing Water Heating 20:17 Building a Strong Team 22:17 The Importance of Hiring Slowly and Thoughtfully 24:02 Practical Innovation: Balancing Thought and Scrappiness 25:48 Building the Company You Need for the Future 28:01 Balancing Customer and Installer Needs in Product Development 30:32 Geographic Focus for Early Deployment 35:24 Transitioning to Founder and CEO Role 36:44 Advice for Future Water Entrepreneurs Links: Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/ Michael Rigney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljrigney/ Cala Systems: https://www.calasystems.com/
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    39 mins

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