Most cleantech startups don't fail because the technology doesn't work. They fail because nobody on the team has built a factory before.
I have. Twice. A wind turbine factory and an 8 GWh lithium-ion gigafactory. I know what breaks between the pilot and the first commercial delivery, and I know how to fix it.
If you're scaling a first-of-a-kind (FOAK) project and hitting walls — with investors, offtakers, corporates, or your own team — that's where I work.
Building Cleantech Factories and Projects That Deliver
What I help with
I work with cleantech hardware founders on the four problems that most often break FOAK projects:
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Offtake negotiation — getting from MOU to binding contract, with terms that make your next round possible
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Fundraising preparation — pitch decks, models, and investor strategy from someone who's raised capital from the operator seat
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FOAK execution planning — site selection, capex, supply chain, team — the hundred decisions that determine whether the factory delivers
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Investor and board management — navigating strategic investors, corporates, and boards from a position of clarity rather than anxiety
Why founders work with me
Most advisors in cleantech come from finance, consulting, or VC backgrounds. They've modelled FOAK in spreadsheets but they've never built one. I led the construction of an 8 GWh gigafactory, acquired a Korean cell maker, and ran a wind turbine company through to a $900M sales agreement. Every commitment I made to investors, I had to deliver on personally — or face the consequences.
That's the perspective I bring into your meetings.
The WattsUpWithStartups podcast
I host conversations with cleantech founders and investors navigating hardware scale-up — the actual mechanics, not the headlines. Here is the latest episode
Recent writing
