CleanTech Methods helps utilities streamline and modernize the process for renewable energy projects to interconnect with their electric grid, and helps renewable energy projects find and close financing.
Year Founded
2016
Product Stage
v1 Launched
Funding Stage
Private
Team Size
6
Industry
Energy / Renewables
leadership team
Chris Sewell, Co-Founder & CEO - Chris has been working in the cleantech and renewable energy finance sectors for 10 years.
why foundertherapy
Major Business Milestones
- Build sales prototype
- Close first seed round of financing
- Secure an LOI from first utility customer
Through their domain expertise in renewable energy, Chris and Michael had identified a problem in the ability of utilities to handle an increasing number of interconnection applications from renewable energy developers. They were looking for a team that could extract their knowledge and transform it into a prototype for early sales and fundraising meetings.
our role & impact
Roles We Play
- CPO
- Product Execution
- Customer Development
Within the first 6-weeks, FT was able to develop a sales prototype for a 3-sided marketplace that showcased how CTM would vastly streamline and modernize the grid interconnection process for both utilities and renewable energy project developers, all while providing enhanced transparency to the utilities regulators responsible for oversight of the process. Following that initial engagement, FT continued to work with CTM on customer development activities and early sales conversations with utilities, representing the technical leadership team. It was ultimately through this process that CTM realized that while the interconnection product solved a real problem for utilities and developers, the market had an even more significant pain point around renewable energy financing, and the CTM team made a strategic and beneficial pivot.