Rewiring Energy: Disruption, Transparency, and Scaling with Purpose – Joe McDonald, TEM

In this energised episode, David Hunt is joined by Joe McDonald, Co-founder and CEO of TEM – a fast-scaling UK energytech startup reshaping how energy transactions are done. From his early days at LimeJump and the acquisition by Shell, to co-founding TEM and challenging the very core of how electricity is bought, sold, and valued – Joe shares a story of timing, execution, and bold ambition.

Joe and David dive into:

• The broken nature of the wholesale electricity market – and how TEM is fixing it with AI-driven infrastructure
• Why energy transparency is the antidote to greenwashing
• How scaling culture and teams in a remote-first world requires deep intentionality
• Lessons from Shell, LimeJump, and what it really means to build a challenger business
• Fundraising, lucky timing, and the power of storytelling in startup success

From disrupting energy incumbents to reimagining organisational design, this is a deep and inspiring episode for cleantech entrepreneurs, investors, and energy innovators alike.

🔑 Key Quotes:

“We’re not trying to be greedy – we’re trying to build something enduring. That means picking the right people, partners, and investors.” – Joe McDonald

“We’re not just innovating around the edges; we’re replacing the wholesale electricity market itself.” – Joe McDonald

“Remote-first doesn’t mean working from your bedroom – it means being intentional about culture, connection, and collisions.” – Joe McDonald

“This is about power – both in electrons and in people. Rewiring how energy is transacted is a chance to redistribute both.” – Joe McDonald

About Joe McDonald:

Joe McDonald is a seasoned energy entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience in the sector. He co-founded tem. in 2021, aiming to revolutionize the way renewable energy is bought and sold. Prior to tem., Joe held leadership roles at Limejump, including Vice President of Sales and Product, where he was instrumental in developing virtual power plants that enabled small renewable energy assets to access market opportunities akin to larger utilities. His efforts contributed to Limejump's successful acquisition by Shell in 2019, earning him a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe list.

At tem., Joe leverages his deep expertise in

About Hyperion Executive Search:

Hyperion are a specialist executive search firm working with some of the most innovative cleantech companies in the world, helping to find extraordinary talent to enable their growth and success. Partnering with leading cleantech VCs, as well as directly with founders and entrepreneurs in the sector. With our clients we are transforming business and growing a strong and prosperous cleantech economy.

If you want to grow your team, or move forward your career, visit www.hyperionsearch.com, or email info@hyperionsearch.com


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If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.
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🎧 Episode and guest overview

In this episode of Leaders in Cleantech, David Hunt is joined by Danijel Visevic, Managing Partner of World Fund, Europe’s largest climate tech VC. Danijel shares his personal and professional journey — from journalism and politics to launching a €300M venture fund dedicated to decarbonisation. They explore the challenges of scaling deep tech and hardware-centric startups, the urgent funding gaps at Series B, and how Europe risks losing its most promising IP to the US or China. With thoughtful insights on talent, climate urgency, and the real impact of aligned capital, this is a must-listen for founders, investors, and anyone passionate about climate innovation.

About Danijel Višević:

Danijel Višević is a General Partner at World Fund. He is a recognised climate tech thought leader, policy professional and journalist by vocation. Before co-founding World Fund, he was Director of Communications at Project A Ventures, co-founder of Zetra Project and Krautreporter. Danijel was also co-responsible for the audio-visual appearance of Angela Merkel for nearly half a decade.

About World Fund:

World Fund is a leading European venture capital fund investing in climate tech companies with significant decarbonisation potential. Their portfolio spans key sectors, such as energy, industry, built environment, transportation, food, agriculture, and biotech. World Fund has backed prominent companies such as cylib, Vaeridion, Planet A Foods, IQM and Space Forge. The firm manages a €300m fund and focuses on bridging the financing gap in the early growth stage.

Social links:

• Danijel Viševićon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/visevic/
• World Fund on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldfund/
• World Fund website: https://www.worldfund.vc/

⏱️ Chapter Notes / Markers

00:00 – Introduction & First Meeting
David and Danijel recall their first meeting and set the stage for the conversation.

01:00 – Danijel’s Mission & the Origins of World Fund
How purpose, politics, and journalism led to founding Europe’s largest climate tech VC.

04:00 – Investment Thesis: Deep Tech for

About Hyperion Executive Search:

Hyperion are a specialist executive search firm working with some of the most innovative cleantech companies in the world, helping to find extraordinary talent to enable their growth and success. Partnering with leading cleantech VCs, as well as directly with founders and entrepreneurs in the sector. With our clients we are transforming business and growing a strong and prosperous cleantech economy.

If you want to grow your team, or move forward your career, visit www.hyperionsearch.com, or email info@hyperionsearch.com


Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe
I'm very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter.
If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hunt-cleantech/
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What’s it all about?

In this episode, I’m joined by Monica Collings—former CEO of Vattenfall UK and ESB Energy, and now a board chair, non-exec, and strategic advisor across the energy transition space. We discuss her journey from executive leadership to a portfolio career, lessons from leading through the energy crisis, building resilient cultures in volatile times, and why diversity, inclusion, and human-centred leadership are critical to the future of cleantech and utilities. A thoughtful, honest, and inspiring conversation on what it really takes to lead—especially when the pressure is on.

About Monica Collings:

Monica Collings, an influential portfolio Chair and Non-Executive, brings exceptional expertise in business transformation, engagement, and leadership to drive meaningful change and deliver lasting value through the transition to net zero.

As the award-winning Chief Executive of retail energy innovator So Energy, Monica led the successful merger with ESB Energy, showcasing her ability to navigate complex industry landscapes. Her extensive experience spans executive roles at Vattenfall and transformative positions across the retail, home improvement, property, and automotive sectors.

Monica now holds an array of board and strategic advisory roles, including serving as Chair of the international charge point operator Plug-N-Go, and as a Non-Executive Director at Adler & Allen and Dalcour Maclaren. Recognised on the prestigious Involve x YouTube 100 Global Role Model List and recently appointed Chair of POWERful Women, Monica is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. Her tenure as the sole female Chief Executive of a domestic energy supplier during the energy crisis highlights her unwavering commitment to amplifying well represented customer voices in the boardroom, fostering gender diversity in leadership, and championing equitable solutions within the energy sector.

Social links:

• Monica Collings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicacollings/
• Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/circles_in_a_circle?igsh=MWhzbzBsamhtaGg5ZQ==

Episode Links:

About Hyperion Search:

At Hyperion Search, we specialize in building world

About Hyperion Executive Search:

Hyperion are a specialist executive search firm working with some of the most innovative cleantech companies in the world, helping to find extraordinary talent to enable their growth and success. Partnering with leading cleantech VCs, as well as directly with founders and entrepreneurs in the sector. With our clients we are transforming business and growing a strong and prosperous cleantech economy.

If you want to grow your team, or move forward your career, visit www.hyperionsearch.com, or email info@hyperionsearch.com


Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe
I'm very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter.
If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hunt-cleantech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidHsearch
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🎙 Episode 150 – Jan Lozek, Managing Director & Founder, Future Energy Ventures
In this milestone episode of Leaders in Cleantech, David Hunt is joined by Jan Lozek, a veteran investor and the founder of Future Energy Ventures, one of Europe’s largest and most influential climate tech VCs.
Together, they explore the evolution of cleantech investment, the challenges and opportunities facing founders today, and why Europe is uniquely positioned to lead the energy transition—despite global headwinds.

🔥 In this episode, we discuss:
Jan’s personal journey from the 1980s Green movement to launching Future Energy Ventures
The shift from hardware-heavy to software- and AI-led cleantech startups
Why team dynamics and diversity are critical investment criteria
The growing competition and collaboration in the VC ecosystem
U.S. unpredictability, Trump tariffs, and why Europe must seize the moment
The importance of long-term thinking, founder resilience, and learning from failure
What excites Jan most for 2025 in EVs, heating, and AI in energy

🧠 Quote of the episode:
“Deploying new technology is change—and change is done by people, through people.” – Jan Lozek

💡 Who should listen?
Cleantech founders, VC & PE professionals, climate tech enthusiasts, policy influencers, and anyone curious about scaling sustainable innovation.

🔗 Connect with Jan & Future Energy Ventures:
[Website] https://www.fev.vc
[LinkedIn] https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-energy-ventures/
[Jan Lozek on LinkedIn] https://www.linkedin.com/in/janlozek/

🌍 About the podcast:
Leaders in Cleantech brings you insightful conversations with the people driving the clean energy and sustainability revolution—founders, investors, and changemakers shaping our net zero future.

About Hyperion Executive Search:

Hyperion are a specialist executive search firm working with some of the most innovative cleantech companies in the world, helping to find extraordinary talent to enable their growth and success. Partnering with leading cleantech VCs, as well as directly with founders and entrepreneurs in the sector. With our clients we are transforming business and growing a strong and prosperous cleantech economy.

If you want to grow your team, or move forward your career, visit www.hyperionsearch.com, or email info@hyperionsearch.com


Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe
I'm very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter.
If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hunt-cleantech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidHsearch
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What’s it all about?
Energy Storage, to infinity and beyond! How do you forecast and predict revenues from your energy storage assets, even if not built yet? Modo have a range of solutions to help asset owners, developers and investors to answer these questions. We also dive into the challenges and experiences of high growth, from pivoting and fundraising to new market entry and building and retaining high performing teams.

About Quentin Scrimshire:
Quentin ‘Q’ Scrimshire has over a decade of experience working in battery energy storage and power markets, covering asset development, financing, construction, trading and optimisation. Before co-founding Modo Energy in 2019, he led Kiwi Power’s European energy storage business (acquired by ENGIE). Previously, he was an engineer at Centrica PLC working on capital projects across offshore wind, oil & gas, thermal power, peaking plant and energy storage. He holds his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manchester.
About Modo Energy:
Modo Energy is a B2B SaaS platform that helps renewable energy companies, funds, utilities, and banks manage and value their energy assets. The company specializes in batteries and provides data, analytics, and forecasting to help customers understand the financial performance of their energy assets.

Social links:
Quentin 'Q' Scrimshire on LinkedIn: Quentin 'Q' Scrimshire
Modo Energy on LinkedIn: Modo Energy: Overview
Modo Energy website: Home
Podcast

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Meet Quentin Scrimshire of Modo Energy
01:11 The Vision and Mission of Modo Energy
02:19 Global Expansion and Market Focus
02:56 Quentin's Journey in Energy Storage
04:48 Founding Modo Energy: Challenges and Pivots
15:37 Leadership and Company Culture
27:13 Customer-Centric Approach and Community Building
35:57 Future Plans and Closing Remarks

About Hyperion Executive Search:

Hyperion are a specialist executive search firm working with some of the most innovative cleantech companies in the world, helping to find extraordinary talent to enable their growth and success. Partnering with leading cleantech VCs, as well as directly with founders and entrepreneurs in the sector. With our clients we are transforming business and growing a strong and prosperous cleantech economy.

If you want to grow your team, or move forward your career, visit www.hyperionsearch.com, or email info@hyperionsearch.com


Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe
I'm very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter.
If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hunt-cleantech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidHsearch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidhuntcleantech/

Also follow our podcast handles to stay up to date.
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What’s it all about?
Building cleantech start-ups, at scale. It can be confusing, the world of Incubators, accelerators and venture builders, also known as start-up studios. Who does what, how and why? In this episode we clarify some of those things, but discuss so much more about the why and how of new cleantech venture builder Big Circle Ventures, with founder CEO Joost Kruytzer. Joost is a very experienced venture builder, recently moving from healthtech to cleantech following a passion to address some of our biggest challenges. I hope you enjoy the episode.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Understanding Venture Building
02:13 The Genesis of Big Circle Ventures
03:57 Scaling Startups: The Big Circle Approach
05:35 Clarifying Venture Builders vs. Accelerators and Incubators
07:24 The Journey from IP to Startup
13:59 The Importance of Culture in Startups
18:28 Ambitions and Future Plans for Big Circle Ventures
24:29 Challenges and Rewards in Venture Building
32:52 Focus Areas and Opportunities in Climate Tech
35:21 Call to Action: Collaborate with Big Circle Ventures
39:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About Joost Kruytzer:
Theoretical physicist turned management consultant turned deeptech venture builder. Driven by positive impact. Built up NLC as its COO, to become Europe’s largest healthtech venture builder, creating over 100 ventures along the way. Earlier this year he founded BigCircle Ventures, applying a similar model to tackle the world’s climate and circularity challenges
About BigCircle Ventures:
BigCircle Ventures scouts promising deeptech and turns this into successful startups that tackle the world's climate and circularity challenges. BigCircle Ventures is set up to become the world’s largest greentech venture builder. We bring a unique flow of early stage innovations to the market, to boost the world’s journey towards net zero and circularity. The world needs greentech, but promising inventions often stay untouched on a shelf, hidden in a university, research institute or company. We will tackle this problem by using our proven venture building model and fund.

Social links:
Joost Kruytzer on LinkedIn
BigCircle Ventures on LinkedIn

About Hyperion Executive Search:

Hyperion are a specialist executive search firm working with some of the most innovative cleantech companies in the world, helping to find extraordinary talent to enable their growth and success. Partnering with leading cleantech VCs, as well as directly with founders and entrepreneurs in the sector. With our clients we are transforming business and growing a strong and prosperous cleantech economy.

If you want to grow your team, or move forward your career, visit www.hyperionsearch.com, or email info@hyperionsearch.com


Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe
I'm very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter.
If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hunt-cleantech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidHsearch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidhuntcleantech/

Also follow our podcast handles to stay up to date.
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What’s it all about?
Investing in Hardtech! Yes, it’s true, some VC’s do invest in hardtech/deeptech, knowing the specific challenges of supporting companies of this nature to scale. This week I speak with Malin Carlstrom of Danish VC Climentum Capital about scaling deeptech, the importance of team, the usefulness (and otherwise) of advisors and NED’s, and the ‘perfect storm’ giving optimism about the chances for climatetech to have its’ day.

About Malin Carlstrom:
Malin has spent the last two decades investing for leading financial and corporate Venture Capital funds. She is an engineer with a passion for deep-tech and energy transformation, and she is deeply connected in the Nordic VC ecosystems. Malin has previously worked as an investor at Industrifonden, Verdane, SEB, and ABB, building extensive experience in sourcing, deal-making, portfolio management and exiting. As of 2022, Malin is a General Partner at Article 9 fund Climentum Capital, which focuses on hardtech companies that abate large scale CO2 emissions.

About Climentum Capital:
Climentum Capital is a Venture Capital firm based in Copenhagen, Berlin and Stockholm. The General Partners Malin Carlström, Dörte Hirschberg, Morten Halborg and Stefan Maard invest in European B2B climate hard tech startups.
Climentum targets late Seed and Series A investments in the five sectors that generate more than 90% of emissions in Europe: energy, industry, food & agriculture, buildings and transportation.

The pioneering Article 9 fund has a double incentives structure, with carry indexed on both CO2 emissions reductions and financial returns.
Climentum’s portfolio includes Qvantum, Aegir Insights and Jolt.

Social links:
Malin Carlstrom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malin-carlstrom/
Climentum Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climentum/
Climentum Capital website: https://www.climentum.com/

About Hyperion Executive Search:

Hyperion are a specialist executive search firm working with some of the most innovative cleantech companies in the world, helping to find extraordinary talent to enable their growth and success. Partnering with leading cleantech VCs, as well as directly with founders and entrepreneurs in the sector. With our clients we are transforming business and growing a strong and prosperous cleantech economy.

If you want to grow your team, or move forward your career, visit www.hyperionsearch.com, or email info@hyperionsearch.com


Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe
I'm very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter.
If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hunt-cleantech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidHsearch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidhuntcleantech/

Also follow our podcast handles to stay up to date.
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What’s it all about?
Clean, efficient, reliable, electric public transport. After traveling by Bus and Coach across five continents, Keith Bradbury and Co-Founder Pierce Glennie made the switch from Fintech to Cleantech, with a solution to the cost, pollution and unreliability and hassle of public transport. Ember was born, you can hear the story from inception to recent A-round fundraise, and plans for the future. Enjoy the episode.

About Keith Bradbury:
Deep generalist. Hopeful sceptical empiricist. Rock climber. Wants to go to space.

About Ember:
Ember is building the future of intercity transport – fully electric and tech enabled. Our goal is to replace the private car with a better alternative which makes your whole journey, from A to B, seamless. Our full stack platform powers the operations, the charging infrastructure, and the entire customer experience. As a result, we're running the highest mileage EV's in the world on the most demanding routes.

We’re a tech company, not a traditional bus operator. We've built a platform that coordinates our entire operation – everything from monitoring vehicles and controlling chargers to selling tickets and calculating ETAs. This allows us to use electric buses more intensively than anyone else in the world, leading to a massive emissions reduction. It also helps us provide a much better passenger experience, with innovative features like demand-responsive stops

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Ember: Revolutionizing Inter City Transport
00:05:01 - The Genesis of the Idea of Electric Coaches
00:09:47 - Delivering a Better Passenger Experience
00:14:32 - The Ember Platform and Managing the Customer Experience
00:19:35 - Starting and Scaling the Business
00:24:31 - Developing our own charging Hub
00:29:23 - Long-termism and Commitment in Startups
00:33:59 - Scaling the Business and Future Opportunities
00:39:06 - Delivering a Great Experience
00:43:58 - Ember Buses in the Future

Social links:
Keith Bradbury on LinkedIn
Ember on LinkedIn
Ember Website

About Hyperion Executive Search:

Hyperion are a specialist executive search firm working with some of the most innovative cleantech companies in the world, helping to find extraordinary talent to enable their growth and success. Partnering with leading cleantech VCs, as well as directly with founders and entrepreneurs in the sector. With our clients we are transforming business and growing a strong and prosperous cleantech economy.

If you want to grow your team, or move forward your career, visit www.hyperionsearch.com, or email info@hyperionsearch.com


Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe
I'm very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter.
If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hunt-cleantech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidHsearch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidhuntcleantech/

Also follow our podcast handles to stay up to date.
LinkedIn: ...