#253 The Plug-and-Play Battery Solution for Modern Home Energy | Cole Ashman (Pila Energy)

CleanTechies

Today, we're speaking with Cole Ashman, the CEO and founder of Pila Energy.

Pila is democratizing access to battery backup systems through industrial-grade, consumer-priced batteries that are simply plug-and-play. No electricians, no permitting, just reliable power.

Pila's innovative approach is disrupting the home energy market, from enabling demand response programs to making backup power accessible and affordable for everyone. Listen today to hear how they are reshaping energy reliability and demand response access.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts

Select Quotes From This Episode:

• "Controlling loads... shutting off your air condition, technically great, but who wants their AC shut off on the hottest day of the year?"
  
  
• "We're able to turn entire apartment complexes into batteries by coordinating up to hundreds of these distributed batteries."

[Sponsor] ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search Firm

To build a successful CleanTech startup, you need the right people.
Affordable: Our search fee is 12-15% of first-year base salary (most charge 25-30%).
Specialized: We ONLY work with CleanTech startups.
Proven: 70+ placements since 2020 (Aypa Power, ChargeScape, QCells, & more).

Save time and money when you work with ErthTech Talent. Plus, Silas runs it, so you already know him. — Reach out today and tell him you saw this ad.

Links

• Cole Ashman | Pila Energy
• Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn
• This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Support the show

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

Fejezetek

1. Cold Open (00:00:00)

2. Who is Cole Ashman and what problem is Pila Energy solving? (00:00:48)

3. What does the Pila battery look like and what are its core features? (00:03:39)

4. How quickly did Pila go from concept to shipping product? (00:06:30)

5. How does Pila balance design and engineering constraints as a startup? (00:08:37)

6. What is the user experience like for setting up and using a Pila battery? (00:10:20)

7. How do Pila batteries enable participation in demand response programs and save money? (00:14:04)

8. Why is Pila's approach about improving quality of life, not just climate tech? (00:16:58)

9. Does Pila's solution require permitting, and how does it compare in size to a Powerwall? (00:18:41)

10. What are the policy tailwinds and headwinds affecting the home energy market in the US and EU? (00:22:26)

11. Does state or utility-level action primarily drive regulatory changes in the US? (00:27:06)

12. Will utilities be able to solve future power outages, or will they worsen? (00:29:00)

13. How do battery systems compare to traditional gas generators in terms of cost and convenience? (00:30:52)

14. What is Pila Energy's go-to-market strategy, and what is the price of the base unit? (00:34:25)

15. Is Pila's business model primarily hardware sales, subscriptions, or virtual power plants? (00:38:09)

16. How are discussions progressing with utilities regarding Pila's technology? (00:40:32)

17. What are the biggest challenges for scaling hardware production, and how is Pila approaching it? (00:42:50)

18. What is Cole Ashman's philosophy on team building and managing burn rate? (00:44:48)

19. Does a lean team lead to a sharper focus on the most important tasks? (00:46:39)

20. Have network connections provided significant shortcuts in Pila's journey? (00:47:49)

21. What are Pila Energy's core milestones and future vision for homes and businesses? (00:51:35)

22. Where can people find more information and pre-order Pila products? (00:53:33)