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How is technology assisting in combating climate change

Every day it seems like a new technology company or startup is emerging with a radical plan to help battle climate change. From electric cars to solar energy, these companies are using innovative technologies to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. They are the ones helping preserve our planet for future generations.

Some skeptics may view these companies as being nothing more than greenwashed opportunists. The truth though is that their contributions are making a real difference in the fight against climate change. So what can we learn from these innovative businesses? How can we incorporate their ideas into our own operations?

Read on to find out.

1. Tesla Motors

Okay, so Tesla can’t really be considered a startup anymore but we feel it’s important that we shine the light on this innovative company that is making major waves around the world (and even further than that…).

Founded in 2003, Tesla Motors is one of the leading electric vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company’s mission is to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable transport”. They are doing just that with their range of luxury electric cars. While Tesla vehicles are still relatively expensive, they are becoming increasingly affordable.

The technology that is fitted within their vehicles is significantly reducing carbon emissions. Historically this has been a big problem for the automobile industry. Since they launched, many companies have followed suit.

2. SolarCity

Also not the most recent company to enter the sustainability game, SolarCity is a solar energy services company that was founded in 2006. The company offers solar panel installation, financing, and leasing options. They focus on both residential and commercial customers. SolarCity has helped to make solar power more accessible and affordable for many people, which has resulted in a significant increase in solar energy usage around the United States.

The more solar installed around the world, the less CO2 emissions that will be released into the atmosphere.

3. Nest

Nest is a home automation company that was acquired by Google in 2014. The company’s flagship product is a learning thermostat that can be controlled remotely via a mobile app. Nest’s products are designed to save energy and help people reduce their carbon footprints. In addition to the thermostat, the company also offers a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, a security camera, and an LED light bulb.

4. Opower

Opower is a software as a service (SaaS) company that provides customer engagement solutions for the utility industry. Opower’s platform helps utilities to improve customer satisfaction, reduce energy consumption, and lower costs. The company has helped utilities around the world save billions of kilowatt hours of energy. They are making great strides in their industry and it will be interesting to see how they evolve over the years to come.

5. Better Place

Better Place is a company that provides electric vehicle infrastructure and services. The company’s main product is a network of Battery Switch Stations. These stations allow drivers to swap out their depleted batteries for fully charged ones in just minutes. This innovative solution eliminates range anxiety, one of the main barriers to electric vehicle adoption.

6. eRecyclingCorp

eRecyclingCorp is a certified electronic recycler that helps companies and individuals recycle unwanted electronics. The company offers free pick-up service for businesses and provides recycling bins for easy drop-off at any of their locations. eRecyclingCorp recycled over 100 million pounds of electronics in 2015 and has prevented millions of dollars worth of harmful e-waste from ending up in landfills. That’s an impressive achievement for such a young company.

7. C2ES

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. It works to advance practical solutions to climate change. C2ES provides analysis and expert advice on a range of policy options, engages stakeholders to build consensus for action, and convenes leaders to find common ground on climate and energy issues. This will be another interesting one to watch.

8. CarbonFund.org

This is another organisation that has been around for a while. Carbonfund.org is a leading carbon offset organization that helps businesses and individuals offset their carbon emissions. The company offers a variety of offsetting options. This includes planting trees, investing in renewable energy projects, and supporting energy efficiency initiatives. Carbonfund.org has offset over 5 million tons of carbon dioxide since its inception in 2002. They are inspiring many startups to follow suit, making a big impact on how companies are addressing their own footprint.

9. Climate Neutral Group

Climate Neutral is a certification program that helps businesses offset their carbon footprints and become “climate neutral.” The program provides a comprehensive approach to reducing emissions, including measuring, offsetting, and reducing. Climate Neutral certified businesses include Patagonia, REI, and Burton Snowboards.

10. Climate Solutions

Climate Solutions is a nonprofit organization that works to accelerate practical and profitable solutions to climate change. The organization focuses on clean energy, transportation, forests, and climate policy. Climate Solutions has played a pivotal role in the development of clean energy policies in Washington state and Oregon.

Why do we need companies like this to spearhead the fight against climate change?

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that we have just 12 years to take action to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, including more extreme weather events, food and water shortages, and mass displacement of people.

Technology companies and startups are in a unique position to help solve the climate crisis. They are often at the forefront of innovation. They develop new technologies and business models that can help us reduce our emissions and move to a low-carbon economy.

We all have to do our bit

Climate change is an important issue that a lot of people are talking about. Technology companies and startups are coming up with innovative ways to help battle climate change and make a difference. 

We should applaud these technology companies and startups for their innovation and dedication. They are making a difference when it comes to climate change. It is going to take everyone working together to solve this problem. So, let’s continue to support these businesses as they try to find new and better ways to combat climate change.

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Does my Startup Need a CTO?

As an entrepreneur, you’re constantly weighing your options and trying to determine where best to allocate your time and resources. Do you need a CTO? Is it worth it to hire one? Or can you get by without one?

In this post, we’ll explore the role of the CTO for startups and help you decide if you can get by without one.

What is a CTO

The Chief Technical Officer, or CTO, is responsible for a company’s technology strategy. They oversee all technical aspects of the business, from product development to R&D to engineering. The CTO is the bridge between the technical and non-technical teams, and they play a crucial role in ensuring that all departments are aligned with the company’s overall mission and goals.

However, CTOs are much more than that during the startup phase. A CTO needs to be a visionary and a strategist, always thinking one step ahead of the competition. They need to have a deep understanding of the latest technology trends and identify which will be most impactful for their business. Furthermore, they need to be able to take on responsibilities outside of their direct area of expertise, such as marketing or business development.

In short, a tech startup CTO must wear many hats and be able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. As the company becomes more stable and established, the CTO can then focus on more specific tasks and delegate some of their responsibilities.

The Pros of Hiring a CTO

So, do you need a CTO? Let’s explore the pros and cons of hiring one.

1. CTOs Can Help You Grow Your Business

One of the main advantages of hiring a CTO is that they can help you scale your business. A CTO can provide valuable insights into how to grow your business and expand into new markets. They can also help you build the necessary infrastructure to support your growth. Furthermore, a CTO can help you attract and retain top talent, as they are often well-connected in the tech community.

2. Having a CTO makes it easier to raise money

Startups that have a CTO are often more attractive to investors. This is because having a CTO shows that you’re serious about your business and that you have a solid plan for how to grow it.

The Cons of Hiring a CTO

Of course, there are also some disadvantages to hiring a CTO. As you’ll see, startups that can’t yet afford a full-time CTO may be better off without one.

1. They’re expensive

One of the biggest disadvantages of hiring a CTO is that they are often very expensive. Startups that are just starting out may not have the budget to hire a full-time CTO. In addition, a CTO may require equity in the company, which can be a problem for cash-strapped startups.

2. They need to be managed

Another disadvantage of hiring a CTO is that they need to be managed. They need clear direction and guidance from the CEO to be effective. Furthermore, the CEO needs to be able to handle the CTO’s expectations and keep them in check. A CTO is not a magician; they cannot work miracles.

3. Not all CTOs are created equal

Not all CTOs are equally talented or experienced. Startups that hire a CTO need to be careful to find someone who is a good fit for their particular business. The last thing you want is to hire a CTO who is not a good match for your company culture or who does not have the necessary skill set.

4. Changing the executive team

Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that hiring a CTO will change the dynamic of your executive team. It’s vital that your team learns to work together and that the different roles are clearly defined. Otherwise, you may end up with a team that is not cohesive and does not function well together.

When Does It Make Sense to Hire A CTO For Your Startup?

As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages to hiring a CTO. So, when does it make sense to hire one?

Generally speaking, you should only hire a CTO when your startup has become an established business with a solid track record. At that point, you will have the budget to hire a full-time CTO and need someone to help you maintain your operations.

Since you’re still a long way from that stage, you may want to wait to hire a CTO. Thankfully, startups have other options for building their technical team. You can outsource! Outsourcing your development can save you money and help you avoid the challenges of managing a full-time CTO. Furthermore, it allows you to scale your team up or down as needed.

Bottom Line

CTOs are not a priority for startups. With so much on the line, it’s important to focus on more specific tasks and delegate some of their responsibilities. At Launchbase, we can help you do just that.

We’re a software development partner and venture builder. We help startups grow their business by building the necessary infrastructure and attracting top talent. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you grow your startup!

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The Right Fit: Obtaining Your Product-Market Fit (Part 1)

At Launchbase, we have found that understanding a founder’s journey through three specific lenses: Projection, Planning and Proof, can help businesses better evaluate the shaky ground of ‘market problems’ which are available to navigate and disrupt.

1.Projection

There are a few key points to help you successfully plot your course forward if you are a founder or investor trying to launch a product into an uncertain market sector, particularly in these uncertain times where the pandemic continues to be a part of our everyday lives. This is why startup evaluation often revolves around incorporating and using future-facing concepts.

Let’s be real here, for both parties, this often can feel like a ‘finger in the air’ exercise at the best of times. A planning and strategic framework can just be used long enough in order to create and gain enough comfort to cross the line, move forward and pivot as adjustments are needed as events invariably change on the ground.

Planning

This new framework is emerging and impacting across all businesses and represents a real competitive opportunity for those startups and businesses that are ready and agile enough to organise and execute in this way.

Which conversation in your inbox represents an ongoing dialogue with someone of influence that if it comes to a head, could add immediate acceleration to your strategy?

Highlights from the article. Questions.

Quotes etc

Finally, there are a couple of questions that as a founder, you should be ready for and as an investor, you can ask instead of things that would represent a traditional elevator pitch. Questions that quickly provide and demonstrate proof that a founder’s journey might currently have relevancy, Currency and influence over their market sector.