I knew I wanted to interview Mischa Steiner, founder and CEO of Awesense, when I saw that the company describes itself as “maniacally” focused on driving positive change in the energy sector.
The kind of work Awesense does isn’t usually associated with such passion. Awesense deals with utility data, or more accurately, how to make data more usable. This is important because smart meters have created a proliferation of utility data, and if we can make sense of it all, we’ll hasten the rise of distributed energy. Getting there requires folks with drive.
Podcast: Elisa Wood interviews Mischa Steiner of Awesense
My conversation with Steiner has two sections. The first part dives deep into utility data issues and the evolution that led to the creation of what Steiner calls the company’s “digital twin on steroids.”
The second half of the interview examines what it takes to be an energy entrepreneur. And let me tell you, Steiner knows what entrepreneurial perseverance is about. At one point, the company was on the brink. He was recovering from a serious car accident, his small business was named in a lawsuit aimed at a much larger company, he was losing an investment deal because of the litigation, and at the same time, he was undergoing an audit.
That was several years ago, and now the 15-year-old company is thriving.
What’s kept him going? What was his formula? Listen here.
The transcript of this podcast is available in the Energy Changemakers premium community.