Kerim Baran's guest appearances

Kerim Baran

SunCast

The Solar Podcast

OwlTail

On Today's Episode: This is Part 2 with Kerim Baran, the founder of SolarAcademy.com.  If you missed Episode 618, Part 1 of this discussion, we strongly suggest you queue that one up first! Over the last 2 decades, Kerim has become a prominent figure in the solar and tech industries. With an extensive background as a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, coach, and mentor, his journey is marked by observation and innovation, and he’s tucked 2 successful exits under his belt! During his time with Civic Solar, he noted the paradox of falling solar costs while residential solar remained costly and inefficient. His vision of "god parity," where locally produced and consumed solar electricity becomes significantly cheaper, signals a groundbreaking shift in energy paradigms. And his initiative with platforms like Enki Solar and Solar Academy showcases his commitment to addressing inequities in capital and education.Kerim's insights extend beyond the technical aspects of the solar industry. He delves into the importance of virtues like patience, reflecting a broader perspective on personal and professional growth. His philosophy on investment prioritizes joy and support over mere financial gain, and his interest in projects that meld software with solar points to a future of greater equity in power infrastructure. Additionally, his thoughts on decentralized, social knowledge-sharing and the ethical considerations of information sharing contribute to a holistic understanding of modern business dynamics. We delve into how Kerim has marged these interests into his 3rd startup, SolarAcademy, and what technology improvements mean for distributed knowledge sharing &amp; equity, in solar and beyond.The interview with Kerim Baran offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders. His transparent sharing of experiences, strategies, and philosophies provides a rich resource for those looking to navigate the complexities of starting and growing a business in solar or any other sector. His focus on ethics, empowerment, and collaboration, along with his willingness to be vulnerable about personal habits and challenges, provides a template and model for leaders looking to grow their personal and professional impact. If you are interested in finding out more about SolarAcademy.com or contributing your knowledge to the community through this project, please see below how to connect with Kerim, or share the website with others you feel might be interested in learning more about the industry, its stakeholders and the business of solar. If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.SunCast is presented by Sungrow, the world’s most bankable inverter brand.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 620 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

On Today's Episode: This is Part 2 with Kerim Baran, the founder of <a href="http://SolarAcademy.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SolarAcademy.com</a>.  If you missed Episode 618, Part 1 of this discussion, we strongly suggest you queue that one up first! Over the last 2 decades, Kerim has become a prominent figure in the solar and tech industries. With an extensive background as a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, coach, and mentor, his journey is marked by observation and innovation, and he’s tucked 2 successful exits under his belt! During his time with Civic Solar, he noted the paradox of falling solar costs while residential solar remained costly and inefficient. His vision of "god parity," where locally produced and consumed solar electricity becomes significantly cheaper, signals a groundbreaking shift in energy paradigms. And his initiative with platforms like Enki Solar and Solar Academy showcases his commitment to addressing inequities in capital and education.Kerim's insights extend beyond the technical aspects of the solar industry. He delves into the importance of virtues like patience, reflecting a broader perspective on personal and professional growth. His philosophy on investment prioritizes joy and support over mere financial gain, and his interest in projects that meld software with solar points to a future of greater equity in power infrastructure. Additionally, his thoughts on decentralized, social knowledge-sharing and the ethical considerations of information sharing contribute to a holistic understanding of modern business dynamics. We delve into how Kerim has marged these interests into his 3rd startup, SolarAcademy, and what technology improvements mean for distributed knowledge sharing &amp; equity, in solar and beyond.The interview with Kerim Baran offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders. His transparent sharing of experiences, strategies, and philosophies provides a rich resource for those looking to navigate the complexities of starting and growing a business in solar or any other sector. His focus on ethics, empowerment, and collaboration, along with his willingness to be vulnerable about personal habits and challenges, provides a template and model for leaders looking to grow their personal and professional impact. If you are interested in finding out more about <a href="http://SolarAcademy.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SolarAcademy.com</a> or contributing your knowledge to the community through this project, please see below how to connect with Kerim, or share the website with others you feel might be interested in learning more about the industry, its stakeholders and the business of solar. If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the<a href="https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> show notes</a> on the blog at<a href="https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/</a>.SunCast is presented by<a href="https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> Sungrow</a>, the world’s most bankable inverter brand.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at<a href="http://www.mysuncast.com/sponsors" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> www.mysuncast.com/sponsors</a>.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 620 other founder stories and startup advice at<a href="http://www.mysuncast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> www.mysuncast.com</a>.You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:<a href="https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo</a><a href="https://my.captivate.fm/LinkedIn%20-%20https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus</a>

619: Kerim Baran (Part 2) on God vs Grid Parity & Decentralizing Knowledge in Solar

On Today's Episode: This is a special 2-part episode with a close friend &amp; advisor to Nico and the SunCast Media team. Kerim Baran is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and strategist who has dedicated his career to fostering positive societal change. He was as co-founder of Civic Solar, one of the early pioneers in providing end-to-end solar installer procurement support via online distribution services (which was subsequently acquired in 2019 by CED Greentech, now Greentech Renewables).  Kerim was also founder of Yonja, one of Europe's first social networks and his first entrepreneurial exit. Kerim now spends his time investing in early-stage companies and founders in various sectors, including energy, education and healthcare, and has recently unveiled his next venture - Solar Academy (which we discuss at length in Part Two of this interview).Baran's business accomplishments are marked by innovation and adaptability. He grew Yonja to over a billion page views and 7 million users before selling it in 2007. He followed that success by turning his attention to the renewable energy sector, where he and 2 other co-founders built Civic Solar (originally ideated as an eBay-like marketplace) into a preeminent support-driven equipment distribution platform for solar installers in the United States. He was instrumental in the company's growth for the first 5-6 years and subsequently facilitated its exit to CED GreenTech in 2019. Kerim describes Civic’s negative working capital model, generating capital as it grew, a rarity in tech startups. Baran's journey from pioneering social networking to empowering solar energy deployment has provided him with profound insights into our potential as a civilization. He reveals how his meditations led him to focus on sectors like education, healthcare, and cleantech, reflecting a commitment to healthy living and societal progress. Today’s conversation unpacks complex viral concepts like “K-factor", fostering organic growth and creating products that can “sell themselves”. He also emphasizes empowering the "long tail," giving individuals power to connect. His philosophies extend to living across cultures without borders and advocating for knowledge sharing, as reflected in the story behind the name of his investment fund, Enki Solar. Additionally, he recommends two key books for investment insights that we believe everyone should have on their shelves.Enjoy the episode and then queue up Part 2! If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.SunCast is presented by Sungrow, the world’s most bankable inverter brand.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 620 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

On Today's Episode: This is a special 2-part episode with a close friend &amp; advisor to Nico and the SunCast Media team. Kerim Baran is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and strategist who has dedicated his career to fostering positive societal change. He was as co-founder of Civic Solar, one of the early pioneers in providing end-to-end solar installer procurement support via online distribution services (which was subsequently acquired in 2019 by CED Greentech, now Greentech Renewables).  Kerim was also founder of Yonja, one of Europe's first social networks and his first entrepreneurial exit. Kerim now spends his time investing in early-stage companies and founders in various sectors, including energy, education and healthcare, and has recently unveiled his next venture - Solar Academy (which we discuss at length in Part Two of this interview).Baran's business accomplishments are marked by innovation and adaptability. He grew Yonja to over a billion page views and 7 million users before selling it in 2007. He followed that success by turning his attention to the renewable energy sector, where he and 2 other co-founders built Civic Solar (originally ideated as an eBay-like marketplace) into a preeminent support-driven equipment distribution platform for solar installers in the United States. He was instrumental in the company's growth for the first 5-6 years and subsequently facilitated its exit to CED GreenTech in 2019. Kerim describes Civic’s negative working capital model, generating capital as it grew, a rarity in tech startups. Baran's journey from pioneering social networking to empowering solar energy deployment has provided him with profound insights into our potential as a civilization. He reveals how his meditations led him to focus on sectors like education, healthcare, and cleantech, reflecting a commitment to healthy living and societal progress. Today’s conversation unpacks complex viral concepts like “K-factor", fostering organic growth and creating products that can “sell themselves”. He also emphasizes empowering the "long tail," giving individuals power to connect. His philosophies extend to living across cultures without borders and advocating for knowledge sharing, as reflected in the story behind the name of his investment fund, Enki Solar. Additionally, he recommends two key books for investment insights that we believe everyone should have on their shelves.Enjoy the episode and then queue up Part 2! If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the<a href="https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> show notes</a> on the blog at<a href="https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/</a>.SunCast is presented by<a href="https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> Sungrow</a>, the world’s most bankable inverter brand.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at<a href="http://www.mysuncast.com/sponsors" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> www.mysuncast.com/sponsors</a>.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 620 other founder stories and startup advice at<a href="http://www.mysuncast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> www.mysuncast.com</a>.You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:<a href="https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo</a><a href="https://my.captivate.fm/LinkedIn%20-%20https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus</a>