Q&A with Vipul Gore, President and CEO of Gridscape Solutions

 

Happy 2015! As we head into the New Year, we’ll be kicking off a new blog series to share the stories, inspiration and challenges of cleantech visionaries in Fremont. We’ll also showcase some of the Bay Area’s most knowledgeable industry experts.

We first sat down with Vipul Gore, President and CEO of Gridscape Solutions, a leading greentech and smart energy company that provides low-risk, low-cost smart energy solutions to utilities, manufacturers and other enterprises.

Read on to learn more about the cleantech industry and Vipul’s vision for its future.

Q: Out of all the industries you could have picked for your career, why did you choose cleantech?

I like that, at the end of each day, I can go to bed knowing that I’ve made a difference in someone’s life – whether it’s helping people make their lives more sustainable or saving them some money in terms of energy efficiency. A career in cleantech is what helps me sleep at night.

Q: How does the City of Fremont help boost your business?

The City has provided numerous resources that have helped grow our business. We’ve partnered on a few government grant projects, and last year, the California Energy Commission awarded us a grant of $305,352 to build and install 14 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations within the Bayside Business Park in Warm Springs, Fremont. It’s refreshing to work with a City that doesn’t just say they take an active interest in cleantech – they actually “walk the walk.”

Q: How’s the future of cleantech looking within the Bay Area?

I’d say it’s extremely promising. The Bay Area boasts one of the country’s leading markets for plug-in electric vehicles. This area is taking the lead with deployment of cleantech and smart energy initiatives. We have the highest number of electric cars and enterprises, and Silicon Valley companies are driving those initiatives.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges that cleantech companies face on a daily basis?

The biggest one is probably lack of awareness. I think people are open and receptive to what cleantech has to offer – they’re just not aware of what kinds of cleantech options are out there. The City of Fremont is a big mover and shaker when it comes to spreading awareness of the importance of this industry – and that’s something that other cities could take to heart.

Another challenge is that cleantech solutions are still extremely expensive. We need to start cultivating ideas for low-cost products too.

Q: If you could only offer one piece of advice to those just starting out in the cleantech industry, what would it be?

Perspective. Some people tend to get too caught up in all the technical details, but you also need to remember the bigger picture. In the end, the most important thing is to make sure that your product or solution is going to have a real impact on real people. That’s how you truly gauge the success of your product.

Q: What can we expect in 2015 for the cleantech industry?

Having been part of the cleantech industry for the last five years, I can tell you that we’ve seen significant progress this past year. 2015 and 2016 will be great years for growth in terms of innovation, adoption rates and a mounting awareness for what we’re trying to accomplish. The foundation for cleantech has been established for a bright and prosperous future.