#StartupsEverywhere Profile: Scott Nguyễn, Co-Founder & CEO, Bodhi
This profile is part of #StartupsEverywhere, an ongoing series highlighting startup leaders in ecosystems across the country. This interview has been edited for length, content, and clarity.
Bridging the Gap Between the Solar Industry and Consumers
Bodhi is devoted to enhancing the connection between individuals and the energy that powers their lives. Their software platform empowers solar companies to effortlessly deliver exceptional customer experiences. Bodhi automates communication, tailoring the homeowners’ experience, allowing installers to concentrate on project execution, boosting sales, and catalyzing community transformation through energy. In our conversation with Co-Founder and CEO Scott Nguyễn, we explored the current challenges surrounding green tech, the pivotal role of workforce development, and the impact of diverse laws governing privacy, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Tell us about your background. What led you to create Bodhi?
I have a background in energy, holding a doctorate in physics from Harvard. After installing solar panels on my own house in 2017, I recognized the disconnect between consumers’ high-tech expectations of solar technology and the somewhat archaic processes of solar installation businesses. This disconnection causes considerable frustration and anxiety for homeowners, leading to operational headaches for the solar business. Bodhi aims to tackle this issue and eliminate one of the main bottlenecks to wide-scale solar adoption.
Bodhi serves as a customer experience platform for the solar industry. Solar businesses excel at installing solar panels - but often fall short in delivering the digital experience that consumers have come to expect. For instance, you can buy $30 worth of takeout and know exactly when it goes in the oven, when it gets picked up for delivery, and when it’s outside your door. However, if you buy $30,000 worth of solar, in most cases, you have no idea what's going on. Many people are unaware that the process takes anywhere between three to twelve months from the time you sign the contract to when you finally flip on the switch to power your home by the sun. Our software bridges this gap by being the digital interface between solar businesses and their customers. Our platform incorporates patented automations and algorithms to make it simple for installers to deliver a modern day digital experience to their customers.
Could you explain how Bodhi functions as a digital interface between solar companies and their customers?
Bodhi is a platform that brings together a solar business’s operations, customer and project data, and customer communications to make it easy to deliver that information to their customers. We have two primary user bases: the solar businesses and the solar homeowners. We bridge the gap where consumers are constantly seeking information and updates on their project, while solar companies are operationally constrained to provide the needed attention. Our platform helps ensure satisfaction on both sides: solar businesses are able to leverage the software to deliver information digitally and easily communicate with customers while the customers depend on our platform to access the information they need about their solar projects.
What impact do varying data privacy regulations have on where Bodhi is available?
Data privacy regulations haven't posed a significant hindrance for us thus far, but they’re something we’re constantly mindful of, especially in states with more restrictive rules like California. While we haven't encountered major issues in the U.S., expanding internationally could pose challenges, given the complexity of understanding and navigating different privacy frameworks in other countries. For example, companies from overseas like Ireland, Australia, and Bermuda have expressed interest in working with us, but with our small team, we lack the resources to determine how feasible it is for us to operate internationally.
Could you share your experience with capital raising for Bodhi and any challenges you've faced in securing funding?
Fundraising for Bodhi has gone relatively smoothly. Our last round was a $4 million seed round in early 2022, aligning well with the favorable fundraising climate at that time. However, a series A funding gap persists for startups, and government support is lacking at this specific stage. While there are incentives like in the Inflation Reduction Act for clean tech and green tech, startups may encounter challenges due to the time required to secure such funds, potentially misaligning with their business plan or runway.
Are there any specific challenges you face in the solar industry that policymakers could address to support companies like Bodhi?
One significant challenge in our solar industry is the demand for more skilled trade professionals. Policymakers could assist by incentivizing and supporting the expansion of these professions, given the current shortage of essential tradespeople, such as electricians for solar installations.
Additionally, streamlining regulations and standardizing certain aspects of the industry could aid startups like Bodhi navigate the complexities of various state and regional markets more efficiently. Energy and electricity are very regionally based and many rules are defined by a Public Utility Commission or by utilities themselves. With all of this variation, it's hard to build out product features that can be universally applied to all these different jurisdictions. It becomes a question of the resources for a startup, limiting the value that we can quickly bring to our customers.
Outside of the solar industry, managing a remote team can be administratively complex. Each state has its own regulations and requirements, such as unemployment insurance, that we've had to navigate. We’ve hired an outside firm that handles most of that process for us.
What are your goals for Bodhi moving forward?
Our goal is to grow and assist more people in adopting solar energy. We're currently at a stage where we have an initial customer base finding value with our product and we aim to replicate and enhance this success.There are 100 million households in the US, and currently only 4% of them have solar. Thereforeour focus remains within the US market. Perhaps a few years down the road, we can explore international expansion as well.
All of the information in this profile was accurate at the date and time of publication.
Engine works to ensure that policymakers look for insight from the startup ecosystem when they are considering programs and legislation that affect entrepreneurs. Together, our voice is louder and more effective. Many of our lawmakers do not have first-hand experience with the country's thriving startup ecosystem, so it’s our job to amplify that perspective. To nominate a person, company, or organization to be featured in our #StartupsEverywhere series, email advocacy@engine.is.
