Ep. 7: Matt Swindle - Powerful Moats in Overlooked Markets
Persistence is an underrated quality of the best entrepreneurs. VCs never think they underrate it, but they do. The public only ever sees the glory and fireworks when an entrepreneurial story works. But it's the application, the effort, the persistence that lies behind every great outcome that is the primary determinant of that outcome. Matt Swindle, the CEO and co-founder of NLine Energy, has it in spades. Not only did he attain the rank of Colonel in the Marine Corps, a rank he retains in the reserves, he and his team are building a potentially enormous company. Quietly and methodically, NLine Energy has the potential to turn every sizable boiler in the world into a power plant - don't worry, he will explain - while another vertical of the business is the best small hydro remediation assessment and upgrade team in the country, if not the world. It's a super business. The return for the customers is enormous. Their moat is physics. The tailwinds are global and intense, and it's such a pleasure to learn from Matt as he puts one foot in front of the other.
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Full show notes and links to mentioned content below.
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Matt Swindle, CEO and Co-founder of NLine Energy, joins Tom on the podcast today to share details of his striking entrepreneurial journey and discuss NLine’s evolution into a global powerhouse discreetly transforming boilers into power plants. Their conversation delves deep into such topics as energy recovery, thermal technology, and sustainable growth as it showcases NLine Energy's mission to harness wasted energy. From the Marine Corps to pioneering renewable energy solutions, Matt's journey, as shared here today, serves as a beacon of inspiration that offers a treasure trove of insights into entrepreneurial brilliance and resilience, rendering this episode yet another must-listen edition of The Fundamental Molecule.
Episode Highlights:
0:00 Start
0:49 Introduction
1:56 The arc of Matt’s career thus far
5:13 Differences between Matt’s 1st and 7th startup experiences
6:25 The importance of talent management
8:48 The story behind NLine Energy
11:54 NLine’s early years
17:20 Moving into the thermal business
23:20 The importance of steam
25:57 The boiler room’s impact on business operation
27:54 Demystifying grants and investment tax credits
31:19 The financial side of building NLine
36:09 Managing the sales cycle decision-making process
4o:37 Matt’s thoughts on his ‘moat’ and competitive positioning
43:45 His biggest takeaway lesson
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