Work

Heliogrid – I’m the co-founder of Heliogrid, a solar finance company based in Austin, Texas. We offer loans and leases to finance solar + storage installations for low-to-moderate income households and small businesses in Puerto Rico.

Capital Toolbox – Capital Toolbox is a consulting company I founded that provides various financial tools for businesses and investors. We offer fractional CFO services, financial modeling, solar + storage tax equity consulting, capital raise strategy and valuations, and other financial and management consulting services and products for startups.

Pika – Pika is a rock climbing equipment brand I founded. We design, manufacture, and sell more inclusive, more sustainable, and healthier products than are commonly found in the mountain sports industry.

Projects

SXSW Advisor – 2022 to present

STEM 3000 – This is the lab where my partner, Jennifer Gallegos, and I tinker and launch our emerging tech projects. We invented Bird Feeder 3000 (see below). We shot a 360-degree-video documentary about food and culture in Cuba . We’ve built serious/eLearning games, VR games, and AR apps. We’ve designed and 3D-printed casings for our IoT inventions. I’ve invented various rock climbing devices and products. STEM 3000 is our playground.

Solar + Storage Speed Networking Meet Up – At SXSW 2024, Jennifer Gallegos and I co-hosted the official SXSW meet up dedicated to building the solar + storage community.

Energy Transition & Climate Tech Meet Up – At SXSW 2023, Jennifer Gallegos and I co-hosted the official SXSW meet up dedicated to building the climate tech and energy transition community.

Midnight Sun – Energy Storage Trends and Challenges – A SXSW 2021 presentation with Jennifer Gallegos. A similar presentation was scheduled for SXSW 2020 until the conference was canceled due to the pandemic.

Bird Feeder 3000: 3D Print a VR/AI/IoT Bird Feeder – At SXSW 2018, Jennifer Gallegos and I led two sold-out, two-hour workshops teaching attendees how to build their own smart bird feeder.

Pandora’s Headset: The Ethics of VR in Education – At SXSW Edu 2018, I led an hour-long Socractic discussion about the ethics of using virtual reality in schools.

I Dream That… – I created this blog so anyone can post their dream, goal, desire, plan, wish, want, or aspiration, no matter how grandiose, fantastical, or insignificant.

Start Smart – For 3-4 years, I created and taught a course in entrepreneurship skills.

Studies

I’m always reading between two and ten non-fiction books at any given time. I’ve recently read books by Kevin Kelly (Excellent Advice for Living), Patrick Lencioni (The Advantage), Brené Brown (Dare to Lead), Katherine Blunt (California Burning), Douglas Rushkoff (Survival of the Richest), as well as a number of books on renewable energy, design, the history and evolution of technology, writing, and countless sci-fi novels. I also regularly read or listen to Canary Media, Heatmap, Grist.org, David Roberts (volts.wtf), Wired, and the New York Times.

I attend conferences about emerging technologies, renewable energy, and climate several times a year. SXSW is my favorite, if you couldn’t already tell from the Projects section above.