At the start of April I joined Cambridge-based start-up Solar Cloth Company as its new CEO, leaving my role as operations director at computer chip manufacturer ARM. Solar Cloth Company is quite different, specialising in integrating flexible solar panels into surfaces where traditional heavy glass panels often can’t be placed. The company successfully crowdfunded £1 million to kick-start its commercial operations, and I joined to head that up.
Leaving a senior position at one of the largest firms in the UK to lead a start-up has been one of the most exciting decisions I have ever made. Granted, there are numerous challenges but variety, dynamism and a sense of urgency are things that you don’t usually get at larger companies. We’re currently going through the early phases of growth so we have to work on everything from scratch. This creates a real excitement and energy level that is unparalleled elsewhere. The influences that you have at a start-up are massive, and you can really feel that you’re part of something that’s moving very, very quickly.
Naturally there are risks in joining a start-up, but working with a smaller team of incredibly talented individuals gives you far more excitement than you usually get at more commercial giants. Everyone bounces off each other and feels empowered to contribute – sometimes you can lose this when you work for a larger company.
There are some big changes afoot in the solar world – there’s a lot of new technology being developed and a lot of investment going into the sector – all of which make it a really exciting place to be. I come from an engineering background with more than 20 years’ experience at various companies from Motorola to VSLI Technologies, and 10 years of that was spent on the management and operations side. Witnessing how the solar industry has evolved over those years inspired me to join Solar Cloth Company; I think we’re on the cusp of something great.
When you think of solar power you usually think of the typical glass panels, but people are designing things that are far more sophisticated. Solar Cloth Company sits in this space; it’s based on a pioneering type of solar technology, which means that panels are many times thinner and flexible. We look at how this development can be used in different applications, and shift perceptions to show that you can solarise surfaces that were previously impossible to solarise. We’re saying that just because you have a curved or lightweight roof doesn’t mean you’re not invited to the solar party.
There are so many talented individuals coming into the engineering industry at the moment and a lot of new technology is being developed; the opportunities are boundless. It sounds daunting to leave your comfort zone and jump into a start-up but Solar Cloth Company is a truly innovative business with a unique product set.
Although it’s a young company it has the potential to become the industry’s leading lightweight solar solutions provider. Eventually we want people to think about us when solarising anything tensile, lightweight or low-load-bearing. There is still a lot to be done in terms of our business development and implementing and establishing processes. But the future is exciting both for us as a company and the sector as a whole.
Mike Staplehurst is CEO of Solar Cloth Company. He was formerly operations director at ARM
