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Basics

Describe yourself briefly.

I have in-depth knowledge of all aspects of CalSolAgua- from the intricacies of our design to the long-term vision of our company. In the four years since I co-founded CalSolAgua, I’ve gained extensive on-the-ground experience in Guatemala, have designed and built four iterations of prototypes, helped develop a business plan, and contributed to our elegantly simple, yet patentable, design.
I earned my MS in Material Science and Engineering from UC Berkeley where I wrote my thesis on solar energy. Additionally, I have project management experience in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. As Executive Director I am responsible for strategic planning and ensuring we are using our time, limited funds, and resources wisely

Describe your Unreasonable Venture in 100 words or less.

CalSolAgua (CSA) designed a simple, yet patentable, low cost solar water heating system capable of reducing energy costs and carbon emissions for households in developing countries. Through detailed design work and four generations of prototyping, our team developed a solar water heater that can retail for one-third of the price of competing water tank heaters and less than one-eighth the cost of existing solar water heaters. Retailing at $100 at full production, our product can reach 120 million middle class households globally. The CalSolAgua water heater will reduce carbon emissions by over 90 million tons, equivalent to taking 17 million cars off the roads.

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Team

Describe your relevant experience (especially entrepreneurial).

I have in-depth knowledge of all aspects of CalSolAgua- from the intricacies of our design to the long-term vision of our company. In the four years since I co-founded CalSolAgua, I’ve gained extensive on-the-ground experience in Guatemala, have designed and built four iterations of prototypes, helped develop a business plan, and contributed to our elegantly simple, yet patentable, design.

I earned my MS in Material Science and Engineering from UC Berkeley where I wrote my thesis on solar energy. Additionally, I have project management experience in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. As Executive Director I am responsible for strategic planning and ensuring we are using our time, limited funds, and resources wisely.

Why is your team uniquely qualified to run this venture?

CalSolAgua was founded by a group of PhD and MS graduate students in the areas of engineering and public health. We have extensive experience working on energy related problems throughout the developing world including the countries of Ecuador, Lebanon, Algeria, China, Guatemala, and Mexico. Together we have completed four generations of prototyping, successfully completed installations in Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States. Two of the team members specifically study thermal transfer while another team member has far-reaching experience in market research and has designed and implemented solar water surveys in Mexico and Guatemala, enabling us to pinpoint our target market and gather region-specific information on our competitors in each location.

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Venture

What is the urgent social or environmental need you're addressing?

When choosing a water heating technology, households in developing countries are forced to choose between high-performing but unaffordable technologies or affordable methods that function poorly. Gas tank heaters - common in developed countries – are unaffordable for all but the wealthiest households in developing countries. Middle class households often use electric point-of-use heaters. While affordable, these heaters produce low flow rates and expose users to the threat of electric shock. Each of these technologies is environmentally unsustainable, requiring carbon-emitting fossil fuels to support their energy usage. Burning garbage, a common option for low-income households, is inconvenient and exposes families to toxic emissions.

What is your solution to this need? Describe your business strategy.

CSA has developed an innovative solar water heating system that is affordable to middle-income households in developing countries. Through detailed design work and prototyping, the Team has developed a product that can retail at $100USD, providing an opportunity for middle-income houses to reduce energy costs, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and improve their standard of living. Those households currently using gas heaters will save $190 per year on energy costs. Households currently using electric inline heaters will save $58 annually, improve their shower quality and avoid the risk of electric shock.

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Milestones

Convince us it will work. What milestones have you achieved?

In 2007 we established a key partnership with a Guatemalan non-profit and built a proof-of-concept heater which received enthusiastic responses from potential customers. We are 2008 recipients of the NCIIA Sustainable Vision Grant. With the grant we installed long-term durability and cost savings tests which we received positive user feedback and system performance results. In late 2009 we partnered with a manufacturer to ensure quality of an unproven part. We collaborated with a major university in Mexico and conducted a user-needs survey, installed a test set-up and have identified target customers and distributors in our launch market. We are on the fourth generation of our design and are filing a provisional patent. Currently, we are searching for advisory council members.

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