SMP 10: Li and Benoy talk about their experiences as entrepreneurs

Solar Maverick Podcast

About our Hosts:

Benoy Thanjan

Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.

Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.

Li Wang

A life-long journalist and communications professional, Li Wang was hooked on the news as an intern at the Philadelphia Daily News during the summer of the O.J. trial. He has been a business reporter, arts editor and film critic. He has shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services. His company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.

Episode summary:

Li and Benoy each share their own journeys to entrepreneurship: what drew them in and the challenges they’ve faced along the way. They also share many of their personal hacks for success, drawing on the lessons they’ve learned and the habits they’ve developed over their entrepreneurial careers.

Insights from this episode:

• How to build true, quality networks
• Strategies for taking advantage of your current 9 to 5 if you’re looking to move toward entrepreneurship
• Secrets to the character traits of a successful entrepreneur
• Strategies for increasing the efficiency of your business
• How to leverage good listening skills into closing sales
• How to follow up without being annoying
• Strategies for standing out in an interview
• Strategies for organizing your day to get ahead

Quotes from the show:

• “When he was upset about losing money on a deal, the advice from Li’s friend: “Don’t worry about it, money is a renewable resource.” - Li Wang, Episode #10
• “The hardest part of entrepreneurship is the mental aspect, because you have to come up with a product or service that provides value but then also convince someone and sell that to them.” - Benoy Thanjan, Episode #10
• “I always wanted to control my own destiny, and I felt like entrepreneurship was the way to get there.” - Benoy Thanjan, Episode #10
• “I think that entrepreneurship is not for everyone.” - Benoy Thanjan, Episode #10
• “You don’t have to do it completely your own.” - Li Wang, Episode #10
• “The fortune is in the follow up.” - Li Wang, Episode #10
• “You have to deliver on what you promise.” - Li Wang, Episode #10
• Saying that you don’t have time for something just means you’re not prioritizing it. - Li Wang, Episode #10

Resources mentioned:

• Squarespace
• Mailchimp
• Calendly
• Square
• Google Suite
• Asana

Stay connected:

Benoy Thanjan

LinkedIn.com/bthanjan

Facebook: Reneu Energy

www.reneuenergy.com

[e-mail]

Li Wang:

MJWangMedia.com

Instagram: @liwang22