Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future Video Edition

Revolutionizing Carbon Trading: Treating Carbon as a Financial Asset

In this episode of Green Disruptors, host Megan Kjar sits down with Andrew Gilmour, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Laconic, to tackle one of the biggest puzzles in sustainability: how to turn carbon credits into a liquid, investable asset. Andrew traces the evolution of carbon markets from voluntary offsets to potential global securities, and explains why today’s market often feels more like a charitable endeavor than a true trading platform.
Key topics include:
Carbon as a Financial Asset: Why we must treat carbon like any other security to unlock liquidity and price discovery.
Data Management: How reliable data aggregation builds market trust and underpins every transaction.
Market Infrastructure: The tools and relationships needed to bridge governments, corporations, and traders.
Economic Opportunity: How a well‑functioning carbon market can fund environmental enforcement and drive sustainable development.
Tune in to learn how Laconic is creating a carbon‑negative flow battery of information—packaging “carbon” as a tradable instrument that benefits both investors and the planet. Whether you’re a climate tech investor, policymaker, or sustainability advocate, this episode will reshape how you think about the true value of carbon.

From Waste to Resource: Revolutionizing Energy and Water with Suresh Jambunathan

What if waste energy could become your company’s secret weapon for both cost savings and sustainability?
In this episode of Green Disruptors, Megan Kjar sits down with Suresh Jambunathan, founder of Energy and Water Development (ENWADEV), to explore the power of integrated energy systems that make sustainability make business sense.
Suresh shares real-world examples of how his firm helps facilities—from data centers to universities—dramatically reduce operating costs by rethinking how they use power, heat, and water. You’ll learn:
Why on-site power generation and waste heat recovery are game-changers
What exergy and entropy really mean (and why they matter to your bottom line)
How to navigate the complex stakeholder landscape in infrastructure projects
What’s next for ENWADEV as they move into engineering and construction
If you geek out on systems thinking, sustainable design, or just want to know how the clean energy transition is actually happening on the ground, this one’s for you.

Inside the EV Revolution with Sergej Marojevic of Q-Charge

In this thought-provoking episode, Megan sits down with Sergej Marojevic, founder and CEO of Q-Charge, to explore the complex and rapidly evolving world of EV infrastructure. From his early days as a mechanical engineer emigrating from Yugoslavia to pioneering fire-safe, AI-powered EV charging stations in the U.S., Sergej shares a remarkable journey of curiosity, resilience, and innovation.
They dive into the biggest challenges facing the EV industry today—public education, red tape, workforce shortages—and the bold solutions Q-Charge is developing to overcome them. Plus, they chat about cultural values, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to make a positive impact on the planet. Whether you're an EV enthusiast, a tech lover, or someone passionate about sustainability, this episode will leave you inspired by what's possible when mission meets innovation.

Microgrid Disruption: How Hover is Building Resilient, Independent Power Systems with Chris Griffin

In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, I sit down with Chris Griffin, founder and CEO of Hover, to explore how microgrids are revolutionizing the way we think about energy resilience and independence. Chris shares his journey from Wall Street to the clean energy sector and breaks down why Hover’s microgrid technology, built without reliance on government subsidies, is a game-changer.
We discuss: ✅ Why traditional power grids are vulnerable and how microgrids offer a more secure, resilient future✅ The challenges of scaling renewable energy without subsidies and how Hover overcame those hurdles✅ How future-proofing through adaptable control systems and blockchain could reshape the energy landscape✅ The importance of energy independence for businesses, military sites, and communities
Chris’s passion for building distributed, resilient power systems is contagious, and his vision of a connected network of microgrids paints an exciting future. If you're ready to learn how energy independence could secure not just your business but also national security, this episode is a must-listen!

From Challenge to Change: Rethinking Carbon Footprints with Arbor

In this episode of Green Disruptors, Megan Kjar speaks with Abdullah Choudhry, CIO and founder of Arbor, about the challenges businesses face in tracking their carbon footprint and how Arbor is innovating solutions to make sustainability more accessible and actionable. Abdullah shares his background, the unique selling proposition of Arbor, and the importance of building relationships within supply chains to reduce emissions. The conversation also touches on the business cases for sustainability, future developments in financing, and the philosophy of continuous learning and adaptation in the face of challenges.
 
Keywords
sustainability, carbon footprint, Arbor, clean energy, business growth, technology, climate change, supply chain, green tech, innovation

Unlocking Carbon Solutions: A Talk with Abhinav Kashal

In this episode of Green Disruptors Scaling the Future, host Megan Kerr delves into the intricacies of clean energy solutions with Abhinav Kashal, CEO of Zero Carbon One. Abhinav shares his extensive experience from the banking sector to startups and discusses the evolution of the startup ecosystem in India. The conversation explores the challenges and innovations in carbon accounting and the importance of integrating technology with environmental solutions.
Abhinav highlights the complexities of Scope 3 emissions and the necessity of collaboration among corporations to drive effective climate action. He emphasizes the significance of understanding the data challenges faced by companies and introduces Zero Carbon One's comprehensive platform designed to streamline sustainability efforts.
Whether addressing factory-level concerns or demonstrating return on investment, this episode sheds light on the strategic approaches necessary for businesses to proactively engage in decarbonization. Join Megan and Abhinav as they unpack the barriers and opportunities in transforming sustainability from aspiration to action.

From Fertilizer Sales to Financial Inclusion: Usman Javaid and Ricult's Journey

Join us on Green Disruptors as host Megan Kjar explores the innovative journey of Usman Javaid, founder and CEO of Ricult, providing agriculture and financial inclusion in rural economies. Born in Pakistan, Usman's career shifted from selling fertilizers to pioneering digital financial platforms, like EasyPesa, which revolutionized how rural communities access banking without smartphones.
His story unfolds further as he delves into his startup, Ricult, co-founded with MIT colleagues. This tech-driven platform empowers farmers in Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam, utilizing AI to enhance agricultural productivity and enable access to affordable credit.
Discover how Usman tackles major rural challenges, like high-interest loans and climate change impact, by providing actionable insights and sustainable practices. Witness the profound difference Ricult makes, from increasing local farmer profitability to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through innovative techniques.
Beyond increasing productivity, Usman shares an inspiring vision: leveraging technology for addressing crucial global issues such as food security, financial inclusion, and climate change. He is passionate that everyone can use whatever skills they possess to make a profound difference and impact on the lives of others.
Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable future in global agriculture.

The Three Biggest Mistakes in Renewable Energy Projects – And How to Overcome Them

In this episode of Green Disrupters, host Megan Kjar sits down with Troy MacDonald, a seasoned energy project advisor and developer, to discuss the biggest challenges in getting green energy projects off the ground. Troy shares insights from his extensive experience in renewable energy finance, shedding light on why many projects fail and what developers can do to ensure their projects are investment-ready.
He highlights three key obstacles:
Customer Viability & Market Fit – Developers often underestimate the importance of securing solid offtake agreements. Capital markets require proof of a reliable long-term customer before financing a project.
Technology Selection & Trustworthiness – Innovative technology must be introduced in a way that doesn’t scare off investors. Troy explains how projects can integrate new tech without jeopardizing funding.
Team Expertise & Execution Capability – Investors want to see experienced leadership. A lack of project-specific expertise can sink financing deals before they even start.
Troy also shares his personal journey into the energy sector, recounting how a trip to Ghana in 2017 opened his eyes to the urgent need for sustainable solutions. He discusses the role of political will in energy transitions, why some countries embrace green energy while others struggle, and how financial underwriting can make or break a project.
Packed with real-world case studies and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for renewable energy entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone curious about how large-scale sustainability projects come to life.

Illuminating Sustainability: How SunSign is Revolutionizing Parking Signage

When a smart business owner sees a gap in the market, innovation follows. That’s exactly what happened with Cliff Hoinowsky, founder of Sunsign, who recognized the need for more visible and sustainable parking signs—and turned that insight into a game-changing green product.
In this episode, we dive into:🌞 How Sunsign is using solar technology to improve visibility and efficiency♻️ The business challenges of bringing a new sustainable product to market🚀 What it takes to identify a market gap and turn it into a thriving business
If you love practical sustainability solutions and the entrepreneurial journey behind green innovation, this one’s for you!