Fabrizio Chiara, the CEO and Founder of Sunspeker, embarked on his journey with the company as a fresh start following a previous entrepreneurial venture that didn’t unfold as expected. This new beginning began at the end of 2018 when he transitioned from his previous company, providing him with an opportunity to launch Sunspeker with a strong desire for redemption and a singular goal: to do better.
Sunspeker’s innovative technology is aimed at addressing the aesthetic challenges associated with solar panels. These panels, which are vital in the current phase of the energy transition, often remain unused due to regulatory restrictions. Sunspeker’s groundbreaking technology, known as “See Beyond Static Cover,” enables the creation of customizable graphic covers with high transparency. These covers not only enhance the visual appeal of solar panels but also maintain their efficiency. As a result, this innovation encourages greater adoption of solar panels by ensuring compliance with landscape and historical preservation regulations.
Furthermore, Sunspeker has the distinction of being the first company in the world to provide environmentally friendly, zero-impact solutions to the outdoor advertising sector. This sector has a significant demand for such solutions, further emphasizing the innovative and environmentally conscious approach of Sunspeker.
Turning Impossibility into Opportunity
Facing significant economic and physical challenges, the earlier phase of Fabrizio’s life taught him that the concept of “impossibility” doesn’t hold. After the transition and the fresh start, he initiated a rebuilding process, forming a team that enabled both him and Sunspeker to compete at a higher level. This new team possessed greater expertise and a heightened understanding of the potential of the innovative technology, which allowed them to enter the market much faster.
Managing critical situations and a coordinated team is never straightforward, but having the experience of a previous entrepreneurial venture provided Fabrizio with a valuable skill set. It enhanced his ability to assess and respond to critical events and situations more effectively, resulting in better outcomes within shorter timeframes. Consequently, he emphasizes the importance of acknowledging past mistakes, as it allows individuals to find peace within themselves and prepare for a fresh start. The key lesson is that making mistakes is an inherent part of the journey to improvement, and there are no insurmountable obstacles in life, including on a personal level.
Empathetic Mentorship Wisdom
Fabrizio recognizes that teaching and assisting others, especially as a mentor, are deeply connected to the gift of empathy. Without the ability to listen and truly understand others, providing valuable answers and guidance becomes nearly impossible. During his mentoring sessions at events like the Web Summit, participants often sought insights from his previous experiences.
These budding entrepreneurs were grappling with recurring challenges faced by most new business owners—finding the right partners, validating their product, and securing funding. The mentoring sessions weren’t a one-sided conversation; Fabrizio actively engaged with participants and requested their perspectives to gain a better understanding of their thought processes and decision-making.
The most impactful lesson Fabrizio shares from these interactions is that there are no magic formulas in entrepreneurship. However, learning from the mistakes of others and passing on this knowledge can be immensely valuable. By teaching and sharing experiences, we can collectively grow and empower those who are yet to navigate similar challenges.
Aesthetic Solar Revolution
Sunspeker’s mission is to contribute to a better planet by combining technology and design. Their most significant challenge has been addressing the aesthetics of solar panels, which are vital tools in the fight against climate change and the growing need for clean energy.
The initial focus was on developing technology that allows solar panels to be customized with any image while maintaining high energy performance. Once this solution was achieved, the challenge shifted to the components used in creating the aesthetic covers. Today, the films used by Sunspeker are entirely recyclable and align with circular economy principles, rendering their product carbon-neutral.
These efforts have led to Sunspeker obtaining international patents and being recognized as a pioneering technology supporting the European Union’s energy transition strategy. By enhancing the visual appeal of solar panels while maintaining their efficiency and sustainability, Sunspeker contributes to the global shift toward clean energy solutions.
Entrepreneurial Roots
Fabrizio’s upbringing in a family where his father ran a small artisan business left a lasting impression on his entrepreneurial spirit. Growing up, he witnessed the determination, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills that were essential for his family’s well-being. These experiences instilled in him the importance of perseverance and adaptability when facing challenges, qualities that are crucial for entrepreneurs. He draws parallels between being an entrepreneur and being a parent. Both involve a journey of conception, development, growth, and eventual independence. Just as entrepreneurs work tirelessly to nurture a business to the point of success, parents invest their efforts into raising and guiding their children toward independence. Fabrizio sees these life experiences as interconnected, with the ultimate goal of reaping the rewards of hard work and dedication.
The CEO’s Profound Responsibility
Fabrizio emphasizes the profound sense of responsibility that comes with being an entrepreneur, particularly as the CEO of a company. He understands the importance of delivering on the commitments made to customers, investors, and business partners. This sense of duty and determination drives him to work diligently every day, even when facing stress and demanding deadlines.
Despite the long working hours, the weight of responsibility, and the occasional stress, Fabrizio finds happiness in his work. He draws a parallel between entrepreneurship and parenthood, noting that a company becomes like a family. Just as parents do everything to nurture and support their family, an entrepreneur must do the same for their company, ensuring its growth and well-being.
The Redemption Story
Fabrizio reflects on a challenging moment in his previous entrepreneurial experience when his former partners decided to close the company. This setback was particularly impactful because he was unable to purchase the entire company, resulting in the loss of not only time but also a substantial amount of money, which had even led to debt. However, this adversity served as a turning point, igniting a strong desire for redemption and inspiring him to start anew with a fresh project and team.
This experience significantly changed Fabrizio as a leader. Those who work with him can see the transformation he went through. He now approaches challenges with the mindset that there are no insurmountable obstacles, only goals to achieve. This sense of redemption and renewed determination has become a driving force in his entrepreneurial journey with Sunspeker.
SunSpectra’s Bright Future
Sunspeker’s future holds exciting prospects and expansion plans. To achieve its goals, the company is focused on raising capital to support its growth phase and the industrialization of the “See Beyond Static Cover” product. This capital will help scale operations in the market and generate revenue. Additionally, Sunspeker is leveraging financial tools available to innovative companies to complete its industrial plan, including production and certification.
In terms of human resources, Sunspeker is looking to attract new talents to complement the core team, recognizing that fresh energies are essential for achieving greatness.
Sunspeker also aims to maintain a leadership role in the field of aesthetic photovoltaics by continuously developing new solutions that optimize production processes and product quality through artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the company is exploring the development of “Invisible Energy” technology, which is a groundbreaking concept involving solar panels that function like digital screens, offering innovative applications in the context of Smart cities.
Despite the hard work required, Fabrizio is confident that Sunspeker’s efforts will yield positive results, making its future bright and promising.
Please visit: https://sunspeker.com
